Few sounds are as immediately and unmistakably Hawaiian as the open, ringing, gently cascading notes of kī hōʻalu — the Hawaiian slack key guitar. Developed on the Hawaiian Islands in the 19th century after Spanish and Mexican cowboys introduced guitars to the islands, slack key evolved into something entirely its own — a fingerpicking tradition of extraordinary delicacy and cultural depth that belongs to Hawaii alone. In 2026, that tradition is celebrated at two landmark free festivals on Oʻahu and Maui — the 44th Annual Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival Waikīkī Style in August and the 35th Annual Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival Maui Style on Sunday, June 28, 2026.
"Come and celebrate our special culture with us and walk away knowing you experienced something special."
The Story of Kī Hōʻalu
The Essence of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar
Kī hōʻalu — literally "loosen the key" in Hawaiian — refers to the technique of tuning guitar strings down (slacking them) from standard tuning to create open chord tunings that allow the thumb to play a steady bass line while the fingers weave melody and harmony above it:
- The tradition began when Hawaiian paniolo (cowboys) received guitars from Mexican vaqueros in the 1830s — and transformed the instrument completely, developing tunings and techniques that reflected the tonal world of Hawaiian chant and mele.
- Kī hōʻalu is a family tradition — tunings were historically kept secret within families and passed down from parent to child, creating distinct lineages of playing style that survive into the present day.
- The tradition has received its highest institutional recognition through the Grammy Award for Best Hawaiian Music Album — a dedicated Grammy category that has repeatedly honored slack key artists including George Kahumoku Jr. (four-time Grammy winner) and other masters of the form.
- In 2003, the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar was added to the Grammy ballot as its own category — a recognition of the art form's distinct identity and cultural significance.
The 35th Annual Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival — Maui Style 2026
Confirmed Details
This is the one with full confirmed details for 2026:
- Date: Sunday, June 28, 2026
- Hours: Doors open 1:00 PM; performances 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
- Venue: A&B Amphitheater, Maui Arts and Cultural Center, 1 Cameron Way, Kahului, Maui, HI 96732
- Entry: Free admission for all ages
- Organiser: Milton Lau / Ki-hoʻalu Foundation, Inc.
- Phone: 808-226-2697
- Facebook: facebook.com/slackkeyfestivals
What the Maui Style Festival Delivers
A Celebration of Culture and Music
The 35th Annual Maui Style festival is a four-hour outdoor celebration at the beautiful open-air A&B Amphitheater at the MACC — one of the most naturally beautiful outdoor performance spaces on the island:
- Multiple artists and musicians performing in the slack key guitar and Hawaiian music tradition across the four-hour programme — the full 2026 lineup will be announced closer to June 28 at facebook.com/slackkeyfestivals.
- "Made in Maui" island crafts — local artisan vendors presenting Maui-made goods across the festival grounds.
- Local food and refreshments — Maui's favorite festival foods and snacks available throughout the afternoon.
- Festival merchandise available for purchase.
- The festival has been a Maui favourite for 35 years — attended by local residents, mainland visitors, and international guests drawn to the island specifically for the festival.
The 44th Annual Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival — Waikīkī Style 2026
What Is Confirmed
The Waikīkī Style edition is the Oʻahu flagship of the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival series — and the 2025 edition (43rd Annual) held on Saturday, August 23, 2025 at the Waikīkī Aquarium gives a clear template for what the 2026 (44th Annual) edition will deliver:
- Expected date: August 2026 — most likely Saturday, August 22, 2026, following the consistent late August Saturday pattern of recent years.
- Expected venue: Waikīkī Aquarium, 2777 Kalākaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815 — one of the most atmospherically extraordinary concert settings in all of Hawaii.
- Hours (based on 2025): Doors open 4:00 PM; festival 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
- Ticket price (2025 reference): $23.18 per person — an extraordinarily accessible price for four hours of world-class slack key.
- Organiser: Milton Lau / Ki-hoʻalu Foundation, Inc.
- Confirm the exact 2026 date and ticket release at facebook.com/slackkeyfestivals.
The Waikīkī Aquarium: An Unmatched Venue
A Concert Experience Like No Other
The Waikīkī Aquarium at 2777 Kalākaua Avenue is one of the most unique outdoor concert venues in the world. Positioned at the Diamond Head end of Kāpiolani Park, directly on the Waikīkī shoreline, with the Pacific Ocean as the backdrop to the performance stage — the combination of slack key guitar music, the ocean breeze, and the last light of a Hawaiian August evening is the kind of experience that converts first-time attendees into lifelong devotees of the art form.
