This year’s lineup includes Makana (above), Ola Hou (Kevin Brown & Friends), Ho‘okena, Brother Noland, Stephen Inglis, George Kahumoku & Friends, Sonny Lim, Paul Togioka, Ian O’Sullivan, Kamuela Kahoano, Donald Kaulia, Dwight Kanae, George Kuo, Aja Gample, Jim West & Ken Emerson, and Emma Rose. PHOTO BY KIM HUYNH.

KAHULUI – One of Maui’s favorite family events returns to the Maui Arts & Cultural Center on Sunday, June 24, with the 27th annual Ki Ho’alu Festival in the A&B Amphitheater and Yokouchi Pavilion.

It’s an all-afternoon affair, as some of Hawaii’s best slack key guitar players come to perform and provide the Maui audience with a full afternoon of melodious Hawaiian music from 1 to 7 p.m.

This is a free, family-friendly event: all generations can appreciate the slack key guitar tradition, with both new music and classic favorites.

The lineup of musicians and recording artists this year includes Makana, Ola Hou (Kevin Brown & Friends), Ho’okena, Brother Noland, Stephen Inglis, George Kahumoku & Friends, Sonny Lim, Paul Togioka, Ian O’Sullivan, Kamuela Kahoano, Donald Kaulia, Dwight Kanae, George Kuo, Aja Gample, Jim West & Ken Emerson, and Emma Rose (the artist list is subject to change).

Besides an afternoon full of music, the Ki Ho’alu Festival also features Hawaiian crafters and displays of made-in-Hawaii products.

Food from Maui eateries includes selections from Three’s Bar & Grill, Maui Cones, Outrigger Pizza, Shaka Pops, 808 Mini Donuts, and Real Fruit Ice Cream.

The music is performed from the stage of Yokouchi Pavilion over the amphitheater lawn, where festival-goers may relax on the grass on their own low-back beach chairs, blankets or mats and enjoy the laid-back music by famed guitar players. The local family-style atmosphere makes it easy to linger all afternoon!

The festival, now in its 27th year on Maui, is presented by Maui Arts & Cultural Center, sponsored by The Maui News and produced by Ki Ho’alu Foundation and KaHoku Productions. For more information, call 242-SHOW or visit MauiArts.org.