Stay at Kaanapali and Enjoy Maui Guitar Music Festivals

Now that the warmer weather is here, Maui’s great outdoors are being filled with the sound of guitars. In April, there is a Maui Steel Guitar Festival scheduled to take place in Kaanapli Beach. And Kahului’s Slack Key Guitar Festival set to kickoff in June. Both annual events are located within easy access of our Kaanapali Beach Resort. So why not reserve an oceanfront suite in the weeks ahead and make plans to enjoy the music?

At first blush, you may mistake steel guitar music for the slack key. But after listening to the two genres for awhile, we’re sure that you’ll eventually be able to tell them apart. Both guitars burst onto Hawaii’s music scene in the 1800s. However, each one looks different and is used to create a one-of-a-kind sound.

The slack key guitars were said to have first appeared in Maui’s upcountry. They were brought to the island by Mexicans and adopted by the Paniolos. The acoustic music that they created relied heavily on the use of the wooden guitar’s tuning key and a series of solo, plucking motions. Steel guitars, on the other hand, were invented by an Oahu native during the late 1880s. His name was Joseph Kekuku. He used a steel bar, raised strings and strumming techniques to create his unique brand of music.

Today, slack key and steel guitarists continue to play their beautiful music throughout Maui. So even if you miss the upcoming music festivals, there will be plenty of opportunities to catch a show within driving distance of our Kaanapali Beach Resort. We promise. In addition, our oceanfront suites feature iPod docking stations, Wi-Fi access, cable television and DVD players. Thus, you can listen or watch Hawaiian guitars perform from the comfort of your well appointed room too.

To learn more about Maui’s guitar music festivals and our Kaanapali Beach Resort, please contact us at (800) 367-5636. Our concierge staff would love to help you plan the perfect stay.