Great Waikoloa Ukulele Festival offers concerts, workshops

Waikoloa Beach Resort presents the 12th Annual Great Waikoloa Ukulele Festival, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday Mar. 3, at Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Kings’ Shops and Queens’ MarketPlace.

With Hawaii’s “Ambassador of Aloha” Danny Kaleikini as Master of Ceremonies, the Ukulele Festival spotlights 10 performances on two stages, a free workshop with Roy Sakuma and chance to win one of nine top-of-the-line ukulele from Kala Ukulele, KoAloha, Kamaka Ukulele, Kanilea Ukulele, MGM Ukulele, Koolau Pono Guitar and Ukulele Company, theUkuleleSite.com, and the Ukulele Festival-Hawaii. Lei-making, umeke making (decorated gourd bowl), ukulele making demonstrations and lessons will be offered throughout the afternoon.

Sakuma and his wife Kathy created the first annual Ukulele Festival in 1971 while Sakuma was a maintenance worker for the City and County of Honolulu. Today, their efforts have grown into a series of events on four islands, with over 20,000 participants.

Appearing with Sakuma at the Waikoloa Ukulele Festival will be his mentor for over 50 years, Herb “Ohta-san” Ohta, jazz guitarist Nando Suan, and his protégé Nelly Toyama-Baduria. For more information, call Queens’ MarketPlace office at 886-8822 or visit www.WaikoloaBeachResort.com.

UKULELE FESTIVAL: SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort and Spa, Alii Ballroom

10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Ukulele Workshop with Roy and Kathy Sakuma. Bring your own ukulele. Free.

Kings’ Shops Stage

1 p.m. Roy Sakuma’s “Super Keiki” with Nelly Toyama-Baduria and Daniel Baduria

2 p.m. Ohta San and Nando Suan

3 p.m. Hawaii Preparatory Academy Students

4 p.m. AHAmele

Queens’ MarketPlace

2 to 5:30 p.m.

Ukulele Making Demonstration with Bob Gleason

Ukulele Lessons with Barnette Fischer and Hanae Okumura

Lei-Making with the ladies of the Kaahumanu Society (while supplies last)

Umeke Making with Aunty Donna Jensen

Queens MarketPlace Coronation Pavilion

2 p.m. Kona Pacific Public Charter School

2:45 p.m. AHAmele

3:30 p.m. Waikoloa School

4 p.m. Ohta San and Nando Suan

5 p.m. Roy Sakuma’s “Super Keiki” with Nelly Toyama-Baduria and Daniel Baduria

6 p.m. The Kupukaas