Kamaka Ukulele
Encyclopedia
Kamaka Hawaii, Incorporated, also known as Kamaka Ukulele or just Kamaka is a family-owned Hawaii
-based maker of ukulele
s. It is often credited with producing some of the world's finest ukuleles, and created the first pineapple ukulele.
ukuleles since the beginning of the century. The first shop was called "Kamaka Ukulele and Guitar Works" and was run out of Samuel Kamaka's basement.
In 1921 Kamaka opened a store in the town of Kaimuki, near Honolulu. Kamaka already had a reputation for making high-quality instruments, and the shop was a success.
, ukulele making took a back seat. When the boys returned from the war, Frederick attended Washington State University
, and later got a job in the Army. Samuel Jr. earned a masters degree and pursued a doctorate in entomology
from Oregon State University
.
Kamaka and Sons incorporated in 1968, and in 1972 Frederick became the general manager. Kamaka is still family-owned by Frederick and Samuel Jr.'s sons, Chris, Casey, and Frederick Jr.
In 1999 Kamaka held a retirement celebration for two master craftsman who had been with the company for over 40 years; both were deaf since birth.
. Shimabukuro, who achieved popular recognition following the performance of his arrangement of George Harrison's 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps', plays a Kamaka 4-string tenor ukulele custom built to his specification by the luthiers at Kamaka's workshop. The instrument features solid master-grade Hawaiian curly koa wood and a Fishman pickup.
George Harrison
was also fond of the Kamaka ukulele; he played the concert, the tenor 6-string and tenor 8-string. According to one music store on Maui, Hawaii, Harrison would purchase all the Kamaka ukuleles in stock to give to his friends as gifts.
Adam Sandler
played a Kamaka ukulele in the movie 50 First Dates
. The ukulele was a custom 6-string Kamaka designed to Sandler's specifications. It appears in the movie's official poster and on the cover of the DVD and soundtrack, although the ukulele was digitally modified to resemble a 4-string.
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
-based maker of ukulele
Ukulele
The ukulele, ; from ; it is a subset of the guitar family of instruments, generally with four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings....
s. It is often credited with producing some of the world's finest ukuleles, and created the first pineapple ukulele.
History
Kamaka was founded in 1916 by Samuel Kaialiilii Kamaka, who had been already making koaKoa
Acacia koa is a species of flowering tree in the pea family, Fabaceae. It is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, where it is the second most common tree. The highest populations are on Hawaii, Maui and Oahu...
ukuleles since the beginning of the century. The first shop was called "Kamaka Ukulele and Guitar Works" and was run out of Samuel Kamaka's basement.
In 1921 Kamaka opened a store in the town of Kaimuki, near Honolulu. Kamaka already had a reputation for making high-quality instruments, and the shop was a success.
The Pineapple
In the 1920s, Samuel Kamaka started making a new design of ukulele, which produced a sound mellower than that of a normal figure-eight shaped ukulele. His friends are said to have commented that this new ukulele looked like a pineapple, and one of Samuel's friends, an artist painted an image of a pineapple on the front of the new ukulele. The new shape immediately became popular, and in 1928 Kamaka was awarded a patent on the pineapple ukulele.Kamaka and Sons
Samuel Kamaka had two sons, Samuel Jr. and Frederick, and when the boys were just in grade school he began to teach them the art of crafting ukuleles. In 1945 the company reorganized as "Kamaka and Sons Enterprises", but when both Kamaka boys were drafted to fight in World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, ukulele making took a back seat. When the boys returned from the war, Frederick attended Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
, and later got a job in the Army. Samuel Jr. earned a masters degree and pursued a doctorate in entomology
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
from Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
.
Kamaka is Handed Down
Samuel Kamaka semi-retired early in 1952 due to illness and went to the family estate in Waianae to make ukuleles. He died in December 1953, after a 40 year career in ukulele craft. Upon his father's death, Samuel Jr. abandoned his studies, instead choosing to continue the family business. He restored the company to its original location in Kaimuki, and expanded the company in 1959.Kamaka and Sons incorporated in 1968, and in 1972 Frederick became the general manager. Kamaka is still family-owned by Frederick and Samuel Jr.'s sons, Chris, Casey, and Frederick Jr.
