Ho‘okūkū Kīkā Kila Part 2

The 1^st Annual Ho‘okūkū Kīkā Kila Hawaiian Steel Guitar Contest was held on Wednesday, July 8. 12 contestants competed in three compete divisions: Keiki, Open Amateur, and Kūpuna. Winners received cash and merchandise prizes. The TRY non-compete division included three steel guitarists. The contest emcee was Monte McComber.

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• Keiki Division contestent Ever Ta'ala with Helene Woodward, Kaipo LIndsey, and David Woodward.
• Ever Ta'ala picking selection for her Hat Draw Challenge from NextGEN+ Isabella Bertelmann with Helene Woodward, Kaipo Lindsey, Monte McComber, and David Woodward.
• Keiki Division contestant Hi'ipoi Lindsey with Helene Woodward, Kaipo Lindsey, and David Woodward.
• Hi'ipoi Lindsey making Hat Draw Challenge selection with Monte McComber, Helene Woodward, NextGEN+ Isabella Bertelmann, and David Woodward.
• Keiki Division contestant Charlie with Helene Woodward, Kaipo LIndsey, and David Woodward.
• Charlie verifying his Hat Draw Challenge selection with Monte McComber, Helene Woodward, NextGEN+ Isabella Bertelmann, and David Woodward.
• Keiki Division contestant Kui Joy with Helene Woodward, Kaipo LIndsey, and David Woodward.
• Kui Joy getting her Hat Draw Challenge selection from NextGEN Isabella Bertelmann with David Woodward and Monte McComber.
• Keiki Division contestant Isaac Kazuyuki Kauahikaua Woodward with Helene Woodward, Kaipo LIndsey, and David Woodward.
• Isaac Kazuyuki Kauahikaua Woodward draws his Hat Draw Challenge selection from NextGEN+ Isabella Bertelmann with Helene Woodward, Kaipo LIndsey, Monte McComber, and David Woodward.
• Keiki Division contestants Ever Ta'ala, Hi'ipoi Lindsey, Kui Joy, Charlie, and Isaac Kazuyuki Kauahikaua Woodward.
• TRY Division steel guitarist Haruko Ozeki with David Woodward and Lion Kobayashi.
• TRY Division steel guitarist moani ito with Helene Woodward, Kaipo Lindsey, and David Woodward.
• TRY Division steel guitarist Michiyo Fujita (Luana) with Yoshiko Yokoyama on 'ukulele and Helene Woodward, Kaipo Lindsey, and David Woodward.
• Alan Akaka.
• Alan Akaka with Kūpuna Division third place winner Papa Zawa.
• Alan Akaka with Kūpuna Division second place winner Masako Wakamatsu. Melissa De Leon hands Alan a gift bag while score tabulator Patrick Flynn reviews the judgesʻ scoring.
• Alan Akaka with Open Amateur Division second place winner Kevin Speyer.
• Melissa De Leon hands gift bag to Alan Akaka for Keiki Division third place winner Hiʻipoi Lindsey.
• Alan Akaka with Kūpuna Division first place winner Sakae Machida. The steel guitar was awarded to all first place winners.
• Alan Akaka and Sakae Machida.
• Alan Akaka with Open Amateur Division first place winner Pat Sullivan.
• Alan Akaka with Keiki Division second place winner Charlie.
• Alan Akaka with Keiki Division first place winner Isaac Kazuyuki Kauahikaua Woodward.
• Alan Akaka with Isaac Kazuyuki Kauahikaua Woodward, Pat Sullivan, and Sakae Machida, the first place winners from all compete divisions.
• Alan Akaka with first-place division leaders and event judges. From left: Alan Akaka, Kilin Reece, Isaac Kazuyuki Kauahikaua Woodward, Pat Sullivan, Christo Ruppenthal, Sakae Machida, and Mālie Lyman.
• Alan Akaka withl division participants and judges. Front: Mālie Lyman, Sakae Machida,Waka-chan, Ever Taʻala, moani ito. Rear: Kilin Reece, Christo Ruppenthal, Isaac Kazuyuki Kauahikaua Woodward, Pat Sullivan, Papa Zawa, Charlie, Kui Joy, Hiʻipoi Lindsey, YUKARI KATAGIRI, Vickie Van Fechtmann, Michiyo Fujita, and Haruko Ozeki.

Back to Gallery: 2026 Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week

Photography by Larry Holu ©2026 by HIMELE.