100 years of Kamaka Ukulele

Better late than never, just came across this article.  Enjoy!

By John Berger  

Oct. 12, 2016

CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM

Kamaka Ukulele celebrates its 100th anniversary as a family-run business making the world’s most venerated Hawaiian ukulele. Second-generation ukulele makers Fred Kamaka Sr., left, with brother Sam Kamaka Jr. hold the limited edition Kamaka centennial pineapple ukulele.

A centennial is almost by definition a “once in a lifetime” for almost anyone, and a monumental event for that reason alone. The centennial of Kamaka Ukulele is monumental for at least two other reasons.

For one, Kamaka is the first Hawaii-based manufacturer of musical instruments to reach the century mark. It is also one of the few Hawaii-based businesses of any type that has remained a family-owned business for that long.

The story begins in 1916 when Samuel Kaialiilii Kamaka established the Kamaka ‘Ukulele and Guitar Works in the cellar of his home on 5th Avenue in Kaimuki. The ukulele was a relatively new instrument in 1916 — the first recorded mention of the machete, the Portuguese instrument that evolved into the ukulele, was in 1879. The first mention of the ukulele as such was in the 1880s, and it took some time after that to catch on. However, by 1916 the ukulele was tremendously popular in Hawaii and across much of the mainland United States.

KAMAKA UKULELE FESTIVAL — 100TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

WHERE: Hawaii Theatre

WHEN: 5 p.m. Sunday

ADMISSION: $54-$90 (kamaaina discounts available; ID required)

INFO: hawaiitheatre.com or 808-528-0506

 

In 1924 Kamaka moved the business out of his basement and into a factory at 1814 S. King Street. Four years later he patented a distinctive “pineapple” ukulele that was manufactured to the same high standards as the standard design.

Kamaka’s sons, Samuel Kamaka Jr., and Fred Kamaka Sr., kept the company going after his death in 1953. Sixty-three years after that, their sons — Fred Jr. and Sam’s sons, Chris and Casey — handle daily operations. Fred Jr. is the business manager, Chris is the production manager and Casey makes the custom orders. Chris’ sons, Dustin and Christopher, are actively involved as well; they represent the fourth generation of the family’s commitment to making the world’s best ukulele.

“If my father could see this he’d say it was a miracle, a blessing from above,” Sam Jr. said.

The company is celebrating the centennial with observances that include a Reyn Spooner limited-edition line of “Kamaka Ukulele 100 Years” aloha print wear, and a two-disc CD, “Kamaka Ukulele Presents Keep Strumming!” a compilation that could be a front-runner for the 2017 Hoku Awards. A book documenting the company’s first 100 years is in production.

The celebration continues Sunday with a concert, the “Kamaka Ukulele Festival — 100th Anniversary Celebration,” at the Hawaii Theatre. The concert is the first of the Hawaiian Springs Hawaiian Classics Concert Series that continues through next September, and as an entertainment milestone, it is the biggest. Performers include Jake Shimabukuro, Benny Chong, Ho‘okena, Herb “Ohta-san” Ohta Sr., Herb Ohta Jr., Paula Fuga, the Side Order Band, Kama Hopkins, Momi Kahawaiolaa, Aidan James, Hula Hui O Kapunahala and Halau I ka Wekiu.

Sam Jr. and Fred Sr. and their sons and grandsons will be there, of course. Chris — who has a parallel career as professional musician and Hoku Awarding-winning recording artist — will be on stage making music with two groups during the evening.

“It’s going to be a fun night,” Chris said. “I’m going to be playing with Ho‘okena — and Moon Kauakahi’s going to join us. Later on I’m going to be playing with Bryan (Tolentino) and Del (Beazley) and Asa (Young), our original Side Order Band group, and my daughter and my niece are going to dance. It’s going to be fun.”

As the family gathered in the tiny showroom/office of the Kamaka factory at 550 South St., it seemed like a typical afternoon. A musician brought an instrument for some repair work. Another came in to try out one of the limited edition Kamaka Centennial instruments; the music was beautiful. Two fans from Japan stopped by to see the place where Kamaka instruments are made.

“Every year down the road has been a fabulous journey,” Sam Jr. continued. “Our employees are the jewels and gems of our production line.” He said that the company had to shut down during World War II, and the years that his father was battling cancer were “a challenge,” but shutting down for good was never considered.

By the time Sam Sr. died, his sons knew their way around the factory and its dangerous equipment.

“You’ll notice we have all our fingers — both of us,” Fred Jr. interjected, speaking for his brother as well as for himself. “My father made sure you learned to do it right and to do it safely. We had friends who had hands damaged or lost digits because they weren’t careful.”

