He learned  piano, and was taught to play ukulele and ki ho'alu (traditional slack key guitar styles) by his grandfather and his Uncle Pete Hauoli. He played alto saxophone and string bass in the Kalakaua Intermediate School and Farrington High School dance bands, and substituted in Musicians' Union bands during WW II.
He learned piano and was taught to play ukulele and ki ho'alu (traditional slack key guitar styles) by his grandfather and uncle Pete Hauoli. He played alto saxophone and string bass in the Kalakaua Intermediate School and Farrington High School dance bands, and filled in for Musicians' Union bands during World War II.