Vangary, I agree. I've heard some really cool soundin Hawaiian played on both pedal and non pedal. I play mostly non pedal Hawaiian but am tryin to learn some of my songs on pedal steel too.

 I hope I am correct in believeing there is room for both non pedal & pedal steel guitar, if the subject is concerning hawaiian mucic.
 
   I started out at Harlin Bros. "Hawaiian " guitar studio at the age of 10 in 1948 on an acoustic student model non pedal Hawaiian guitar.  
 
 Shortly thereafter I switched to a non pedal electric steel guitar, then went to a "Multi-Kord" pedal "Hawaiian" steel guitar.
 
   The Multi-Kord was invented by Jay Harlin of the Harlin Bros. in Indianapolis, and was the first pedal steel guitar to be patented.  They were advertised and demonstrated as a "Hawaiian"steel guitar.
 
   I hope that the country steelers realize that the Multi-Kord and the Electra Harp designed by Alvino Rey is where the pedal steel got it's start.  The Steel guitar itself for the most part is originally Hawaiian.  I know that historically there may be some controversy there.
 
    I still play a 6 pedal Multi-Kord and also a non pedal Hawaiian guitar that I designed and built.
 
   I am so glad this Forum got started again and am sincerely hopeful that many young people will take an interest in Hawaiian music. We as individuals need to do all we can to generate that interest.

From reading the HSGA newsletters and seeing non-pedal guitars alongside pedal steels, it appears that many Hawaiian music enthusiasts like both as long as they are played well.    
I find it a real challenge to workout a non-pedal tune on the pedal guitar.  Helps my overall understanding of the instruments.  One of my favorite Hawaiian inspired breaks in a modern song, and I bet played on a pedal steel, is Paul Franklin's solo on Margaritaville recorded by Alan Jackson.  

I agree with you Erv, working out something from pedal to non-pedal is more of a challenge.  I saw Jerry Byrd do it on an old "Opry" show tape, but I am no Jerry Byrd.  I can't even begin to think of where to start on something like Buddy's "Rose Colored Glasses" in C6th or E13th.  But, putting a classic non-pedal tune like "Moon of Manakoora" on pedal steel is much more fun and I find that people like to hear the lush chording.

I've played pedal steel for over 25 years. When I first started, people told me to try lap steel, it would be a good learning experience. I wanted nothing to do with that. I wanted to mash on those pedals! And I did. Those things break alot of strings because of that.
 
So now I am playing lap, and a Stringmaster with 4 legs, and I find it to be very rewarding. It's definitely more difficult to find voicings on the non pedal guitar. It also is a benefit to the mastering of both instruments, if this is possible.
 
I haven't set up my Emmons P-P U12 in months.
 
I find the tone of the 2 guitars like night and day. The PS has so much metal hardware, the non pedal is basically just wood.
 
I love them both, but for me the non pedal guitar is the one for Hawaiian.
 
Aloha,
 
Jon

Wouldn't that be "Dahil Sa'yo"?  I happen to sing this one, being married to a Filipina and all.
 
Incidentally, I've backed up Imelda Marcos on this tune not once, but twice!  Yikes.

I voted for non-pedal, but if the pedal mashing is done discretely, it works great.
I have a '37 Ric B-7, '55 Fender T-8 Stringmaster, and a '59 Fender 400 Pedal Guitar.  They all have that awesome " " tone.  The "modern" guitars like sho-bud, emmons, msa, etc are too sterile.  Maybe the poll should be changed to "non-knee lever guitars"?
Patrick