In 1879 three cabinetmakers from Madeira-Manuel Nunes, Augusto Dias and Jose do Espirito sailed from |Madeira to Oahu. In the sugar plantation where they worked other Portugese immigrants had introduced a smaller version of a guitar, the machete de braca, to fellow labourers. Nunes, Dias and Espirito replicated the instrument, and from their adaptations evolved the modern Hawaiian ukulele.

Among Nunes proteges was Samuel Kailakaliilii Kamaka, one of the first Hawaiians to become proficient at playing the strings. Sam played not only ukulele but also guitar, upright bass and violin.

Kamaka applied his guitar-making knowledge to create a biggrer sound, he built an ukulele with an oval- shaped body, a departure from the standard figure eight. "It looks like a pineapple," an artist friend told Sam. "I'll paint it." That was in 1926. Two years later the patented "pineapple ukulele" became Kamaka's signature model and the cornerstone of the Kamaka legacy. By the late 30's ,Kamaka was the only Hawaiian ukulele maker still in business.

In 2010, the 1926 pineapple ukulele still delivers the mellow tone and distinct resonance it did 84 years ago.

Samuel Kamaka's craft was all about giving form to function.His designs produced the sound people identify with the Hawaiian ukulele. Quality was so important to the patriach that on his deathbed in 1953, he admonished his sons, "Don't you dare ruin the family name by making junk."

Sam,Jr. and Fred incorporated Kamaka Hawaii in 1968 and perpetuated the good name of their father, who was introduced posthumously into the Ukulele Hall of Fame in 2000.

Today the company is run by a third generation of Kamakas: Sam, Jr.'s sons Chris and Casey, and Fred's sons Fred,Jr.. The grandsons continue to adhere to Samuel's exacting standards, and a Kamaka family member personally inspects each instrument before it's considered finished.

Thank you Inda for this interesting topic.

There is some more information at

http://www.ukulele.org/?Induct...0-2001:Samuel_Kamaka



Samuel K. Kamaka
(1890 - 1953)


2000 Hall of Fame Inductee



Samuel Kamaka is the founder of what is now Kamaka Hawaii, Inc., the leading manufacturer of quality ukuleles in the world. Kamaka began making ukuleles in his basement workshop in 1916. During the ukulele craze of the 1920s, a large number of manufacturers in Hawaii and on the mainland were making ukuleles. Kamaka's quality hand-crafted instruments and the introduction of his patented pineapple-shaped ukulele design gave him a solid piece of the competitive market, and by the late 1930s he was the only Hawaiian ukulele maker remaining in business. Kamaka Hawaii, Inc., continues to flourish under the direction of his sons and grandsons.

Thank you for this information Inda and yoko.
I did not know anything about the history of the ukulele.
This is very informative.

Love,
Vicky

Thank you yoko and Vicky.

Here is a picture of Fred Kamaka, Sam's youngest son.

Photo by Dana Edmunds.
The Kahala magazine 2009-2010

Thank you for the post. I don't know much about the ukulele since I have never been to Hawaii, but I find the topic very interesting. I did not know that it's origins were in Portugal.

Sincerely,
Gisele

Thank you for this post Inda.

I have been to Hawaii many times and I love the gentle sound of the ukulele, but I was not quite sure where it originated either.

It is wonderful that the Kamaka family still carries on the tradition of making good quality musical instruments.

http://www.kamakahawaii.com/history.html

The guiding philosophy at Kamaka Hawaii has always been the candid, but sensible advice handed down from Sam Sr. to sons:
"If you make instruments and use the family name, don't make junk."


Love,
Sue

Thank you all for your replies.

I am also happy that the Kamaka family is still doing their beautiful craft.

Love, Inda