Two larger-than-life figures — one who is happily becoming a lot less large — are headlining the Ukulele Picnic in Hawai'i 2009 Saturday at Kaka'ako Waterfront Park and Amphitheatre.

Most everyone in Hawai'i knows of Konishiki, the sumo wrestler who grew up in Nanakuli (then known as Saleva'a Fuauli Atisano'e) and reached the rank of ozeki, the second-highest rank in the sport, before retiring in 1997. Music lovers from Japan, however, will be just as excited to hear Kazuyuki Sekiguchi perform in the intimate setting.

Sekiguchi has been the bassist of one of Japan's most respected pop/rock groups, the Southern All Stars, for more than 30 years. He fell in love with the 'ukulele during a visit to the Big Island and now hopes to eventually establish an 'ukulele museum in Hawai'i through his Ukulele Foundation.

"Sekiguchi coming from Japan is like one of The Beatles coming," said Alan Sunio, who is helping promote the event. "The Southern All Stars are a huge band in Japan. Kazuyuki just fell in love with the 'ukulele and wants this festival to grow and grow."

Originally the promoters were hoping for 1,000 fans from Hawai'i to show up for the free festival and 1,000 more from Japan.

Getting to see Sekiguchi perform on the 'ukulele — along with several other top 'ukulele performers from Japan and Hawai'i — and also getting a glimpse of Konishiki's new look could dwarf that number.

In February 2008, Konishiki underwent gastric bypass surgery and has since lost about 244 pounds, down from a staggering 661 pounds at his peak weight. When Konishiki competed, he was one of the heaviest sumo wrestlers ever, typically weighing well over 550 pounds. The enormous weight caused him knee problems for years and required him to be transported around in a wheelchair.

He's far healthier today, Sunio said.

"I didn't even recognize him the last time I saw him when we ran into each in a parking lot going to do a morning radio show," Sunio said. "He's doing so much better because of the surgery. He's a lot healthier and more active. He mentioned that as a sumo wrestler, you have to put on weight, and the life is very sedentary. They pick you up in limos, cart you around. The only time he seemed to be walking toward the end of his career was into the ring. That wasn't good for his health."

For his part, Konishiki doesn't want to be the focus of Saturday's festival. He lives in Japan and is flying back to O'ahu this week with his wife, Taupou, who will also be performing.

While this is the first Japan-Hawai'i 'ukulele festival, Sunio said, similar events in Japan have been very successful.

"There are now more 'ukulele schools in Japan than there are here," Sunio said. "The hope is that this festival will be the first of many and grow and grow. The waterfront is a great venue for this."