By Moses Goods in collaboration with Kealakai Center for Pacific Strings
In 1889, a student at Kamehameha Schools fabricated a steel bar in the school’s machine shop, slid it across the strings of his guitar and changed the sound and shape of the instrument forever. The grandson of a royal chanter, Joseph Kekuku played his steel guitar for royalty in Hawai‘i and across Europe, inspiring musicians around the world with the new “Hawaiian Sound”. LIMITED RUN
PUBLIC PERFORMANCE DATES
Saturday:
• February 14, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Sunday:
• February 15, 2026 @ 2:00pm
Saturday:
• February 21, 2026 @ 4:00pm
FOR EDUCATORS
JOSEPH KEKUKU AND THE VOICE OF THE STEEL GUITAR
UPPER ELEMENTARY (GRADES 4 & UP) • Middle/High School
SCHOOL PERFORMANCE DATES
Tenney Theatre: February 12 – 26, 2026
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday at 9:30 and 11:00am
- Wednesday at 9:00 and 10:30am
RESERVE YOUR SHOW TODAY!
NEED MORE EDUCATIONAL PERFORMANCE INFORMATION?
Contact Stu Hirayama at 808-839-9885 ext. 2 or email at schools@htyweb.org
OTHER RESOURCES
STUDY GUIDE
NATIONAL CORE ARTS STANDARDS
Production Credits
Created by Moses Goods in collaboration with Kealakai Center for Pacific Strings
Directed by Eric Johnson
Musical and Historical Dramaturgy by Kilin Reece
Set and Lighting Design by Chesley Cannon
Costume Design by Iris Kim
Projection Design by Adam Larsen
Prop Design by Eric West
Sound Design by Jarren Amian
Music by Mālie Lyman and Kilin Reece
Original Oli by Marques Hanalei Marzan
Performed by Mālie Lyman, Timothy Bright, and Joshua Tavares
Development and Additional Dramaturgy by Kilin Reece, Kealoha Wong, Joshua Tavares
Technical Direction Eric West
Stage Manager Sarah Danvers
Partners
SUPPORT THIS WORK
If you would like to support this work or other HTY Projects please contact HTY’s Artistic Director, Eric Johnson at artistic@htyweb.org.
