The ukulele, a world-favorite four-stringed plucked instrument, was invented in Hawaii by Portuguese immigrants from the Madera Islands in the late 19th century.
These settlers brought with them small guitar-like instruments that became the predecessors of the ukulele during the colonization of Hawaii. Originally a hybrid of Madeiran instruments, the use of the ukulele was supported by King David Kalakaua and Queen Lili'uokalani, who played a key role in the revitalization of Hawaiian culture, including modern hula. Appearing to the world in 1915, it sparked a global craze. Today, the ukulele remains a favorite and iconic instrument around the world.
From Madeira to Hawaii
In the mid-1800s, a series of natural disasters devastated the Portuguese island of Madeira, prompting tens of thousands of Madeirans to emigrate to the Hawaiian Islands, then called the South Sandwich Islands. This influx of people brought significant changes to Hawaii, including a transformation of the musical culture.
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According to one legend, the jubilant Madeirans who arrived in Hawaii staged nightly street concerts for the locals, singing folk songs. Joa Fernandez, upon reaching port in Honolulu, was so excited about land after 4 months of sailing that he immediately jumped off the ship and began playing on the pier.
The Hawaiians were deeply impressed by the musician's nimble fingers, moving across the harmonies of the strange little guitar like a "leaping flea". The instrument became known as the ukulele, from "uku" (flea) and "lele" (leap) in the Hawaiian language.
The second legend says that the Englishman Edward Purvis - an advisor to the last Hawaiian king David Kalakaua played the instrument. He was a very influential figure in the early days of the ukulele. Purvis was nicknamed "ukulele" for his short stature and vigor, and eventually the instrument he played for the king adopted this nickname.
A third legend tells of the Hawaiian queen Lili'uokalani. She claimed that the term "ukulele" actually means "the gift that came here" (where "uku" means "gift or reward" and "lele" translates as "to arrive, to come"), which is fundamentally different from the previous two legends.
Among the settlers who landed in Hawaii aboard the SS Ravenscrag in 1879 were three Madeiran cabinetmakers, Manuel Nunes, Jose do Espiritu Santo, and Augusto Diaz. These men first worked on the island's sugar plantations before moving to Honolulu.
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Between 1884 and 1885, they opened their own woodworking shops and began making and selling the first ukuleles. The most successful of them was Nunes, who continued to make ukuleles after it was introduced to the American mainland, and whose sons produced ukuleles after his death.
Hybrid tool
The first ukuleles made in Hawaii were hybrids based on two Portuguese Madeira instruments similar to guitars. Machete de braga (or braguinha), a small four-stringed instrument played by strumming or plucking, and the rajao, a slightly larger five-stringed instrument.
The ukulele retained the general dimensions and double-barreled shape, wood construction and 17-fret machete de braga fingerboard. However, the musical instrument adopted the tuning of the four upper strings of the rajao (D-G-B-D).
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While traditional machetes were classically made from spruce, juniper and other light-colored woods native to Madeira, Hawaiian ukuleles are made from koa, a light honey-brown wood native to Hawaii. This incredibly light, thin wood gave the instruments their characteristic tone and sound.
Royal patronage
The colonization of Hawaii seriously affected the culture of the native Hawaiians. In response to the influx of missionary and European influence, Hawaii's last king, King Kalakaua, encouraged Hawaiian cultural practices as well as the invention of new traditions.
Along with his wife and later Queen Lili'uokalani, King Kalakaua was an early proponent of the ukulele, using it to revitalize the native Hawaiian art of hula. By changing the tempo of the dance and incorporating the ukulele, he created the modern hula tradition. Lili'uokalani became famous for writing the classic Hawaiian song "Aloha Oe" on the ukulele.
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The ukulele featured prominently at royal festivals and gatherings, and King Kalakaua often entertained private guests with his ukulele playing skills. The patronage of the king and queen encouraged Hawaiians to master the instrument and develop their own musical styles of playing.
The legacy of the ukulele
Over time, the Madeiran craftsmen who originally created the ukulele gave way to a new generation of Hawaiian luthiers. In 1915, Hawaiian businessman and musician Jonah Kumalae traveled to San Francisco and introduced the ukulele at the Panama Pacific International Exposition, sparking a worldwide craze.
The ukulele gained widespread popularity in the 1930s with performers such as Uculele Ike (Cliff Edwards) in the United States and George Formby in the United Kingdom. By the 1950s, mass-produced plastic ukuleles had become cheaper and widely available.
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Popular pioneers in playing the instrument included the band The Beatles and Elvis Presley. Famous guitar manufacturers, from Martin to Fender to Gibson, produced ukuleles.
Today, Hawaii's most famous ukulele workshop, Kamaka (since 1916), continues to make ukuleles of all shapes and sizes on South Street in Honolulu. This instrument, whether soprano, concert, tenor, or baritone ukulele, has become a global musical phenomenon, popular and known throughout the world.