Steel Guitars at HMHoF Meeting Luncheon

October 30, 2018 • Alan Akaka • News

The sounds of the Hawaiian steel guitar dominated the annual Hawaii Music Hall of Fame membership meeting luncheon on October 26, 2018. The program featured the steel guitar music of France's Alain Robak, Hawaii's Bobby Ingano, Alexis Tolentino and Alan Akaka, and several Next Generation youth steel guitar players from the Ke Kula Mele School of Hawaiian Music.

Alain Robak is from Paris, France, and is spending some time in Honolulu. His specialty is playing the Weissenborn acoustic steel guitar.

Hawaii Music Hall of Fame Lunch Steeler Guitarists from Left: Pono Fernandez,
Ho'ailona Mahuka, Alexis Tolentino, Alain Robak, Malie Lyman, and Alan Akaka
Photo by Alan Akaka

Bobby Ingano, Alexis Tolentino and Alan Akaka are veteran master steel guitarists and appear regularly at Hawaiian steel guitar festivals throughout the state. Alexis is an "alumnus" of Ke Kula Mele and is now in demand as a steel guitarist for many Hawaiian performers and groups.

Next generation steel guitarists Pono Fernandez, age 13, Malie Lyman, age 14, and newcomer Ho'ailona Mahuka, age 11, were also featured in individual performances at the luncheon.

Alain Robak on his Weissenborn acoustic steel guitar
Photo by Alan Akaka

Ho'ailona Mahuka with Bobby Ingano and Alan Akaka
Photo by Bobby Ingano

The Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame was established in 1944 to perpetuate Hawaii's traditional music and honor its greatest musicians. The annual honorees include individuals, groups, institutions, chanters, songs, hula practitioners, and composers.