Keeping a family business in the family isn’t easy. More times than not the third or fourth generation isn’t interested in following in their parents’ and grandparents’ footsteps. Fred Sr. says it was the practical and popular appeal of the ukulele that brought a third generation into the business.

“When they were in high school, they wanted an ukulele for themselves. We said, ‘You’re gonna make your own,’” he said of his son and nephews. “They’d watched us the whole time they were growing up, so we expected them to know (how to do it), and, by golly, Chris was the first one. They all made their own ukulele, and so when they were in high school they could say, ‘I made this.’”

“When they went to college they upgraded their thoughts and they thought, ‘We can improve what our fathers are doing.’ They actually proposed experimenting and we gave them two years — this is 18 years ago — and we said if it didn’t work, they were out. We ran the business for over 40 years, we sold everything we made, we were the most popular guys — and our sons are telling us they think they can improve?”

Long story short, the “experiments” worked. With that, Sam Jr. and Fred Sr. knew the company was in good hands and let their sons take over the management responsibilities.

Now, 100 years after Sam Sr. began making ukulele in his basement, the company manufactures nine different models: standard (also known as a soprano), standard pineapple, concert, tenor 4-string, tenor 6-string, tenor 8-string, baritone, standard deluxe and concert bell-shaped deluxe. A basic standard ukulele is $995. Some of the others run more than twice that. There is a waiting list for everything.

Fred Jr. said that although their goal is to increase production, there’s an upper limit to the number of instruments that the company can make without compromising quality. Kamaka does not sell “factory seconds.” Demand always exceeds supply.

“The way we build them, and the quality controls that we have, it’s something that happens slowly,” Fred Jr. said. “A lot of our increases have come with just increasing efficiency, but we found out it wasn’t a problem that we could just throw bodies at. We’re never going to be able to produce as many instruments as people want, but you always want to be a little less than the demand.”

“Its a nice problem I guess,” Chris added. “We just continue to try to stay consistent and it’s been working to our favor, which has been nice.” As long as the company can find a place to move to when “redevelopment” reaches their side of South Street, he expects the future to be OK.

“It’s exciting because my sons are really into it, they really enjoy the work and, hopefully, as long as we have enough of the materials, and continue to get as good employees as we do now, I think we should be fine. Hopefully we can find some place (to move to) that will work for us. We’ll see.”

A key to the company’s century of success is found in an oft-quoted piece of advice from the founder, Samuel Kaialiilii Kamaka: “If you make instruments and use the family name, don’t make junk.”

KAMAKA ‘UKULELE TIMELINE

1916 — Samuel Kaialiilii Kamaka establishes Kamaka ‘Ukulele and Guitar Works in the cellar of his home on 5th Avenue in Kaimuki.

1921 — Company moves to 1814 S. King St. in McCully

1928 — Sam Sr. patents his design of the Pineapple ‘Ukulele

1945 — Kamaka and Sons Enterprises is established

1953 — Sam Sr. dies; Sam Jr. takes over business

1958 — Kamaka moves to 550 South St. in Kakaako

1959 — Sam Jr. designs the 6-string Tenor model “Statehood” ukulele

1968 — Kamaka Hawaii Inc. is established

1970 — Sam Jr. designs the long-neck ukulele

1972 — Fred Sr. retires from the military and enters the business full time

1976 — Sam Jr. designs the 8-string Tenor model “Bicentennial” ukulele

2001 — 85th anniversary celebrated

2006 — Casey Kamaka designs the Jake Shimabukuro Signature Model for Kamaka’s 90th anniversary; 100 buyers are selected by a lottery

2008 — Sam Jr. and Fred Sr. receive the David Malo Award from the Rotary Club of West Honolulu, given to individuals of Hawaiian ancestry for a life of high achievement

2013 — Kamaka Hawaii Inc. adds the Standard Pineapple Deluxe, Concert Deluxe, Tenor 4-, 6-, and 8-String Deluxe, and Baritone 4-, 6-, and 8-String Deluxe to its family of ukulele.

2014 — Kamaka Hawaii Inc. inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame.

2015 — Casey Kamaka designs the Tenor and Concert Slotted Headstock (‘Ipuka) or Deluxe 2 models. The new designs are introduced in Japan in 2015 and worldwide in 2016.

