⏱️ 9 min read
When three Portuguese woodworkers stepped off the British ship Ravenscrag onto Hawaiian shores in August 1879, they carried with them small, four-stringed instruments that would transform island music forever. Within just a few decades, their creation would become the worldwide symbol of Hawaiian culture, yet the story of how this happened involves a fascinating blend of immigrant ingenuity, royal patronage, and cultural adaptation that few people know.
Quick Facts
- Portuguese immigrants Manuel Nunes, José do Espírito Santo, and Augusto Dias arrived in Hawaii on August 23, 1879, bringing small stringed instruments from Madeira.
- The ukulele evolved from the Portuguese braguinha or machete, a four-stringed instrument popular in Madeira and the Azores.
- King David Kalākaua adopted the instrument in the 1880s, making it fashionable among Hawaiian royalty and ensuring its cultural prominence.
- Manuel Nunes opened the first ukulele factory in Hawaii around 1889 and stamped his instruments with his name until the 1930s.
- The word "ukulele" roughly translates to "jumping flea" in Hawaiian, possibly describing the finger movements of players.
The Portuguese Connection: From Madeira to the Pacific
The ukulele's Portuguese origins trace directly to the island of Madeira, where a small guitar-like instrument called the braguinha or machete de braga had been played for generations. This instrument featured four gut or wire strings tuned in a pattern similar to the modern ukulele, though slightly larger in size. When sugarcane plantation owners in Hawaii recruited workers from Madeira and the Azores in 1878, they inadvertently imported not just labor but an entire musical tradition.
The three cabinet makers who would become legendary in ukulele history—Manuel Nunes, José do Espírito Santo, and Augusto Dias—were among approximately 400 Portuguese immigrants aboard the Ravenscrag during its four-month voyage from Funchal, Madeira. Historical records indicate that upon landing at Honolulu Harbor, João Fernandes reportedly jumped off the ship and immediately began playing and singing Portuguese folk songs, delighting the crowd that had gathered. This spontaneous performance is often cited as the ukulele's first public introduction to Hawaiian audiences.
These craftsmen recognized an opportunity in their new home. Hawaii in the 1880s was experiencing rapid cultural and economic growth, with a monarchy that actively patronized the arts and a growing middle class hungry for entertainment. The Portuguese immigrants quickly adapted their traditional braguinha to local tastes, using native Hawaiian woods like koa, which produced a distinctly warm, mellow tone that differed from the brighter sound of Madeiran instruments.
Royal Endorsement and Cultural Transformation
The ukulele's transformation from immigrant novelty to Hawaiian icon occurred largely through the influence of King David Kalākaua, who reigned from 1874 to 1891. Known as the "Merrie Monarch," Kalākaua was passionate about reviving and promoting Hawaiian culture, which had been suppressed by missionary influence for decades. He incorporated the ukulele into official court functions, hired musicians to perform at ʻIolani Palace, and even learned to play the instrument himself.
Queen Liliʻuokalani, Kalākaua's sister and successor, was an accomplished musician and composer who wrote several songs specifically for the ukulele, including the famous "Aloha ʻOe." Her 1897 composition book included ukulele chord notations, legitimizing the instrument in formal Hawaiian music composition. This royal patronage meant that by the 1890s, the ukulele had become deeply intertwined with Hawaiian identity, no longer seen as a foreign import but as an authentic expression of island culture.
The instrument's adoption went beyond the palace walls. Hawaiian musicians modified playing techniques, developed unique strumming patterns, and created a repertoire that blended traditional Hawaiian chants with Western harmonic structures. This musical fusion gave birth to a distinctly Hawaiian sound that captivated both locals and the increasing number of tourists visiting the islands.
The Three Founding Luthiers and Their Legacy
Manuel Nunes became the most commercially successful of the three original craftsmen, establishing M. Nunes & Sons around 1889. His workshop, located on Liliha Street in Honolulu, produced hundreds of instruments annually by the early 1900s. Nunes instruments are now highly collectible, with surviving examples from the 1890s fetching thousands of dollars at auction. He continued supervising production until his death in 1922, and the company operated under family management until 1935.
Augusto Dias established his own workshop and is credited with several innovations in ukulele construction, including experimentation with different body shapes and bracing patterns. Dias received a gold medal for his instruments at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, which helped introduce the ukulele to mainland American audiences. His business operated successfully until approximately 1910, though fewer of his instruments survive today compared to Nunes's prolific output.
José do Espírito Santo, the third member of this influential trio, maintained a smaller operation but earned respect among musicians for the tonal quality of his instruments. He worked independently until around 1897, when health problems forced him to reduce production. Santo's instruments are the rarest of the three makers, with authenticated examples appearing only occasionally in museum collections.