The Full Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival Series in 2026
A Year-round Celebration Across Hawaii
The Ki-hoʻalu Foundation, Inc. runs slack key festivals across multiple Hawaiian islands through the year — the full 2026 Hawaii calendar includes:
- Maui Style — Sunday, June 28, 2026 | A&B Amphitheater, MACC, Kahului (FREE)
- Kona Style (Big Island) — typically July; venue: Kona, Hawaiʻi Island
- Waikīkī Style (Oʻahu) — expected August 2026 | Waikīkī Aquarium, Honolulu (~$23)
- Kauaʻi Style — typically later in the year; venue: Kauaʻi
The Maui and Waikīkī editions are the two flagship festivals — the Maui Style's outdoor amphitheater setting and completely free admission make it the most accessible; the Waikīkī Style's oceanside Aquarium setting at sunset makes it the most dramatically beautiful.
The Weekly Slack Key Show on Maui
Every Wednesday Night at Napili Kai Beach Resort
Beyond the annual festivals, Maui's Napili Kai Beach Resort hosts the legendary weekly Slack Key Show every Wednesday evening — a Grammy-winning concert series running since 2003:
- Presented by four-time Grammy Award winner George Kahumoku Jr. — one of the most celebrated slack key guitarists alive.
- Doors: 5:45 PM; Show: 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM.
- Venue: Napili Kai Beach Resort, West Maui.
- George hosts a different featured guest each Wednesday — drawing from the top guitarists, ukulele players, and vocalists of contemporary Hawaii.
- The show features Shem Kahawaii (George's protégé) and Wainani Kealoha performing hula alongside the music.
For a visitor on Maui any Wednesday between now and the June 28 festival, the weekly Slack Key Show at Napili Kai is the perfect primer for what the festival delivers at a larger scale.
Practical Information
35th Annual Maui Style — June 28, 2026
- Venue: A&B Amphitheater, Maui Arts and Cultural Center, 1 Cameron Way, Kahului, Maui, HI 96732
- Admission: Free
- Doors: 1:00 PM; Performances: 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
- From Kahului Airport (OGG): Approximately 10 minutes — the MACC is one of the most accessible venues on Maui
- Contact: 808-226-2697; facebook.com/slackkeyfestivals
- Bring: A low beach chair or blanket for the amphitheater lawn; cash for food vendors and craft stalls; light layers for the late afternoon trade wind breeze
44th Annual Waikīkī Style — August 2026
- Venue: Waikīkī Aquarium, 2777 Kalākaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815
- Admission: Approximately $23 per person (based on 2025 pricing)
- Doors: 4:00 PM; Festival: 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM (based on 2025)
- Tickets: Check facebook.com/slackkeyfestivals and Eventbrite for 2026 release
- From Honolulu Airport (HNL): Approximately 25 to 30 minutes east via Kalaniana'ole Highway into Waikīkī/Kāpiolani Park
- Parking: Limited at the Aquarium itself; Kāpiolani Park has surface parking; rideshare strongly recommended
- Refund policy: Refunds available up to 7 days before the event
Frequently Asked Questions
The Things People Always Want to Know
When is the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival Maui Style 2026?
Sunday, June 28, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the A&B Amphitheater, Maui Arts and Cultural Center, Kahului, Maui. Doors open 1:00 PM.
Is the Maui Slack Key Guitar Festival free?
Yes — completely free for all ages.
When is the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival Waikīkī Style 2026?
The 44th Annual edition is expected in August 2026 at the Waikīkī Aquarium, following the consistent late August Saturday pattern. Exact date TBA — confirm at facebook.com/slackkeyfestivals.
What is kī hōʻalu (Hawaiian slack key guitar)?
A distinctly Hawaiian fingerpicking guitar tradition developed in the 19th century — using open tunings to create a sound where the thumb plays bass while fingers carry melody and harmony, passed down through family lineages and recognised by its own Grammy Award category.
Who organises the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festivals?
Milton Lau / Ki-hoʻalu Foundation, Inc. — contact 808-226-2697; facebook.com/slackkeyfestivals.
Verified Information at a Glance
- Maui Style: 35th Annual | Sunday June 28, 2026 | 2:00–6:00 PM (doors 1:00 PM) | A&B Amphitheater, MACC, 1 Cameron Way, Kahului, Maui | FREE
- Waikīkī Style: 44th Annual | Expected August 2026 | ~5:00–9:00 PM (doors 4:00 PM) | Waikīkī Aquarium, 2777 Kalākaua Ave, Honolulu | ~$23 per person
- Organiser (both): Milton Lau / Ki-hoʻalu Foundation, Inc. | 808-226-2697
- Facebook: facebook.com/slackkeyfestivals
- Weekly Slack Key Show: Every Wednesday 6:30–8:00 PM, Napili Kai Beach Resort, West Maui; hosted by George Kahumoku Jr.
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