2016 — Kamaka Centennial is celebrated with a two-disc CD, “Kamaka Ukulele Presents Keep Strumming!” a limited edition line of Reyn Spooner aloha shirts and a centennial concert at the Hawaii Theatre

2019 Update

Wanted to take a moment to thank everyone that checks in on this site.  I haven’t had hardly any time to add to, or update, the site.  Started a new job in January of 2016, and then our daughter was born last year.  Maybe I’ll find the time to add more to the site, I’ve got a lot of photos saved, and some other information, just do not have the time these days.  Always shocked to see how many people visit everyday still.  I still love Kamaka, and play mine as much as possible.  As for now though, the site is as complete as it will get.  Hopefully in the future we’ll have some updates.  Thanks!

Jake Shimabukuro completes goal of repairing 100 ukuleles for Hawaii public schools

 By Web Staff Published: January 1, 2017, 8:54 pm

Jake Shimabukuro completes goal of repairing 100 ukuleles for Hawaii public schools

The new year is looking bright for many of Hawaii’s public school students thanks to the efforts of ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro.

He’s completed a project he started last August to repair 100 damaged Kamaka ukuleles in Hawaii’s public schools.

Shimabukuro stepped in, often times repairing them while he was on touring around the world.

He says he wasn’t sure if he would be able to complete the project by the end of the year, but with some hard work and a little bit of help, it paid off.

“But if you had asked me two months ago I would have said no way we’re going to finish this but the last week I had a lot of help,” Shimabukuro told KHON2. “For me, I went to Ala Wai Elementary School where we got a ton of ukulele from Ala Wai and those were the Kamaka that I learned on.”

The refurbished ukulele will be given back to the schools within the next few weeks.

Shimabukuro says he’ll continue working on repairing as many ukulele as he can.

Meet the Hawai‘i Family That Makes the World’s Most Famous ‘Ukulele

Read the original article here:  www.honolulumagazine.com/Honolulu-Magazine/November-2016/Kamaka-Ukulele/

Or download it here

 

1916-2016 100 Year Anniversary

 

Congrats on your 100 year anniversary Kamaka!

Below is the headstock that will be on all 2016 models.  More info coming as it’s released.

 

Making ukuleles for nearly 100 years – Kamaka Hawaii still strumming along

Making ukuleles for nearly 100 years

Kamaka Hawaii still strumming along

http://www.kitv.com/news/making-ukuleles-for-nearly-100-years/34247032

July 19, 2015

Because of the popularity of the four-stringed instrument, a family-run island business has been around for 99 years.
Everyday, employees of the Kamaka factory shape, sand and meticulously craft more than a dozen ukuleles.

But instead of being known for the quantity of instruments it produces, Kamaka is known for its quality.

“Our instruments are made to last generations, passed down to son or daughter and then grandson or daughter. So we have to make our instruments to last a lifetime,” said Fred Kamaka Jr., the business manager for Kamaka Hawaii.

The same could also be said of the business itself. It has been passed down between generations of Kamakas.

“This business was started by my father Sam Kamaka Sr.,” said 90-year old Fred Kamaka Sr. to a group gathered to the tour the factory.

The family business began back in 1916.

“Everything made in Hawaii at the time was high pitched like the violin, or mandolin sound,” said Fred Kamaka Sr.

But Sam Sr. discovered a way to make the little ukulele sound bigger.

“One of the reasons we survived is my grandfather invented the pineapple ukulele, which made his name and his business,” said Fred Kamaka Jr.

For 99 years, Kamaka Hawaii has been making small instruments that make a big impression on musicians.

“the ukulele is a happy instrument. I love the sound and what I can do with it, that includes sharing a part of me through the ukulele,” musician Bryan Tolentino said.

Sharing is a big part of the ukulele’s universal appeal. The instrument is tiny enough to be taken anywhere, and can often be found when groups of local friends get together.

“We grew up that way. Friends after school would pick up the ukulele, learn new songs and share what we know with everyone,” Tolentino said.

Chris Kamaka, the production manager at Kamaka Hawaii, uses his talent as a musician to make sure each ukulele sounds perfect before it leaves the factory.

“My dad and my grandpa always told us the bottom line is the sound of the instrument,” said Chris Kamaka.

He is just one of many workers who have a hand in the construction of the ukuleles. It not only takes two dozen employees but also 4 years.
Blocks of koa wood have to be aged properly before they are cut into the pieces that make up the various instruments.
The finished products include the smaller-sized soprano model with the signature pineapple ukulele, three larger models, 6 and 8 string versions, and custom creations.

Because of the pineapple ukulele’s important part of the company’s past something special is being planned for the 100th anniversary next year.

“We’re looking at making a special limited edition model and it looks like it will be a pineapple ukulele,” Fred Jr. said.

As the Hawaii business prepares to turn a 100, there is already a fourth generation of Kamakas working to make sure there will be ukuleles for many more years to come.