Mainland America Discovers the Jumping Flea
The ukulele explosion on the U.S. mainland began with the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, where Hawaiian exhibitors performed daily concerts featuring the instrument. Manufacturers shipped approximately 3,000 ukuleles from Hawaii to California specifically for this event. The exposition attracted over 18 million visitors during its nine-month run, and many left wanting their own ukulele.
By 1916, mainland manufacturers began producing ukuleles to meet demand, with companies like C.F. Martin & Company in Pennsylvania and Gibson in Michigan adding ukuleles to their catalog. Martin's ukulele production between 1916 and 1965 exceeded 180,000 instruments. The Jazz Age of the 1920s saw the ukulele become a cultural phenomenon, with performers like Cliff "Ukulele Ike" Edwards—who later became the voice of Jiminy Cricket—popularizing the instrument through vaudeville, radio, and early films.
Sheet music publishers capitalized on the craze, printing popular songs with ukulele chord diagrams. The 1924 song "Ukulele Lady" sold over a million copies of sheet music within months. Arthur Godfrey's television show in the 1950s sparked a second wave of popularity, with manufacturers producing over 500,000 ukuleles annually by 1960. Maccaferri plastic ukuleles, marketed as "Arthur Godfrey Uke Paks," sold for $3.95 and introduced millions of children to the instrument.
Modern Renaissance and Global Influence
After declining in the 1960s and 1970s, the ukulele experienced a remarkable renaissance beginning in the 1990s. Hawaiian musician Israel Kamakawiwoʻole's 1993 medley of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World," performed on ukulele, has been streamed over two billion times across platforms and introduced new generations to the instrument's expressive potential. His recording demonstrated that the ukulele could convey profound emotion beyond its reputation as a novelty instrument.
Contemporary musicians across genres have embraced the ukulele, from indie artists like Vance Joy and Twenty One Pilots to classical performers. Jake Shimabukuro's virtuosic performances, including his viral 2006 YouTube video of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," have expanded technical possibilities and challenged perceptions of the instrument's limitations. His 2011 performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London demonstrated the ukulele's acceptance in prestigious concert venues.
Manufacturing has returned to Hawaii, with contemporary luthiers like Ko'olau Guitar and Ukulele Company and Kanile'a 'Ukulele producing hundreds of high-quality instruments annually using traditional Hawaiian woods and modern construction techniques. These companies maintain waiting lists that can extend several years for custom instruments, which can cost between $2,000 and $10,000. Educational programs throughout Hawaii now include ukulele instruction as part of cultural preservation efforts, ensuring that new generations understand both the instrument's Portuguese origins and its Hawaiian identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Portuguese immigrants actually invent the ukulele, or just bring it to Hawaii?
Portuguese immigrants adapted their traditional braguinha instrument into what became the ukulele by modifying its size, using Hawaiian koa wood, and adjusting tuning to suit Hawaiian musical styles. While based on a Portuguese design, the ukulele as we know it was created in Hawaii through this process of cultural adaptation.
Why is the instrument called "ukulele" if Portuguese people made it?
Native Hawaiians gave the instrument its name, with "ukulele" commonly translated as "jumping flea," possibly describing the quick finger movements of players or referencing Edward Purvis, a small, energetic British man who popularized the instrument and earned the nickname "ukulele." The Hawaiian name reflects the instrument's adoption into island culture.
What's the difference between a ukulele and the Portuguese braguinha?
The Portuguese braguinha is typically slightly larger than a soprano ukulele, uses different tuning (often with a low-pitched fourth string), and was traditionally strung with gut or metal strings rather than nylon. The Hawaiian ukulele evolved with its distinctive re-entrant tuning where the fourth string is higher pitched, creating its characteristic sound.
Are ukuleles still made in Hawaii using traditional methods?
Yes, several Hawaiian companies including Kanile'a, Ko'olau, and Kamaka (founded in 1916) continue manufacturing ukuleles in Hawaii using native koa wood and traditional construction methods alongside modern innovations. These instruments are considered the finest available and maintain centuries-old craftsmanship traditions.
Key Takeaways
- Three Portuguese cabinet makers from Madeira—Manuel Nunes, José do Espírito Santo, and Augusto Dias—arrived in Hawaii in 1879 and adapted their traditional braguinha instrument into the ukulele using Hawaiian woods and construction methods.
- King David Kalākaua and Queen Liliʻuokalani's enthusiastic adoption of the instrument in the 1880s transformed it from an immigrant curiosity into a symbol of Hawaiian cultural identity and ensured its survival and prominence.
- The 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition launched the ukulele's mainland American popularity, leading to Jazz Age ubiquity and multiple revival periods including today's renaissance driven by artists like Israel Kamakawiwoʻole and Jake Shimabukuro.
- While Portuguese in origin, the ukulele represents a genuine example of cultural fusion, where immigrant traditions combined with Hawaiian musical sensibilities to create something entirely new that became authentically Hawaiian.
