William Alohi Kauhane, known as “Willz,” demonstrated an undeniable connection to music before he started to speak. His first instruments were chopsticks and Planter’s peanut cans, which he used to create beats alongside his papa during family kanikapila sessions in Kāneohe. Videos capture his early rhythmic flair, as he incorporates a brass planter as a makeshift cymbal on his head while wearing nothing but a diaper. By the age of three, Willz’s love for music was evident as he spent hours playing pots and pans until he was wiping the sweat from his brow. His musical inclination was further highlighted in preschool, where he surprised his teacher by humming Mozart and mimicking a conductor at such a tender age. His eclectic approach to music stems from his exposure to artists from across generations. His papa had him intrigued by the harmonic melodies of Lee Oskar or the smooth voice of Sam Cooke while he was strapped in his car seat cruising the island of Oʻahu. As an “expert” Guitar Hero gamer, he was exposed to rock and roll from the 70s and 80s that turned him on to artists like Mötley Crüe, The Police, Van Halen, and Guns N’ Roses.