The 15th ʻUkulele Picnic Presents the International ʻUkulele Festival of Hawaiʻi
July 27 @ 9:30 am - 7:00 pm
Free
The 15th ʻUkulele Picnic Presents the International ʻUkulele Festival of Hawaiʻi
Newly Named International Ukulele Event to be Held on July 27th at Kapiolani Park
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi (March 1, 2024) – The ʻUkulele Foundation of Hawaiʻi today announces the renaming of its annual signature event to “The 15th ʻUkulele Picnic Presents the International ʻUkulele Festival of Hawaiʻi” and is scheduled for Saturday, July 27th, 2024, at Kapiolani Park in Waikiki. Founded in 2009 as ʻUkulele Picnic in Hawaiʻi, the annual all-day ʻukulele event is celebrating its 15th anniversary with a reimagining of its event with deeper connections to the Hawaiʻi ʻukulele community with support from Roy Sakuma, founder of ʻUkulele Festival Hawaiʻi.
“In commemoration of our milestone 15th anniversary, we have decided to rename our event to ‘International ʻUkulele Festival of Hawaiʻi’ to further our mission of fostering stronger ties to the local community and spreading a message of Aloha from Hawaiʻi to the world,” said Kazuyuki Sekiguchi, event organizer and representative of ʻUkulele Foundation of Hawaiʻi. “Imagine the thousands of ukulele fans from around the world gathering in Kapiʻolani Park with our local community, enjoying this festival together—it’s truly a wonderful scene to behold. We eagerly anticipate this joyful event and all the smiles that the ʻukulele brings. See you on July 27th at Kapiʻolani Park!”
The stage at the Kapiʻolani Park bandstand will feature renowned Hawaiʻi and international performers including Raiatea Helm, Jake Shimabukuro, Kalaʻe Camarillo, Mika Kane, Jody Kamisato, Crossing Rain, Craig & Sarah, Cynthia Lin, Ukulele All Stars and Tomoki Suzuki, Nine Ukulele jazz Orchestra, Keiki performances will include the Roy Sakuma Ukulele Studios, ʻUkulele Hale, and Kapālama Elementary School. Additionally, there will be ʻukulele display booths by famous ʻukulele makers from Hawaiʻi and a special collection of vintage ʻukuleles from the Hawaiʻi State Archives.
Event Overview:
Name: The 15th ʻUkulele Picnic Presents International ʻUkulele Festival of Hawaiʻi
Location: Kapiʻolani Park Bandstand, Waikiki
Date & Time: Saturday, July 27, 2024, from 9:30am –Sunset
Official URL: www.ukulelepicnicinhawaii.org
Social Media:
Facebook (www.facebook.com/ukupichawaii), Instagram (www.instagram.com/ukulelepicnichi), X (formerly Twitter) (https://twitter.com/ukupichawaii)
SUPPORT FROM HAWAIʻI’S ʻUKULELE COMMUNITY
The event’s transformation is made possible with the support and advise of Roy Sakuma, co-founder and host of ʻUkulele Festival Hawaiʻi for 52 consecutive years.
“On behalf of ʻUkulele Festival Hawaiʻi, we congratulate Kazuyuki and the ʻUkulele Foundation of Hawaiʻi on celebrating 15 years of sharing their love and passion for the ‘ukulele with Hawaiʻi and the world,” said Roy and Kathy Sakuma. “For 52 years, it has been our mission to spread laughter, love and joy through the ‘ukulele and we are thrilled that ʻUkulele Foundation of Hawaiʻi will perpetuate the ʻukulele through their newly named ʻUkulele Picnic Presents International ʻUkulele Festival of Hawaiʻi.”
Through shared passion and respect, the friendship between Sekiguchi and Sakuma exemplifies the unifying power of music and their shared vision of bringing people together from all over the to celebrate Hawaiʻi’s beloved instrument.
About Kazuyuki Sekiguchi and ʻUkulele Picnic in Hawaiʻi
Kazuyuki Sekiguchi, a founding member of Japan’s Southern All Stars, has left an indelible mark on the music scene, shaping the band’s distinctive sound and captivating audiences across generations. While his contributions to Southern All Stars are legendary, Sekiguchi’s musical journey took a new turn in 1991 after his fateful meeting ʻukulele master, Herb Ohta, sparking a deep passion for the ʻukulele.
Inspired by Ohta’s mastery, Sekiguchi traveled from Japan to Hawaiʻi to see ʻUkulele Festival Hawaiʻi for the first time, setting the stage for his lifelong ʻukulele passion. It was there that he sought lessons from Sakuma, solidifying Sakuma’s pivotal role as his mentor. Sekiguchi’s deep respect for Sakuma’s expertise has remained unwavering throughout his career.
In 2009, Sekiguchi’s ʻUkulele Foundation of Hawaiʻi launched the free “ʻUkulele Picnic in Hawaiʻi,” with its mission of “bringing people together through ʻukulele.” This marked a significant milestone in his dedication to promoting ʻukulele culture. Annually attracting over 5,000 attendees from around the world, it was a celebration to appreciate the beauty of the ʻukulele and express gratitude and respect for all Hawaiian music.
In 2022, his commitment to spreading the joy of ʻukulele music culminated in the formation of the 1933 ʻUkulele All Stars featuring esteemed artists such as Takagi Boo, Nomura Yoshio, Oginome Yoko, YANAGIMAN, Kimiko Wakiyama, and Yu Hatakeyama. Through his multifaceted career, Sekiguchi continues to inspire and influence musicians and fans alike, leaving an enduring legacy in the world of music.
About Roy Sakuma
Innovative, inspirational, warm, funny and kind are all words used to describe Roy. In over 55 years of teaching the ʻukulele, he has been all these things and more in his role as teacher, producer, promoter and inspiration to thousands of students and the island community.
In the 1960′s, as America’s youth latched onto the larger, louder, more swaggering guitar, the little instrument from Hawaiʻi was relegated to the attic. Roy knew the instrument’s true worth. And so, for more than 50 years, with his wife Kathy, and their staff of instructors and supporters, his mission has been to spread the joy of the ukulele teaching students and promoting the annual ʻUkulele Festival Hawaiʻi, the world’s first and original ʻukulele festival.
