Maui Slack Key Guitar & Ukulele Workshop
August 28 - September 4, 2021Join us at the 23d Annual Workshop in August 2021
We feel that the safety of our students and staff is paramount, so we are rescheduling the 2021 George Kahumoku Jr. Slack Key Guitar & ‘Ukulele Workshop to August 28 – September 4, 2021. Come to experience the best available slack key guitar and ‘ukulele instruction anywhere, with Hawaii’s top musicians teaching both group classes and providing one-on-one private instruction.
You’ll spend a week in classes that cover playing techniques, song repertoire, jamming, composition, and a variety of other topics, all designed to take your playing to the next level. In addition to musical instruction, students can also take classes in Hawaiian history, culture, and traditional crafts.
The beautiful Napili Kai Beach Resort will once again be our Workshop headquarters, with discounted room rates available to workshop attendees. Registration for the 2021 Workshop will open on Feb. 10, 2021.

2021 Workshop Newsletters will begin mailing beginning July 1, 2021.
Register for the Workshop
Napili Kai Beach Resort Information
Download the Workshop Student Information Packet:
Quesions? Check here:
For more information about our instructors:
Workshop Video
Check out photos from last year’s workshop:
2021 Workshop Music Instructor Staff (Tentative)
Ledward Kaapana – guitar, ‘ukulele
George Kahumoku Jr. – guitar, ukulele
Kevin Brown – guitar
Joel Katz – lap steel
Jeff Peterson – guitar, ukulele
Max Angel– ‘ukulele
Herb Ohta, Jr. – ‘ukulele
Jason Jerome – ‘ukulele
Brad Bordessa – ‘ukulele
Peter deAquino – ‘ukulele
JJ Jerome – ‘ukulele
Cultural/Crafts Instructors (Tentative)
Wainani Kealoha – Hula, lei-making
George Kahumoku Jr. – Hawaiian Cooking, Farm Field Trip
Vania Jerome – Voice
Pohaku Kaho’ohanohano – Lauhala weaving
Sterling Seaton – Lawai’a: Hawaiian fishing
Jason Jerome – ‘Ukulele 1
Max Angel – Hawaiian Language
Workshop Tracks
Slack Key Guitar
‘Ukulele
Culture/Crafts
- Intermediate Slack Key
- Advanced Slack Key
- Alternate Tunings
- Intros, Vamps, & Endings
- Improvising
- Jamming With Others
- Songs & Singing
- Taro Patch F
- C Tunings
- Music Theory
- Songwriting
- Modulation & Chord Repertoire
- Beginning ‘Ukulele
- Intermediate ‘Ukulele
- Advanced ‘Ukulele
- C Slack ‘Ukulele
- Intros, Vamps, & Endings
- Improvising
- Jamming With Others
- Jazz, Blues ‘Ukulele
- Rhythms & Strumming Styles
- Fingerpicking Styles
- Music Theory
- Chord Repertoire
- Turnarounds & Endings
- Hula Performance
- Hula Skills Development
- Lauhala Weaving
- Lei Making
- The Art of Kapa Cloth
- Hawaiian Chants & Language
- Hawaiian Cooking
- Lawai’a – Hawaiian Fishing, Net Throwing
- Introduction to ‘Ukulele
- Kahumoku Farm Field Trip
Workshop Tuition
Registration Period | Music + Culture (All Access) | Culture/Crafts Program |
---|---|---|
Early Bird Discount | $1700* | $1300* |
After June 1, 2021 | $1900* | $1700* |
* A discount of $200 is applied to the above rates for those students staying at the Napili Kai during the workshop, as this reduces our costs. A special plan that includes all meals and tickets to the Masters of Slack Key Show, at $600 is available for spouse/companions not participating in workshop programs. See the registration page for details. |

Outline Schedule
(All workshop sessions are held at the Napili Kai Beach Resort unless otherwise specified)
Saturday
- 1:00 – 4:00 pm check-in at the Napili Kai
- 4:00 – 5:00 pm Orientation for new students
- 6:00 – 7:30 pm Welcome Dinner
- 7:30 Informal kanikapila in the Plumeria Garden
Sunday
- 7:30 am – Breakfast in the Aloha Pavilion
- 8:15 am – Late check-in and morning group meeting
- 9:15 am – Morning classes begin
- 12:15 pm – Lunch
- 1:15 pm – Afternoon classes begin
- 6:00 pm – Dinner
- 7:30 pm – Kanikapila at the Aloha Pavilion
Monday
- Same as Sunday
Tuesday
- Same as Sunday
Wednesday
- 8:00 am Regular morning schedule
- 12:00 pm Lunch
- 2:00 pm- 5:00 pm Free time
- Students have dinner on their own
- 7:30 pm – Masters of Slack Key Show
Thursday
- Same as Sunday
Friday
- Same morning schedule
- 4:00 – Rehearsal time for Open Mic
- 6:00 pm – Dinner
- 7:30 pm – Open Mic Night in the Aloha Pavilion
Saturday
- 7:30 am – Breakfast in the Aloha Pavilion
- 8:00 am – Class photo shoot (wearing workshop T-shirt) at Napili Kai, followed by dress rehearsal for show performance
- Lunch Afternoon is free time with students’ dinner on your own
- 7:30 pm – Kahumoku Workshop performance night at the Aloha Pavilion
- 9:30 pm – Final group photo stage-side immediately after the performance. This is the final activity of the workshop
Sunday
- 8:30 am – Optional staff and student debriefing, discussion, and suggestions for next year. All welcome, but feedback also invited on written forms. Location to be announced.