2019 Aloha Festivals Events

The ‘ukulele is symbolic of the multicultural heritage of the Hawaiian Islands. While a beloved instrument, and arguably the most synonymous with Hawai‘i and Hawaiian music, the ‘ukulele is influenced by an instrument introduced in 1879 by immigrants from Madeira, Portugal. Upon arrival to Hawai‘i’s shores, after a four-month journey, passenger and musician João Fernandez launched into song and dance to celebrate their safe arrival, playing his “machéte de Braga” or “braguinha,” the Portuguese name for the four-string instrument. Hawaiians renamed it “‘ukulele” or “jumping flea” in reference to the jumping motion of the fingers on the strings while playing. Kānaka (Hawaiians) fell in love with the instrument. It was proclaimed the national instrument of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i by Queen Lili‘uokalani in the late 1800’s. Today, the ‘ukulele is the State of Hawai‘i’s official musical instrument and Hawai‘i’s musical ambassador to the world.