The Steel Guitar Forum

Just got back from Oahu and Honolulu and I want everyone to know that Hawaiian Non-Pedal Steel Guitar is alive and well (and growing) in Hawaii.

When I stepped off the plane I was greeted with the sound of Jerry Byrd's "Sand" filling the airport terminal. While I was getting my bags I heard a great rendition of
"Moon of Manakoorah". Why can't more airports be like this?

There is steel guitar music seven nights a week in Waikiki. I heard Alan Akaka at the Halekulani, Isaac Akuna at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, John Ely at the Sheraton Waikiki, Bobby Ingano at a golf course restaurant (name escapes me), Paul Kim with Auntie Genoa Keawe at the Hawaiian Regent and Greg Sardinha at a private party (missed his gig
at the Willows). All these performances are free. All you have to do is order an umbrella drink, a plate of ahi poke and enjoy the beautiful music while you watch the sunset over the Pacific or revel at the majesty of Diamond Head in the distance. It's paradise.

Didn't have enough time to see or hear Casey Olsen or Charlie Fukuba, Harold Haku'ole or Eddie Palama. Had to have some time for sight seeing. Hawaii is truly the Garden of Eden. Every turn in the road reveals another scenic beauty more beautiful than the last.

Go to the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association's (HSGA) website for a complete listing of who's playing where. http://www.hsga.org/events/whoswhere.html

The big bi-annual Honolulu HSGA convention starts this week. http://www.hsga.org/events/honolulu2001.html

Hurry up! Get a plane ticket. Quit your job. You won't regret it. Hawaiian steel guitar sounds the best in Hawaii. You will enjoy yourself and become a better steel player just by experiencing it first hand where it was born.

Aloha
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Gerald Ross
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 23 April 2001 at 09:35 AM.]</p></FONT>

Ain't that the truth

I was in Waikiki last summer and only saw one steel player (nonpedal). We were on our way out, the band was setting up as we were finishing our drinks. I made my friends stay for a couple tunes. Very nice.

Going to Maui for my honeymoon in September. I'll have to find out where the steel players are performing out there and drag my bride along.

Gerald,

I can't imagine Hawaiian Steel Guitar sounding any better than it does in Joliet, Illinois

Bill

Chris,

I would recommend the Old Lahaina Luau as a great evening of eating and music. Of the many Laua's I have hit in the islands this was by far the best to me. And it was the only one I found that had a steel guitar player in the combo and they played great music. I believe you and your bride will remember this night forever. Go for it.

Chris,

Jack's right - some of the best steel playing can be found at the Old Lahaina Luau, and the food's pretty good too. Ralph Melemai also plays at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua some evenings, but that's way up at the end of the western coast, about 30 minutes north of Lahaina. He's very friendly toward any steel player!

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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Jack, Brad,

Thanks a bunch for the info! We've got a travel agent who lives in Hawaii and has been setting up various excursions for us. I'll find out what he can do for us regarding the Old Lahaina Luau.

And about Ralph Melemai:

"He's very friendly toward any steel player!"

...or steel player's wife, I hope!

I went to Waikiki last year, luckily I printed out the steel player schedules from the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association website. Pretty much did the same schedule as Gerald. If it hadn't have beeen for the HSGA website I probably would have had to spend the week listening to top 40 disco. And would not have had half as much fun as I did. All steelers should check out the HGSA before going to the Islands.

And I would add that all non-pedal steelers should join the HSGA (Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association), a non-profit organization devoted to promoting our favorite instrument worldwide.

Check out their website for more information.

Bill

Bill....when the HSGA (Joliet) brings in the likes of Greg, Harold, et al., I would agree with you. If you cannot afford a trip to Hawai'i to hear the best, then by all means head towards Joliet and you will get a nice "taste" of what you'll be missing by not going to Hawai'i. Better still, go to Hawai'i when the Convention is on, (every second year...it's on right now), and hear some pretty darned good stuff from the members. Then wander down to the locales mentioned above and hear the finest you'll ever hear. If you are really lucky, you might catch Jerry playing at the Halekulani as he will sometimes substitute for the steel guitarist if that chap cannot make it. Not too often, but it does happen.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by George Keoki Lake on 30 April 2001 at 10:07 PM.]</p></FONT>

Hi George:

My comment about Joliet was meant to be a bit tounge-in-cheek. Most people I know associate Joliet with "the Big House" (the prison), not Hawaiian steel guitar.

I've gotten some curious looks when telling friends I went to Joliet to play Hawaiian music...

Take care,

Bill

What is Casey Olsen doing - I was blown away with his playing on the great steel compilation - Made In Hawaii: The Hawaiian Steel Guitar - a must have in my book.

Casey plays three nights a week with "Hiram Olsen Trio" at the Halekulani Hotel on Oahu, House Without a Key, 5:00-8;30 PM on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

O.K. Bill, gotcha. But for your information, I went to prison in the Cook Islands last January...honest! If you have ever seen those south sea (Tahitian) ukuleles, they are quite remarkable. I decided I'd like to buy one but the price in the small town was a bit steep. A local lad told me to go to the prison where the inmates make them and sell them at half the asking price in town. I went to prison, saw the warden and bought a real neat uke. "Prison"..ha, you should have seen it...neat little cottages with a fence and the sound of ukuleles and inmates singing !

George,

Can you post or direct us to a picture of one of these kinds of ukes? Any steel playing on the Cook Islands?

Bill

Yo Bill.. If there was any steel guitar playing in the Cook Islands, I never heard it. I really doubt they go for steel as their music is very similar to Tahitian and is not the romantic style as you will hear in Hawai'i. I saw two groups which each used a washtub bass with one string ! Honest, I kid you not. This sorta indicates the type of music you'll hear at the hotels in Rarotonga. I heard some mighty impressive
ukulele players, but none played the Hawaiian style of uke.