Celebrating its 10th year, the Maui Steel Guitar Festival will return to the Valley Isle April 13 to 15.
The first two days of the free event are held at Kaanapali Beach Hotel in West Maui, and the final day takes place at Queen Kaahumanu Center in Kahului.
The style of using a piece of steel to slide up and down the neck of the guitar while playing is attributed to Joseph Kekuku, who in 1885, at the age of 11, picked up a steel bolt he found in his Oahu town and started playing his guitar with it. Steel, or slide, guitar became a trademark element of Hawaiian music, and the style also bled into blues, jazz, country and rock music.
The Maui Steel Guitar Festival features performances by established, professional players as well as "next generation" guitarists as young as 10 years old, in addition to workshops, activities and exhibits related to the instrument. Jam sessions are scheduled on each night of the festival, and all attendees are welcome to bring their own instruments and play with festival performers.
For more information visit mauisteelguitarfestival.com.