The ukulele isn’t just an instrument, it’s the heartbeat of Hawaiian music. As we gear up for the World Wave Music Festival, we’re diving into the roots of global sounds and there’s no better place to start than with the four-stringed powerhouse that brought the spirit of aloha to the world stage.
Originally adapted from the Portuguese braguinha brought to the islands in 1879, Hawaiians quickly made it their own, naming it the ‘ukulele ("jumping flea") after the lightning-fast fingerwork of its first players.
The Four Main Types of Ukulele
If you think a uke is just a uke, think again. The instrument comes in four distinct sizes, each offering a totally different tone, resonance, and vibe:
Soprano (21”): This is the classic. It's the smallest of the main four and delivers that bright, crisp, traditional "jangly" Hawaiian sound.
Concert (23”): A step up in size, giving you a slightly deeper sound and a bit more room on the fretboard if you have larger hands.
Tenor (26”): Deep, full-bodied, and loud. Because of its rich tone, this is the go-to choice for many modern stage performers and intricate fingerpickers.
Baritone (30”): The biggest of the bunch. It’s tuned exactly like the top four strings of a guitar, serving up a deep, warm, almost bluesy tone.
Legends of the Strings
You can't talk about the ukulele without honoring the local masters who took a simple island instrument and turned it into a vehicle for world-class artistry:
Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoʻole: The ultimate voice of Hawaii. His iconic, soulful medley of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World"—played simply with his tenor uke—became a global phenomenon and showed the world the pure emotional power of the instrument.
Jake Shimabukuro: A true Honolulu local who completely revolutionized how the instrument is played. Often called the "Jimi Hendrix of the ukulele," Jake went viral years ago with his mind-blowing cover of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and continues to blend rock, jazz, and classical styles on four strings.
Eddie Kamae: A legendary pioneer and a key figure in the Hawaiian Cultural Renaissance. As a founding member of the Sons of Hawaii, Kamae introduced complex, classical-level techniques to the uke and fought to keep traditional Hawaiian music alive for future generations.
