Alan hails from a family with deep roots in Hawaiian music. His father, the late Senator Daniel K. Akaka, former director of the famous Kawaiaha‘o Church Choir, played a vital role in Alanʻs beginnings and encouraged him in his musical development at the Kamehameha Schools and on through the University of Hawaiʻi. Alan would later give back to his alma mater by serving as the director of Kamehamehaʻs Performing Arts Academy for sixteen years, and his passion for arts and music education would lead him in 2009 to establish Ke Kula Mele - School of Hawaiian Music. Ke Kula Mele provides a welcoming environment where those who want to learn to play ‘ukulele, steel guitar, upright Hawaiian bass, and guitar can come to pursue their dreams of learning to play and sing Hawaiian songs.

A steel guitar virtuoso, Alan created his own sound and style, incorporating ideas from the masters - David Rogers, Benny Rogers, Jules Ah See, Billy Hew Len, David Keliʻi, Jake Keliʻikoa, and his own teacher Jerry Byrd. He recorded with a number of artists including Genoa Keawe, Benny Kalama, Sonny Kamahele, Raiatea Helm, Kuana Torres Kahele, Randy Hongo, Owana, Nohelani Cypriano, Nina Kealiʻiwahamana, and Karen Keawehawai’i as well as with Sweden’s Simons and a number of Japan artists and groups. “How Dʻya Do” featuring the Islanders was a finalist at the 1987 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards and his solo album “Simply Steel” was a finalist at the 2010 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards.

For over twenty years, Alan led “The Islanders” featured at the Halekūlani's House Without A Key, while concurrently performing with Genoa Keawe and the Keawe ʻOhana at the Waikīkī Beach Marriott Resort. He travels throughout the world as an artist and conducts Hawaiian music and steel guitar workshops through his “AkakaClub.”. In 2012, Akaka was inducted in the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame along with fellow members of the Hawaiian language music group “Ka Leo Hawaiʻi”. In 2014, he was invited as a guest soloist at the International Steel Guitar Convention in St. Louis. In 2015, he traveled to Kolkata, India and was presented with an award at the India International Guitar Festival.

In 2015, Akaka established HIMELE – Hawai‘i Institute for Music Enrichment and Learning Experiences that supports music education and enrichment for people of all ages. Its purpose is to educate, promote and perpetuate Hawaiian music, Hawaiian culture and Hawaiian musical instruments by organizing and sponsoring annual Hawaiian steel guitar festivals on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Maui and Hawaiʻi.