Alan Akaka performs Monday at
the Halekulani.

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Men of steel
play at fest

By Tim Ryan
Star-Bulletin

Steel guitar legends gather for a week of evening concerts starting tomorrow in the Halekulani hotel's Third Annual Steel Guitar Festival, held in conjunction with the Aloha Festivals.

Steel guitar artists Jerry Byrd, Henry Allen, Paul Kim, and Hanalei De Willigen will perform with the Halekulani's groups, the Islanders and Hiram Olsen Trio.

Laie-born Joseph Kekuku, who died in 1932, is the acknowledged inventor of the steel guitar. In 1885, the 11-year-old was fooling around with his guitar when he slid different objects across the strings to hear what sounds he could produce. He became intrigued with the new musical notes.

At 15, he amazed his Kamehameha schoolmates with the sounds made when he rubbed a hair comb or tumbler across the guitar strings. In the school shop, Kekuku developed the smooth, steel playing bar used today.

The concerts run 7:45 to 8:30 p.m. at the Halekulani's House Without a Key restaurant. The schedule:

Saturday: Jerry Byrd, known the world over as the "Master of Touch and Tone" for his smooth, clean playing style. Byrd, who moved to Hawaii in 1972, was inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in St. Louis, Mo., in 1978.

Sunday: Paul Kim with the Islanders in "Pure Aloha: Falsetto & Steel Guitar." Kim emulates the playing style of legendary Hawaiian steel artist David "Feet" Rogers and performs old-style falsetto. He performed with Eddie Kamae's "Sons of Hawaii" and now performs regularly with the group "Elua Kane."

Monday: Hanalei De Willigen with Alan Akaka and the Islanders, performing "Swingin' Steel, '50s Style." An international recording artist, band leader and innovative steel player, De Willigen has been leading playing steel guitar in his own Hawaiian-swing combos since he was 20. He resides in southern California.

Tuesday: Hanalei De Willigen with the Islanders.

Wednesday: Jerry Byrd with the Hiram Olsen Trio.

Sept 17: Edward Punua and the Islanders, honoring the songs of Alvin K. Isaacs Sr.

Sept. 18: Hawaii Steel Guitar Association's "Superteens" (Hale Seabury Akaka, 15, and Kona Lau, 16).

Sept. 19: Henry Allen with the Hiram Olsen Trio performing "Around the World with the Steel Guitar."

For information call 923-2311.