Ukulele Festival Hawaii returns with a bang for its 51st iteration
Ukukele Festival Hawaii returns for it 51st showing, this time in virtual format via YouTube.
Over the last 50 years, the sweet, mellow tunes of the beloved ukulele have rung out from Kapi‘olani Regional Park on O‘ahu for one perfect day each July thanks to the dedicated patronage of Roy and Kathy Sakuma. This year the festival undergoes a few major changes—namely, the appointing of two new festival organizers and the move to an all-virtual format due to the ongoing pandemic.
Keiki groups will perform.
This year’s festival co-organizers are husband-and-wife team Craig Chee and Sarah Maisel, who specialize in virtual music events and classes. Their mission? To bring laughter, love and hope to children and adults throughout Hawai‘i and the world through the ukulele’s melodic sounds. “Hosting the Ukulele Festival Hawaii virtually will allow everyone around the globe to join us,” the pair notes. “Our goal is to bring [the festival] to everyone’s living room with a variety of live and prerecorded performances.”
And with a star-studded lineup and a program dedicated to honoring the last 50 years of the festival, Chee and Maisel have made good on their promise. Roy Sakuma and Danny Kaleikini continue on as co-emcees, and headliners will include such artists as Jake Shimabukuro, Herb Ohta Jr., Brittni Paiva, Bryan Tolentino, Kama Hopkins, Halehaku Seabury and Aldrine Guerrero. Also on the docket is a special performance by the legendary Ohta-San and various keiki and international groups. Say Chee and Maisel, “It’s so incredibly special to have so many talented artists joining us, and we are truly grateful.” July 18, 9AM-4PM
Founder of the festival Roy Sakuma will continue to co-emcee.
Photography by: Courtesy of Ukulele Festival Hawaii