Smile, you’re in ukulele country

http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/hawaii/61408925/smile-youre-in-ukulele-country

 SHARON STEPHENSON

September 23, 2014

I blame the heat. The glorious 35-plus degree Hawaiian temperature that turns my skin the colour of a barbecued pork chop and makes me do things I wouldn’t normally dream of doing, such as wearing a bikini, drinking cocktails adorned with umbrellas and, on one particularly unfortunate occasion, attempting the hula.

But nothing sets the humiliation bar higher than learning how to play the ukulele.

This is how the conversation goes: “Wouldn’t it be cool to learn how to play the ukulele in the spiritual home of the ukulele?” asks my husband.

Me: “Yes, but there’s one slight problem. Neither of us knows what to do with a guitar, letalone a baby guitar.”

Husband: “But that’s the whole point of a lesson. Besides, the ukulele only has four strings, rather than the guitar’s six strings, so technically it should be easier to learn.”

I’m still not convinced but we’re on holiday, it’s a beautiful day – as it nearly always is in this cluster of tropical islands strewn across the Pacific – and an adventure of the cultural kind seems the perfect counterpoint to Honolulu’s sun, surf and sloth. If we’re going to make fools of ourselves, we reason, we might as well do so in spectacular fashion.

So we drive across the island to Kamaka Ukulele, one of Hawaii’s oldest and most respected ukulele factories, where we quickly realise our first mistake. “If you can’t pronounce it, you shouldn’t be playing it,” jokes Fred Kamaka, the 90-year-old son of Sam, who founded the two-storey factory in 1916. It turns out that Hawaii’s distinctive stringed instrument is pronounced “oo-koo-lay-lee” not “you-ka-lay-lee”.

Fred explains how Portuguese immigrants contracted to work on Hawaii’s sugar-cane plantations in 1879 brought the ukulele with them. The locals were captivated by how easy it was to play and carry these melodic instruments, particularly the guitar-playing Sam.

“But dad wanted to incorporate the guitar’s ‘bigger sound’ so he travelled to Europe to learn how these instruments were constructed. He came up with an oval shaped body, which gave him that deeper, richer tone. His friends suggested that it looked like a pineapple and one of them painted a picture of the fruit onto the front.”

And so was born the Pineapple Ukulele, which remains the company’s biggest seller (there are eight other models, including their most expensive, an eight-string monster that Sam designed in 1976 to commemorate the US bicentennial).

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These days, the fourth generation of Kamakas has taken over the company reins.

With the vigour of a man half his age, Fred leads us around the factory, showing us how the ukuleles are constructed out of Hawaiian koa wood which is dried and stretched before the mahogany necks and rosewood fingerboards are added.

It wasn’t so long ago that the ukulele was an object of derision, regarded more as an oddity than a serious instrument. But photos of smiling celebrities in the adjacent shop show how the so-called “happy instrument” has come back into vogue with the likes of Lady Gaga, Bill Cosby, Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, Ziggy Marley and the cast of Glee being the proud owners of Kamaka Ukuleles. “If everyone played the ukulele, the world would be a better place,” says Jake Shimabukuro, a ukulele maestro who Rolling Stone magazine called “a hero”.

We’re honoured to have the ukulele flag-bearer as our teacher; he’s normally more booked up than Madonna’s plastic surgeon (it turns out that our tour guide is his cousin who convinced him to give us a lesson).

The first and only solo ukulele recording artist in the world, Jake warms up with a rendition of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. As his fingers fly across the strings, I begin to understand why ukulele means “jumping flea” in Hawaiian.

And then it’s our turn. Jake hands us an instrument and leads us through the basics of how to hold the ukulele, pluck it and strum a few chords to extract the dainty, nimble sound that’s softer than a mandolin and sweeter than a banjo.

I try my best to mimic Jake’s movements but the chap next to me, a guitar player, has bucket loads more talent and puts me off. Somehow I manage to muddle through the Beatles’ Love Me Do, hoping my passable singing voice will make up for my inept playing. It’s surprisingly hard on the pads of my fingers and I’m thankful when Jake stops to tell us about playing for the Queen, jamming with director Francis Ford Coppola and appearing in the Adam Sandler film Just Go With It.

Against my better judgment, I agree to have another try, strumming along to Incy, Wincy Spider. Neither my husband nor I fare much better the second time around, but I can see how addictive it could be.

“The ukulele is a portal that only very happy people pass through,” says Jake. He’s right: no matter how bad you are, it’s impossible to play a ukulele without smiling. I know, I’ve tried …

The writer was a guest of the O’ahu Visitors Bureau, gohawaii.com/nz/oahu.

– © Fairfax NZ News