Alan Akaka

For more info about his school for Hawaiian Music and Live Skype Lessons visit: www.KeKulaMele.com

For more info about his Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival in Maui visit: www.MauiSteelGuitarFestival.com

For more info about his signature Asher 8 String Lap Steel visit: www.AsherGuitars.com

Here's a brief bio:

Alan Akaka (Director of Ke Kula Mele School of Hawaiian Music) received his BEd in music and MEd in administration. Alan began his music career in high school and enjoys a successful career in music and education with a long stint at the Halekulani and Waikiki Beach Marriott and Spa. He taught at Kahuku High & Intermediate, University Lab School and the Kamehameha Schools and was the director of the Performing Arts Academy at Kamehameha and president of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association. He established the Na ‘Opio Singers and Ensemble program at the Kamehameha Middle School and is a master traditional artist in the Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program of the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts.

Alan made numerous appearances in television and radio including KGMB's "Island Music Island Hearts", KHON's Morning News, Hawai News Now, PBS’ "Hawaiian Treasures", ‘OLELO Channel’s “Ho‘oulu Lahui Aloha”, KSSK's "Perry and Price Show", Hawaiian 105 KINE, AM940's "Na ‘Oiwi ‘Olino", TV specials for Japan as well as Japan Airline's in-flight program. He was asked to speak on music and education for the Hawaii Music Educators Association, the Hawaii Association of Teachers of Japanese, and the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association.  Alan has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, the Honolulu Advertiser, the Star Bulletin, TGIF and on the front covers of the Mid-Week, the Hawai’i Magazine and the AAA Westways.

In 2000, he was invited to do a performance in Washington D.C. for President Clinton. That same year he was a featured soloist at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and returned again in 2001 for a repeat performance. In 2009, he emceed and performed at the Hawai‘i State Society’s Presidential Inaugural Ball in Washington D.C.

This past April, Akaka produced and participated in the Maui Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival, a 3-day event featuring school visits and steel guitar presentations by a variety of amateur and professional players.