Employment of People With Disabilities
In 1955, Kamaka first hired disabled employees, a time at which the disabled were viewed as unable to work. Two hearing-impaired individuals were hired as craftsmen, and were found to be exemplary workers, because of their enhanced sense of touch, which allowed them to craft better ukuleles, able to feel the thickness of the wood.In 1999 Kamaka held a retirement celebration for two master craftsman who had been with the company for over 40 years; both were deaf since birth.
Ukulele Models
Kamaka Hawaii makes nine separate models of ukulele, all made with koa wood.- Standard (soprano) (HF-1)
- Standard Pineapple (HP-1)
- Concert (HF-2)
- Tenor four-string (HF-3)
- Tenor six-string (HF-36)
- Tenor eight-string (HF-38)
- Baritone (HF-4)
- Standard Deluxe (HF-1D)
- Concert Bell Deluxe (HB-2D)
Famous Endorsements
Kamaka ukuleles are endorsed by a number of professional musicians including ukulele prodigy Jake ShimabukuroJake Shimabukuro
Jake Shimabukuro is an ukulele virtuoso known for his complex finger work. His music combines elements of jazz and rock.- History :...
. Shimabukuro, who achieved popular recognition following the performance of his arrangement of George Harrison's 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps', plays a Kamaka 4-string tenor ukulele custom built to his specification by the luthiers at Kamaka's workshop. The instrument features solid master-grade Hawaiian curly koa wood and a Fishman pickup.
George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
was also fond of the Kamaka ukulele; he played the concert, the tenor 6-string and tenor 8-string. According to one music store on Maui, Hawaii, Harrison would purchase all the Kamaka ukuleles in stock to give to his friends as gifts.
Adam Sandler
Adam Sandler
Adam Richard Sandler is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, musician, and film producer.After becoming a Saturday Night Live cast member, Sandler went on to star in several Hollywood feature films that grossed over $100 million at the box office...
played a Kamaka ukulele in the movie 50 First Dates
50 First Dates
50 First Dates is a 2004 American romantic comedy film directed by Peter Segal and written by George Wing. The film stars Adam Sandler as a woman-chasing veterinarian and Drew Barrymore as an amnesiac, along with Rob Schneider, Sean Astin, Lusia Strus, Blake Clark, and Dan Aykroyd.Most of the film...
. The ukulele was a custom 6-string Kamaka designed to Sandler's specifications. It appears in the movie's official poster and on the cover of the DVD and soundtrack, although the ukulele was digitally modified to resemble a 4-string.
Awards, Honors, and Recognitions
- Recognition award for "Outstanding and reliable service" from the Better Business BureauBetter Business BureauThe Better Business Bureau , founded in 1912, is a corporation consisting of several private business franchises of local BBB organizations based in the United States and Canada, which work through their parent corporation, the Council of Better Business Bureaus .The Better Business Bureau, through...
of HawaiiHawaiiHawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
(1988) - "Outstanding Employer of Persons with Disabilities Award" presented by the State of Hawaii Vocational Rehabilitation and Services for the Blind Division (1990)
- Sam Kamaka Jr. and Fred Kamaka Sr. selected as the Hawaiian Business Persons of the Year and given 'O'o Award from the Hawaiian Business/Professional Association (now known as the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce) (1992)
- Honolulu Mayor Frank FasiFrank FasiFrank Francis Fasi was a United States politician having the distinction as the longest serving Mayor of Honolulu in Honolulu, Hawaii. He also served as a territorial senator and member of the Honolulu City Council...
proclaims April 30, 1992 as "Samuel and Frederick Kamaka Day." (1992) - Hawaii Governor John Waihee awards Sam Jr. and Fred Sr. with certificates of commendation. Recognizing Sam Jr. is as "one of the legends of the music industry" and "one of Hawaii's favorite sons." (1992)
- Kamaka Hawaii receives the Holo I Mua Award for Excellence from the Better Business Bureau of Hawaii (now "Torch Award for Business Ethics"). In 77 years of manufacturing, no customer complaints were lodged against the company. (1993)
- Hawaiian state Legislature recognizes the Kamaka brothers and their company for "making fine ukuleles esteemed throughout the world and thus preserving Hawaiian culture and contributing to world music." (1995)
- Samuel Kamaka Sr. inducted into the Ukulele Hall of Fame in Rhode Island.http://www.ukulele.org/?Inductees:2000-2001:Samuel_Kamaka (2000)
- Sam Kamaka, Jr. receives the "Ukulele Treasure" award from the Ukulele Guild of Hawaii (2004)