alan akaka was born in 1956 to daniel akaka, who was to become representative of hawaii to the united states house of representatives and united states senate. he played clarinet in the high school band at kamehameha schools. akaka was inspired to play steel guitar when he was exposed to the instrument during the hawaiian renaissance of the early 1970s. of particular importance was an album by the sons of hawaii. attempting to imitate the sounds he heard, he requisitioned the martin guitar belonging to his father, tuned it to slack-key, and used the barrel of his clarinet as a slide across the strings. his father, explaining that akaka was playing steel guitar, continued to encourage his musical endeavors.