Free Annual Ukulele Festival Next Weekend

By Vanessa Wolf

Last year’s ukulele festival. Photo courtesy Aubrey Hord.

Next Sunday, Oct. 13, the Maui Arts & Cultural Center celebrates the musical tradition of Hawaii’s ubiquitous four-string instrument at the 8th Annual Maui Ukulele Festival.

The event is free and open to the public.

Plan to bring wide-brim hats, blankets and low-backed lawn chairs.

Then spread out on the lawn of the A&B Amphitheater from 1 to 6 p.m. and enjoy an afternoon of island music as highly-acclaimed musicians perform on the Yokouchi Pavilion stage.

The ukulele players currently scheduled to perform include:

• Herb Ohta San & Nando Suan

• Richard Ho’opi’i

• Willie K

• Paula Fuga

• Kamakakehau Fernandez

• Brittni Paiva

• The Hula Honeys

• Derick Sebastian

• Aidan James

• Tamlyn Tamura

• Nelly and Daniel Baduria

• Nick Acosta

• Andrew Molina

• Kalama Intermediate School ‘Ukulele Band under the direction of Benny Uyetake

• Seabury Hall’s Hawaiian Ensemble led by instructor Jon Toda.

Well-known ukulele advocate and teacher Roy Sakuma will serve as emcee.

In addition, there will be hula dancing with Kumu Nᾱpua Greig and Hᾱlau Nᾱ Lei Kaumaka O Uka.

Bring those low-backed chairs, blankets and giant hats. Photo courtesy Aubrey Hord.

Door prizes will be given away throughout the afternoon, including more than a dozen finely crafted ukuleles from Kamaka ‘Ukulele, Koaloha ‘Ukulele, Ko’olau / Pono ‘Ukulele, Kanilea / Islander ‘Ukulele , Kala Ukulele, and Mele ‘Ukulele.

Made-in-Hawaii arts and crafts, local foods, and beverages of all kinds will be available for purchase. No coolers or outside food or drink will be allowed.

In addition, on Saturday, Oct. 12 is a free ukulele workshop for students of all ages – children through adult – in the McCoy Studio Theater.

Held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the workshop is conducted by Roy and Kathy Sakuma.

Lessons are designed for beginning and intermediate players with the only requirements being that students bring their own ukulele, notepaper, pencil and can hold a C, F and G7 chord.

No pre-registration is necessary and all participants are eligible to enter a drawing to win a finely crafted ukulele.

If you’ve got a ukulele and no clue how to play it, you’ve now got six days to learn three chords. Hop to it.

Have an idea for a fun, funny or thought-provoking story or topic? Get in touch: we want to hear from you. – Vanessa (@mauinow.com)