The 27th Annual Kī Hō`alu Guitar Festival takes place this Sunday, June 24, 2018 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s A&B Amphitheater from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Gates open at 12:30 p.m. and admission is free.

An all-star lineup including some of Hawai‘i’s best slack key guitar players will perform a full afternoon of melodious Hawaiian music. Artists performing this year include Makana, Brother Noland, Ho‘okena, Ola Hou/Kevin Brown & Friends, Stephen Inglis, Halemanu, George Kahumoku & Friends, Sonny Lim, Paul Togioka, Ian O’Sullivan, Kamuela Kahoano, Donald Kaulia, Dwight Kanae, George Kuo, Aja Gample, Jim West & Ken Emerson and Emma Rose.

Festival-goers are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs, blankets, or lauhala mats and relax on the grassy lawn to fully enjoy the laid-back music by famed guitar players.

Kī Hō’alu translates literally from the Hawaiian language as “loosen the key,” indicating the tuning in slack key guitar technique. It is a musical tradition dating back to 19th century paniolo who played around the campfire after completing a day of ranch work.

Slack key has become known as one of the world’s great acoustic guitar methods, especially since the Grammy Awards recognized Hawaiian music as a category all its own. An abundance of relaxed lawn seating gives the event an informal, local-style atmosphere, making it easy to lounge all afternoon.

This is a family-friendly event. The Kī Hō`alu Festival is presented by Maui Arts & Cultural Center, sponsored by The Maui News, with additional support from the County of Maui-Office of Economic Development, National Endowment for the Arts – Art Works, Speedi Shuttle, and Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, and with additional aloha by Pacific Radio Group/KPOA and the Kī Hō`alu Foundation.