UKULELE RETREAT
Photo: Larry Santos
Join us for our 4th annual Ukulele Retreat Hawaii!
March 16 - 20, 2025
Kahala Hotel & Resort
Our 2024 Ukulele Retreat Hawaii was such an incredible experience. We are thrilled to announce we will be holding it again, next year, at the Kahala Hotel & Resort in Honolulu, HI. The event will be March 16-20, 2025. Just as we did last year, we will have a beautiful welcoming reception on the night of the 16th. We are accepting $500 refundable deposits for next year, so make sure to book your spot because, as always, this event has a limited capacity. Every Ukulele Retreat Hawaii has sold out, so we do recommend booking sooner rather than later.
Expect pricing to be similar to 2024 ($3,600 for Scenic View/Juliet Balcony).
Pricing will be announced soon.
Want to book your spot now? Please visit Marion Koleski’s website, or contact her directly via e-mail.
Remember, all workshops are recorded! This is a huge value that is unheard of at any ukulele event. Ukulele Retreat Hawaii 2024 had
28 workshop videos that are available to participants indefinitely, through our private Retreat Portal.
BIG NEWS!
As of April 18, we only have 15 spots left for our 4th annual Ukulele Retreat Hawaii. Make sure to contact Marion Koleski ASAP before those spots are gone.
We also have announced our very first guest instructor, Aldrine Guerrero! He has two NEW workshops that he is prepping for our event, so this is going to be a one of a kind experience. We can’t wait for March 2025!
What comes with my Retreat?
4 night stay at the Kahala Hotel & Resort
Special guest performances & instructors
All workshops are recorded for future viewing
Breakout sessions for various skill levels
Sunday dinner reception
Catered lunches
Open mics, jams, and office hours
Craig Chee & Sarah Maisel at the Kahala Hotel & Resort Beach.
Who is this Retreat For?
Curriculum will be geared for Confident Beginners to Intermediate players.
Confident Beginners are players that know most of their first position chords, some barre chords, and are comfortable with a handful of picking and strumming patterns. Though they do not need to read tablature, it will be beneficial if they have a basic understanding of it.
Breakout sessions will allow us to work with different levels in smaller groups
Why the Kahala Hotel and Resort?
We wanted you to be inspired, not only by the teaching, but by our location as well. With their spacious sleeping rooms and the beach being mere feet away, we know you will absolutely love this beautiful venue located on the outskirts of Honolulu.
Though it is out of the main city, it has a free shuttle to take you to the Kahala Mall and Waikiki.
They have a Hertz Car Rental on site.
The Kahala hosts its own cultural activities such as lei making, basket weaving, hula, and more.
They also have boogie board, snorkel gear, stand up paddle board, kayak, and bike rentals. There are also daily yoga glasses available as well.
Enjoy their onsite dolphins via their Dolphin Quest Program. Participation in a Dolphin Quest experience supports vital marine mammal conservation, education and scientific study.
Meet our Staff Below!
Special Guest Artist and Teachers to be Announced Soon!
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Craig Chee & Sarah Maisel
Hosts & Instructors
Craig Chee & Sarah Maisel have been teaching and performing around the globe for 15 years. Their passion for teaching is evident in every workshop they teach, including their Online ‘Ukulele School with ArtistWorks. Craig and Sarah have pioneered comprehensive online festival experiences throughout the pandemic, including the 51st Ukulele Festival Hawaii and their online Not-So-Mini Fests. Continuing to support the ukulele community, they created their Backyard Concert Series, which features local Hawaii Artists.
In 2023, Craig and Sarah founded the non-profit, Four Strings at a Time. With the help of the entire Ukulele Community, Four Strings at a Time has been able to raise over $200,000 in disaster relief for Maui. With their Board of Directors, they have been busy engaging, educating, and enriching all ages around the world, through music and the ukulele
Prior to the pandemic, they hosted 6 ‘ukulele cruises and a variety of ‘ukulele retreats around the globe. Both are highly sought after for ‘ukulele festivals world wide as they love to share the joy of the ‘ukulele everywhere they go.
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Marion Koleski
Travel Agent & Coordinator
Marion is your travel agent and event coordinator, so if you have any questions or problems, she's your go-to person.
A lifelong percussionist, Marion is also a trained facilitator for Remo HealthRHYTHMS Group Empowerment Drumming. Anticipating boredom upon becoming an empty nester, Marion started playing ukulele in 2012, and founded the KalamazUkes Ukulele Club. Marion is a former member of the Battle Creek Sweet Adelines barbershop chorus.
What others have to say about Craig & Sarah’s events
“You created a life-changing event. Seriously. I was aware of the passion, talent, joy, and incredibly supportive community that has gathered worldwide around the ukulele. But this was the first time I had experienced the full depth and breadth of that in person.”
“LOVED the retreat! Craig and Sarah give so much of themselves, and I know the organization of the event must be enormous!”
“Wonderful retreat and I look forward to going to more in the future. I’ve learned a tremendous amount and look forward to applying it to my practice and playing.”
“I think Sarah and Craig are marvelous teachers. I have the great opportunity to attend workshops and I always come away learning a ton and having fun too. They are nurturing teachers and they make me feel like I have potential and something to offer.”
PAST IN PERSON RETREATS
Ukulele Retreat Hawaii - March 17-21, 2023
Ukulele Retreat Hawaii - March 5-10, 2023
Feel free to watch Vlogs from our past Ukulele Retreat Hawaii Events! This 2023 video has some highlights from the whole event and includes testimonials from those who attended. Please enjoy!
Ukulele Retreat Hawaii - March 20-24, 2022
Craig made a point of doing DAILY Vlogs for our very first in person retreat and it was an incredible experience.