Because it frequently appears in pictures of sailors and hula girls unwinding on idyllic beaches, the 'ukulele, or ukulele as it is spelled in American English ("uke" for short), is one of the first things that many people connect with Hawaii. Here are amazing facts about Hawaiian Ukulele not everyone knows.

What is Hawaiian Ukulele?

Hawaiian Ukulele

Ukulele became a symbol of love of the land and support for Hawaiian sovereignty during an era of immense political turbulence, with the monarchy struggling to protect the country's independence.

The instrument gradually spread to other nations as Hawaii gained in popularity and began to receive tourists and immigrants.

Interesting facts about Hawaiian Ukulele

The ukulele is actually not Hawaiian in origin

Hawaiian Ukulele

The ukulele, albeit originally from Hawaii, is a modified version of Portuguese instruments named the machete do braça, braguinha, rajo, and cavaquinho. Men from Madeira, an island off the Portuguese coast, who arrived in Hawai'i on the SS Ravenscrag in 1879 to work on the sugar plantations, were the first ukulele luthiers in the state.

The first ukulele shop in Honolulu was established in 1880 by Miguel Nunes, a cabinet maker by trade. Jose do Espirito Santo and Augusto Dias later joined him, and both went on to establish their own businesses.

There are three different explanations for the name's meaning

Hawaiian Ukulele

You may be wondering where the word "ukulele" came from if you've heard the term "ukulele" before. There are three explanations that could apply. The two elements of this word, "uku and lele," would make it a compound word.

Uku with the 'okina (a punctuation mark that resembles an apostrophe facing backward) denotes flea. Lele translates to "leap." In light of this, the following are the three hypotheses regarding the origin of the word "this instrument":

• Jumping Fleas: You don't immediately need to bathe your dog in flea shampoo. Some people assert that since ukulele players' fingers move so swiftly over the fretboard, it appears as though fleas are jumping.
• Jumping Men - A musician broke into song and dance following a 123-day voyage on the SS Ravenscrag. People said that he danced like a flea leaping.
• Gift from a Distance - Queen Lili'uokalani translated the word uku as "gift" using a more poetic interpretation. Her meaning translates to "a gift that arrived from afar," referring to the journey that the Portuguese and their instruments had to take to reach Hawaiian islands, according to renowned ukulele historian Jim Beloff.

Everyone is using it

The Panama-Pacific International Exposition

Even while the ukulele in Hawaii had been on display and being played at many expositions since the late 1800s, it wasn't until the San Francisco 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition that it attained widespread recognition.

George E. Awai and his Royal Hawaiian Quartet, together with a number of other well-known musicians, performed Hawaiian songs at the Hawaiian Pavilion, including Henry Kailimai's On A Beach At Waikiki, which would go on to become a smash.

If you are interested in Hawaiian Ukulele items, please visit our online store here. In particular, we have a 15% discount code exclusively for the readers reading this article! Please insert code: POLYBLOG15 for your cart. Happy shopping!

"My dog has fleas"

Hawaiian Ukulele

Singing "My dog has fleas" while strumming one's thumb down all four strings is one of the easiest (and trickiest!) ways to tune a ukulele. This tiny song's roots are unknown, and no one claims to know them, but it's nonetheless difficult to forget.

This sounds rather easy, don't you think? To actually be able to tell if the ukulele is tuned correctly, one must have quite a trained ear. Although chromatic tuners are frequently used by professional musicians, nothing compares to spending time singing the simplest song to play!

From corny comedy to serious performance

"Ukulele Ike" Cliff Edwards and "Tiny Tim" Herbert Khaury both contributed to the popularity of the ukulele in the United States during their respective lifetimes through their love of the instrument, but the uke was still viewed in popular culture as a comedic prop and the ideal gift for loved ones after a trip to Hawaii (which is still very much an active practice today).

"Ukulele Ike" Cliff Edwards

Internationally renowned ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro has tried to give the instrument more personality by highlighting its wide range and ability to play well in practically any genre.

By playing well-known songs like Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, George Harrison's While My Guitar Gently Weeps, and other crowd favorites alongside his own compositions, he has worked to emphasize that ukes are genuinely versatile instruments and can provide as lively a performance as any other instrument.

Ukuleles around the world

Yukihiko Haida brought the instrument to Japan after visiting the island in 1929. The ukulele was made popular in Western culture by Haida and his brother Katsuhiko, especially with Hawaiian and jazz music. Hawaiian musicians and Ukulele masters now regard Japan as their second home when playing the instrument.

Ukulele in Japan

In the 20th century, ukulele demand increased in the UK as well. The key factors in its popularity increase, according to enthusiasts, were its mobility and ease of play. Tessie O'Shea and comedian George Formby are two of the most well-known ukulele players in the area.

Ukulele in UK

The Hawaiian islands became a popular topic for artists and writers of the era, and the mainland became aware of the uke during the United States' Ukulele Boom (1915–1920). Hawaiian instrument makers filed for a patent on the ukulele, and different sizes were created as a result of instrument manufacturers seeing the growth as the ideal opportunity to produce and sell a large number of ukuleles in the United States.

Today, the ukulele is ubiquitous due to its frequent use in television, radio, movies, and, notably, YouTube, as well as the existence of excellent ukulele-focused websites like Ukuguides.

Check out our Hawaiian Ukulele products at here. In particular, we have a 15% discount code exclusively for the readers reading this article! Please insert code: POLYBLOG15 for your cart. Happy shopping!