PHOTO: HAWAI‘I TOURISM AUTHORITY (HTA) / DAEJA FARIS
Inspired by Eddie Vedder’s ‘Ukulele Songs ? Think you could be the next Jake Shimabukuro? Or just want to be able to strum along to songs such as “Sitting, Waiting, Wishing” by Jack Johnson or Iz’s version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow?”
Check out local MUSICAL INSTRUMENT SHOPS throughout the 101 things to do | ka u a‘i 44 PHO TO: L U‘ AU K AL AMAK U CATCH A HULA SHOW Garden Isle to try strumming this four-stringed instrument yourself. You can even buy your own ‘uke to take home with you.
As for the history of the ‘UKULELE (pronounced “oo-koo-leh-leh,” not “you-ka- lay-lee”), it arrived in Hawai‘i with Portuguese immigrants in the late 1800s, along with malasadas and sweet bread. Since then, the ‘ukulele has been a key part of kanikapila (backyard jam sessions) and popular Hawaiian tunes.
