Annual Ukulele Festival

The Annual Ukulele Festival is held each July in Hawaii. It was founded in 1971 by Roy Sakuma with the support of the Waikiki Department of Parks.[1] The event draws 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.[1]

Ukulele Festival Hawaii organization

In 1994 Roy and Kathy Sakuma formed the non-profit Ukulele Festival Hawaii, a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization, to provide for the ongoing support of the annual event. In addition to the main event in Waikiki, the organization provides support to other festivals on the islands of Oahu, Waikoloa,[2] Kauai and Maui (established 2006).[3]

The organization also provides a number of scholarships for high school students embarking on a college career. In addition to completing an essay, applicants must also have a passion for the ukulele.

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 has served as the Festival’s official emcee for over 35 years, first appearing in 1973. Kaleikini often serves as emcee at the other ukulele festivals as well.[4]

Festival Dates and Headliners

Festival Date Known Performers
15th 27 July 1985 Lyle Ritz
16th July 1986 Lyle Ritz
17th July 1987 Lyle Ritz
18th July 1988 Lyle Ritz
24th July 1994 James Ingram[5]
26th July 1996 Jim Beloff[5]
27th July 27, 1997 James Ingram, Lyle Ritz and his daughter Emily, The Langley Ukulele Ensemble[5]
30th July 2000 James Ingram[5]
31st July 29, 2001 Jake Shimabukuro[5]
34th July 25, 2004 [6] James Ingram, Troy Fernandez, Canadian virtuoso James Hill, Japan's Yuji Igarashi, the Keale Ohana and Daniel Ho.[4]
36th July 30, 2006 Danny Kaleikini, James Hill, Ohta-San[7]
37th July 22, 2007 Jake Shimabukuro, Holunape and Ohta-San[8]
38th July 27, 2008 Herb Ohta, Sr. (Ohta-san), Kelly Boy Delima, Michael Keale, Paula Fuga, Bryan Tolentino, Canadian James Hill played ukulele with chopsticks.
39th July 19, 2009 Danny 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
40th July 18, 2010 Jake Shimabukuro[9]
41st July 29, 2011 Jake Shimabukuro,[10] Aldrine Guerrero, Kalei Gamiao [11]
42nd July 22, 2012
43rd July 21, 2013[12]Jake Shimabukuro, Ohta San, Herb Ohta, Jr., Dukes of Surf, Paula Fuga

References

  1. 1 2 Tranquada, Jim (2011). The Ukulele: A History. Honolulu, Hawaii: University of Hawaii Press. p. 157. ISBN 9780824836344.
  2. ↑ The Great Waikoloa Ukulele Festival
  3. ↑ Maui ‘Ukulele Festival Celebrates 5th Anniversary at the MACC
  4. 1 2 Berger, Ukulele fest strums along, Honolulu Star Bulletin, Friday, July 23, 2004
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 The 27th Annual Ukulele Festival Report
  6. ↑ After 125 years, the ukulele still keeps people smiling
  7. ↑ The `Ukulele
  8. ↑ Ukulele Festival set for Sunday in Waikiki
  9. ↑ PRI's The World
  10. ↑ The Syracuse Post Standard, July 18, 2011
  11. ↑ Roy Sakuma’s Ukulele Festival 2011
  12. ↑ Ukulele Festival Hawaii 2013

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

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