Eighteen-year-old Ethan is one of Ke Kula Mele's NextGen steel guitar players. Ethan plays many instruments including ‘ukulele, trumpet, and drums and has been making music since he was just two years old. He started playing steel guitar after approaching Kumu Alan Akaka during the 2018 Hawai‘i Island steel guitar festival.
Ethan is from Hawai‘i Island and attended Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy. while there, his favorite subject was science with an emphasis on malama ‘aina. He conducted independent research using drones to monitor air quality and helped monitor the local honu population for a NOAA sponsored school research program.
In his free time, Ethan likes to fly drones, play music, go to the beach, hang out with his friends, play with his dog, and play tennis. Ethan has played tennis since he was three and plays in USTA tournaments. He previously played varsity tennis for his school's team, which won the Big Island Championship in 2018.
Ethan now attends Duncan College at Rice University where he is majoring in mechanical engineering while he continues to pursue music.
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Statewide Steel Guitar Festivals
Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival
Maui Steel Guitar Festival
Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week
Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Festival
Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
Kona Steel Guitar Festival
Community Festivals
Ka Makana Ali‘i - Kapolei
Windward Mall - Kane‘ohe
Kahala Mall - Wai‘alae-Kāhala
Livestream Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase