| The ukulele, or uke, is a Hawaiian stringed instrument. | | | | exhibit at the Expo launched a fad for |
| This instrument was developed in the late nineteenth | | | | Hawaiian-themed music on the mainland during the |
| century in Hawaii, and was based on a small | | | | Jazz Age of the 1920s. |
| instrument similar to a guitar brought to the islands by | | | | This enjoyment of all things Hawaii would continue |
| immigrants from Portugal. In particular, three cabinet | | | | following World War II and the resulting popularity of tiki |
| makers are credited as the inventors of the first | | | | culture. The ukulele fit right in with this midcentury fad. |
| ukulele. The Portuguese immigrants were known to | | | | From the 1940s through the 1960s, over 9 million |
| play folk songs on the dock, where native Hawaiians | | | | inexpensive plastic ukuleles were produced to satisfy |
| were impressed not only by the sweet sounds of the | | | | the demand from Tiki aficionados. Today, the ukulele |
| instrument, but also the fast fingers of the players. | | | | can be found in many musical styles around the world. |
| Roughly translated, the name "ukulele" means "jumping | | | | It is particularly popular in Japan. |
| flea," a reference to the action of the player's fingers. | | | | The ukulele is known as a relatively inexpensive and |
| The ukulele's quick rise in popularity has been credited | | | | portable instrument, making it a favorite of amateur |
| in part to the ardent support of the instrument by King | | | | players since the 1920s. On the other end of the |
| David Kalakaua, the last king of the Kingdom of Hawaii. | | | | spectrum, some of the most valuable ukuleles, made |
| Serving from 1874 until 1891, he was in office when the | | | | from Hawaiian koa wood prized for its tone and |
| first ukuleles were played in 1879 and 1880, and soon | | | | attractive coloration, can cost thousands of dollars. |
| made them an integral pat of royal performances. | | | | A subset of the guitar family, most ukuleles have four |
| Several members of the Hawaiian royalty learned | | | | strings. The sounds emanating from a ukelele depends |
| how to play this instrument; it also became popular with | | | | on its size and how it has been constructed. There are |
| Hawaiians from all walks of life, including fishermen and | | | | four common sizes of this instrument: baritone, tenor, |
| taro farmers. Today, the ukelele is often associated | | | | concert, and soprano. The soprano, the smallest uke, is |
| with music from the Hawaiian islands due to its use in | | | | the original size. In Hawaii, it is known as the "standard" |
| popular music originating there. | | | | ukulele. Although traditional ukuleles have a body |
| During the early and mid twentieth century, this exotic | | | | shaped like a figure eight, similar to the body of an |
| instrument also gained popularity on the mainland of | | | | acoustic guitar, there are also oval ukuleles (sometimes |
| the United States. This is due in part to the Panama | | | | referred to as a 'pineapple' shape), boat paddle shaped |
| Pacific International Exposition, which took place in San | | | | bodies, and occasionally square bodies, which are |
| Francisco throughout 1915 and featured a guitar and | | | | often constructed from a wooden cigar box. |
| ukulele band hailing from Hawaii. The popularity of this | | | | |