Eric Wakely

Guitarist, singer, song writer and charter boat captain Eric Wakely has been singing and sailing on the Kona side of the Big Island of Hawaii since 1994. He’s worked most of that time as the pool-side solo guitarist at the Hilton Waikoloa Village and the Outrigger Waikoloa Beach in addition to convention work for Tihati Productions at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, the Hapuna Beach Prince, the Mauna Lani Bay, the Orchid at Mauna Lani and the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai.
The musical focus of his solo act is island and beach music. He mixes contemporary Hawaiian music with Caribbean pop, adult contemporary and instrumental Latin and surf guitar. His influences include: Jimmy Buffett, Keola Beamer, James Taylor, The Ventures, Santana, Harry Belafonte, Crosby Stills & Nash, Cecilio & Kapono and Bob Marley among others. His repertoire includes songs from all of those artists and others in addition to his original music.
Eric has been playing music most of his life. He graduated from the University of Hawaii in with a Bachelors degree in Music, and has been making his living as a performing musician ever since. He also works with a variety of bands as a lead guitarist playing rock and blues. Lately, he gigs most often with his new band, The Coral Heads. Eric has a genuine love of the ocean and the islands, and it shows in his music. He is a working U.S. Coast Guard licensed Captain (100 ton master), and when he’s not playing music, he’s gathering inspiration out on the ocean.