Livestream Steel Guitar Saturday for November

November 16, 2020 • Addison Ching • Festivals and Conventions

The Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase continues with November's Livestream Steel Guitar Saturday presentation featuring Dr. Isaac Akuna and Alan Akaka. The Showcase will be broadcast on Saturday, November 28, 2020, beginning at 4 PM Hawaiian Standard Time (11 AM on November 29 in Japan.)

Both featured steel guitarists have contributed to Hawaiian music for many years, and both were trained by steel guitar legend Jerry Byrd.

Dr. Isaac Akuna is from Kaneohe, Oahu. He is a graduate of the Kamehameha Schools Kapalama and it was there that he enjoyed playing music in various instrument ensembles and performing with groups that played Hawaiian music. He had always appreciated the sound of the Hawaiian steel guitar but it wasn't until he completed his formal education and established his business as a dentist that he was able to pursue a serious course of study with his teacher, Jerry Byrd.

Isaac has performed for a number of musical groups and agencies and has been featured at HIMELE's steel guitar festivals. He collaborated with Kuuipo Kumukahi on a number of recording projects including &tuoa;Na Lani Eha" which received HARA's Album of the Year award in 2008. In addition to recording the steel tracks, he served as the album's co-producer.

Alan Akaka is also a graduate of Kamehameha Schools and studied under Jerry Byrd. Appearing at many Waikīkī venues throughout the years, he, with his group, Alan Akaka and The Islanders, continues to perform at venues throughout the state.

As the director of Ke Kula Mele Hawai‘i School of Hawaiian Music, he provides training for young musicians on the Hawaiian steel guitar. Young musicians who excel in their craft are invited to become a NextGen musician, as described on Ke Kula Mele's NextGen page. NextGen steel guitarists have appeared at HIMELE's steel guitar festivals and are featured in each livestream Showcase.

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcases are presented monthly and originate from the grounds of Keala Records in Kailua, Hawai‘i.