Though guitarist Jeff Linsky has performed for elite listeners including presidents in premier concert halls everywhere, he finds more satisfaction in the simple environment of Kalaupapa on Moloka'i, where he has entertained patients and their families resulting in lasting friendships.

"We return to visit and perform every chance we get," said Linsky, who performs in Honolulu at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Doris Duke Theatre at the Honolulu Academy of Arts.

"For this concert, I have invited members of the Ka 'Ohana Kalaupapa to set up displays and share literature with the concert audience, to shine a little light on these mostly forgotten people," he said. "We hope to have some patients at the concert as well. I've written some music entitled 'Kalaupapa,' and I'm donating the royalties this song earns to their cause."

Linsky, now in his mid-50s, lived in Hawai'i from 1972 to 1988, and visited Kalaupapa a few years ago specifically to perform for Olivia Breitha, a patient who wrote "Olivia — My Life in Exile in Kalaupapa," a book he and wife Lisa had read. Breitha was the aunt of guitarist Sonny Silva of the Hot Club of Hulaville. She died on the day that Linsky's plane landed on the Friendly Isle, but the concert proceeded in her memory.

We posed Five Questions to Linsky — about his Island reflections and why he improvises to let his music inspire him as well as his listeners:

Q. You're a frequent visitor to your former home state. What's your mission in your annual return versus trekking to a new market? Does homesickness play into your agenda?

A. A concert career in music requires travel in order to build an international audience. If I were only to perform in Hawai'i, my concerts would no longer qualify as special events. Folks could say, "I just heard him last week." That's the reason that I left Hawai'i back in the late 1980s — to further my concert and recording career around the world. Of course, the whole point of having a successful career is to celebrate life doing what you love to do. One of the things I love to do, besides playing music, is to travel to beautiful, exotic places — like Hawai'i. So, I left a place that I love in order to be able to, um, get back to the same place. Hmmm, must be a trick question.

Q. You're doing new original music and dedicating the program to Kalaupapa. The site is certainly inspiring; how did a visit tap into your creative juices?

A. I've been fortunate to perform in many of the world's finest concert halls. I've played privately for presidents and royalty. Yet, nowhere have I had a more appreciative and rewarding audience than our friends in Kalaupapa. The history of this remote peninsula, where 8,000 Hawaiians suspected of having Hansen's disease (leprosy) were exiled, is both sad and inspiring. There are stories of great suffering, but also of great kindness, and of the great strength of the human spirit. The patients we have met have just been wonderful, and the kokua (helpers) there are some of the most inspirational people we have ever met. During our last visit, after performing at McVeigh Hall for the general population, we visited the hospital to play for the patients there. Just admiring the loving kindness of nurse Julie with the patients is enough inspiration for five symphonies. So far, I've just managed some new guitar music.

Q. There will be guests on your program; how do you stay connected with the music community here?

A. We return to Hawai'i every year for concerts, so I often see my musician friends during our visits. Since my concerts are improvisational in style, I enjoy inviting my Hawaiian musician friends to join me on stage. My past concerts have included performances with Jimmy Borges, Anita Hall, Rich Crandall, Byron Yasui, Benny Chong, Sango and others. For this weekend's concert, my buddy Jimmy Borges had planned on singing with me, but he has had a conflict in his schedule and will be missed. Hawai'i's jazz pianist Rich Crandall will be on hand, however, along with other guests. The popular young guitarist and singer Makana has generously offered to perform at this concert to honor the residents of Kalaupapa. I have not yet met Makana in person, but I've enjoyed his music and look forward to playing with him. He says he has been a fan of my guitar playing since he was a little kid (not really meaning to make me feel old). Our good friend Don Gordon of KHPR will be our emcee.

Q. Music can be therapeutic, particularly instrumentals, your specialty. Do you find you can "speak" to your listeners through your artistry? And how do you select specific music to shape your concert?

A. Music is most definitely good for the soul and a wonderful way to share one's feelings and world view. My approach to music has always been to play what I feel at the moment — a very impromptu, improvisational approach. I never know what I will play in concert until I walk out on the stage. I rely on the audience for my inspiration. I just had a performance in Pebble Beach (Calif.) where I was asked to improvise a two-hour film score in front of a live audience. I used my guitar synthesizer and was accompanied by the brilliant percussionist Michael Spiro. It was right up my alley and went extremely well.

Q. What's the biggest joy you get from entertaining — and does your passion for playing overcome the rigors of travels?

A. The best part about playing for an audience is the energy that is generated between the musician and the listener. When the audience is really connected, every note counts and there can be a passionate intensity that is quite magical.

As for the rigors of travel, I really can't complain, since we usually try to add time during our concert trips for sightseeing and adventure. In Chiang Mai, after my New Year's Eve concert, we rode elephants up to visit the remote hill tribe people of northern Thailand. After recording an album in Sao Paulo, we headed to Brazil's amazing Iguassu Falls and up to Bahia to play music with the locals. Then there are the "rigors" of spending a month in an over-water bungalow at the St. Regis Bora Bora. Tough gig. Even this week, with performances in Los Angeles, Pebble Beach, St. Louis and Honolulu, all within a 10-day period, we still end up on the beach in Waikiki. And all the while, I get to share my music with appreciative audiences. We count our blessings every day.