A Brief History
On the afternoon of August 23, 1879, the Ravenscrag arrived in Honolulu. She was carrying aboard her 419 Portuguese immigrants, from the island of Madeira who came here to work in sugar cane fields. The long journey at sea took over 4 hard months as they traveled some 15,000 miles. To celebrate their arrival, Joao Fernandes borrowed a friend's braguinha, jumped off the ship and began playing folk songs from his native homeland. The Hawaiians were very impressed at the speed of his fingers as they jumped across the fingerboard. The Hawaiians called the instrument "ukulele". Ukulele translates into English as "jumping flea," which was the image conjured up by those flying fingers.

At least that's one of the stories about the origin of the name "ukulele". Typical to much of Hawaiian history, there are several accounts of how the ukulele got its name. Queen Lili'uokalani thought it came from the Hawaiian words for "the gift that came here", or "uku" (gift or reward) and "lele" (to come). Another legend says the instrument was originally called "ukeke lele" or "dancing ukeke" (ukeke being the Hawaiian's three stringed musical bow). The name, being mispronounced over the years, became "ukulele".

Over the years, the "jumping flea" legend, the one where Joao Fernandes' fingers were jumping like fleas over the fingerboard, has become the most popular of the stories. Today the Ukulele continues to be an instrument of growing popularity all over the world.

Playing the Ukulele
The Hawaiians were quick to accept the ukulele and it became an important part of the basic foundation at the Hawaiian string sound we know today. It was used primarily as a rhythm instrument. However, it did not remain a Hawaiian instrument in the sense that it was totally ethnic and adopted by many other cultures. Because it had only four strings, it was easy to play. And because one could easily strum it and sing with it, people from all parts of the world quickly accepted it, especially during the Roaring 20's period in the United States. That was the beginning of world acceptance and the recognition that the ukulele was a legitimate musical instrument, bordering on the novelty category, but none the less a Hawaiian instrument that could be used for any kind of music.

As an instrument to accompany singing, it is perhaps the simplest of all instruments. In a matter of some 30 minutes, one can learn 3 or 4 basic chords and strum an acceptable accompaniment for singing many, many songs. However, as a solo instrument, it required, as any musical instrument does, formal study and lots of practice.

In recent years, names such as Roy Smeck, Jim Beloff, Lyle Ritz, Troy Fernandez, Herb Ohta, Chalmers Doane, and the late Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, have emerged as virtuosos on the ukulele. Other notable ukulele names include the Beatles, Elvis Presley, Pat Boone, and George Formby. These and many others helped popularize the ukulele as we know it today. It was this simplicity that first attracted the Hawaiians to the instrument and it is this simplicity that still draws many young musicians to the instrument.