Maui Slack Key Guitar & Ukulele Workshop
June 2nd - 9th, 2021Join us at the 23d Annual Workshop in June 2021
Due to the coronavirus, the 2021 George Kahumoku Jr. Slack Key Guitar & ‘Ukulele Workshop has been rescheduled to June 2nd – 9th, 2021. Come and 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 Jan. 1st, 2021.

2021 Workshop Newsletters will begin mailing beginning April 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
Stephen Inglis – guitar
Kevin Brown – guitar
Sonny Lim – guitar & lap steel
Jeff Peterson – guitar, ukulele
Max Angel– beginning ‘ukulele
Herb Ohta, Jr. – ‘ukulele
James Hill – ‘ukulele
Jason Jerome – ‘ukulele
Brad Bordessa – ‘ukulele
Sterling Seaton – guitar
Peter deAquino – ‘ukulele
JJ Jerome – beginning ‘ukulele
Cultural/Crafts Instructors (Tentative)
Wainani Kealoha – Hula, lei-making, chant
George Kahumoku Jr. – Hawaiian Cooking, Farm Field Trip
Vania Jerome – Voice & Workshop Choir
Pohaku Kaho’ohanohano – Lauhala weaving
Sterling Seaton – Lawai’a: Hawaiian fishing
Jason Jerome – Inro to ‘Ukulele
Liko Rogers – 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 Feb. 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 two Masters of Slack Key Shows, 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)
Wednesday
- 3:00 – 6:00 pm check-in at the Napili Kai
- 4:00 – 5:00 pm Orientation for new students
- Student have dinner on their own
- 7:30 Masters of Slack Key Guitar Show in Aloha Pavilion
Thursday
- 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
Friday
- Same as Thursday
Saturday
- Same as Thursday
Sunday
- 8:00 – Field trip to Kahumoku Farm
- 12:00 – Lunch at the Farm
- 2:00 – Return to Napili, rest of afternoon free time.
- Students have dinner on their own
- 7:30 pm – Kanikapila at the Aloha Pavilion
Monday
- Same as Thursday
Tuesday
- Same morning schedule
- 4:00 – Rehearsal time for Open Mic
- 5:00 – Keiki Hula in Aloha Pavilion
- 6:00 pm – Dinner
- 7:30 pm – Open Mic Night in the Aloha Pavilion
Wednesday
- 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 at the Masters of Slack Key Guitar Show
- 9:30 pm – Final group photo stage-side immediately after the performance. This is the final activity of the workshop
Thursday
- 8:30am – Optional staff and student debriefing, discussion, and suggestions for next year. All welcome, but feedback also invited on written forms. Location to be announced.