About Doug
A performing musician since age 8, Doug was raised in a rural mountain area in a family of accomplished professional and amateur folk musicians. “I was brought up on acoustic music and spending time outdoors. Hawaiian music speaks to me because it’s an acoustic tradition that reflects its people and their natural surroundings. It paints a beautiful sonic picture that relies on heart and soul for interpretation. I’ve been very fortunate to be a student of several of the best slack-key players and I feel strongly that those styles should be preserved. Yet, as a singer/songwriter, I draw from my own experiences and that also seems to resonate with others.”
Doug was a nominee for the 2009 and 2012 Na Hokuhanohano Awards (slack key guitar category) and 2009 Hawaii Music Awards (Folk Music category). Doug has studied Hawaiian slack-key guitar intensively with several masters and is also a recipient of a grant from the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts in support of his ongoing study of the genre, also known as “kiho’alu”.
Whether playing traditional, popular, or original compositions, Doug’s performances reflect enthusiasm and creativity as well his respect for his teachers and the traditions of the music. He has been a featured songwriter, singer, and musician on several albums and has been a featured artist at the Pakele Live! and Na Mele Nei Concert Series as well as slack key guitar festivals. He has performed frequently at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki and the Ko’olina Beach Club Resort.
Sports fans may remember Doug from his days as a professional bicycle racer when he became the first bicyclist to appear on the Wheaties cereal box in 1988. He was a member of the U.S. National Cycling Team during the 1980s, and became the U.S. National Champion in 1986. He won the Visalia Cycling Classic, the infamous Pikes Peak Hill Climb, and the Tour of Peru. After retiring from racing, he completed his doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Denver.