The Annual Ukulele Festival was held each July in Hawaii from 1971 to 2022.[1] It was founded in 1971 by Roy Sakuma with the support of the Waikiki Department of Parks.[2] The event drew large crowds to listen to free concerts by both amateur and top ukulele musicians.

Origins

In 1970, Roy Sakuma was working as a groundskeeper for the Waikiki Department of Parks. At lunch one day, Sakuma and his colleagues envisioned an ukulele concert. With the support of his supervisor, Sakuma worked with the department and the Hawaii International Ukulele Club to put together the first festival at the Kapiolani Park Bandstand in Waikiki in 1971.[2]

Ukulele Festival Hawaii organization

Ukulele Festival Hawaii is a non-profit charitable organization established in 2004 by Roy and Kathy Sakuma. The organization’s mission is to bring laughter, love and hope to children and adults throughout Hawaii and the world through the music of the ukulele. Ukulele Festival Hawaii produces, promotes and arranges ukulele festivals free to the public, encourages interest in Hawaii’s arts and culture through education and scholarships, and promotes local and international interest in the ukulele as an instrument of virtuoso quality. The Ukulele Festival, the first and original ‘ukulele festival begun in 1971, is held every July in Kapiolani Park, O‘ahu.

Key performers

In 1985, Sakuma went looking for the man who had created two ukulele jazz records 25 years earlier that had become classics to the Hawaiian ukulele players, How About Uke? and 50th State Jazz. Sakuma located Lyle Ritz in California and convinced him to pick up the ukulele again and come play at the festival that year. Ritz then moved to Hawaii and performed at many of the following festivals as well.

In 1994, James Ingram, the Grammy Award-winning pop artist, met Sakuma while they were exercising on the tracks of the University of Hawaii. Ten years later the two composed “Come and Join Us” which has become the theme song for Ukulele Festival Hawaii organization. The 2004 Hawaii Music Awards awarded the “Single of the Year" to the composition.

Master of Ceremonies

Danny Kaleikini served as the festival’s official emcee for over 45 years, first appearing in 1972.[3][4] Kaleikini often serves as emcee at the other ukulele festivals as well.[5]

Festival Dates and Headliners

Festival Date Known Performers
15th27 July 1985Lyle Ritz
16thJuly 1986Lyle Ritz
17thJuly 1987Lyle Ritz
18thJuly 1988Lyle Ritz
24thJuly 1994James Ingram[6]
26thJuly 1996Jim Beloff[6]
27thJuly 27, 1997James Ingram, Lyle Ritz and his daughter Emily, The Langley Ukulele Ensemble[6]
30thJuly 2000James Ingram[6]
31stJuly 29, 2001Jake Shimabukuro[6]
34thJuly 25, 2004 [7]James Ingram, Troy Fernandez, Canadian virtuoso James Hill, Japan's Yuji Igarashi, the Keale Ohana and Daniel Ho.[5]
36thJuly 30, 2006Danny Kaleikini, James Hill, Ohta-San[8]
37thJuly 22, 2007Jake Shimabukuro, Holunape and Ohta-San[9]
38thJuly 27, 2008Herb Ohta, Sr. (Ohta-san), Kelly Boy Delima, Michael Keale, Paula Fuga, Bryan Tolentino, Canadian James Hill played ukulele with chopsticks.
39thJuly 19, 2009Danny Kaleikini, Taimane Gardner, Holunape, Natalie Ai Kamauu, Langley Ukulele Ensemble, Ken Makuakane, Ohata-san, Palolo, Bill Tapia, Sunset Strummers, Yuji Igarashi & “Kolohe” Imamura, George Matsushita, LeaLea Ukulele Garden, Ukulele 4 Ladies
40thJuly 18, 2010Jake Shimabukuro[10]
41stJuly 29, 2011Jake Shimabukuro,[11] Aldrine Guerrero, Kalei Gamiao [12]
42ndJuly 22, 2012
43rdJuly 21, 2013[13]Jake Shimabukuro, Ohta San, Herb Ohta, Jr., Dukes of Surf, Paula Fuga
50th18 July 2021TBD; no 2020 festival.

References

  1. ↑ Berger, John (July 20, 2022). "Strumming the final chords". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. pp. D1, D6. Retrieved 2023-01-08 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 Tranquada, Jim (2011). The Ukulele: A History. Honolulu, Hawaii: University of Hawaii Press. p. 157. ISBN 9780824836344.
  3. ↑ Donnelly, Dave (July 20, 1972). "Dave Donnelly's Hawaii". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. p. A-4. Retrieved 2023-01-08 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Ukulele festival has global mix of musicians". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. July 14, 2017. p. T2. Retrieved 2023-01-08 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 Berger, Ukulele fest strums along, Honolulu Star Bulletin, Friday, July 23, 2004
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 The 27th Annual Ukulele Festival Report
  7. ↑ After 125 years, the ukulele still keeps people smiling
  8. ↑ The `Ukulele Archived August 1, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ Ukulele Festival set for Sunday in Waikiki
  10. ↑ PRI's The World Archived August 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  11. ↑ The Syracuse Post Standard, July 18, 2011
  12. ↑ Roy Sakuma’s Ukulele Festival 2011 Archived September 30, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  13. ↑ Ukulele Festival Hawaii 2013

21°16′06″N 157°49′05″W / 21.268441°N 157.818159°W / 21.268441; -157.818159

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