Ukulele
History
The ukulele began in 1879, when Portuguese immigrants from Madeira sailed to Hawaii aboard the SS Ravenscrag carrying small string instruments. Hawaiian makers reshaped them with native koa wood and a bright reentrant tuning — and the ukulele was born.
What Is Ukulele History?
Ukulele history begins in 1879, when Portuguese immigrants from Madeira reached Hawaii aboard the SS Ravenscrag. They carried small string instruments — the machete, braguinha, and rajão — that Hawaiian craftsmen reshaped using native koa wood. Royal support from King Kalākaua turned it into a symbol of Hawaiian identity.
How Did the Ukulele Reach Hawaii?
The ukulele reached Hawaii in 1879. On August 23, the SS Ravenscrag docked in Honolulu carrying 423 Portuguese immigrants from Madeira, recruited for the sugar plantations. Among them were woodworkers and musicians whose small string instruments amazed local Hawaiians — the spark that created the ukulele.
Ukulele History Timeline: 1879 to Today
The ukulele’s history spans roughly 150 years. It began in 1879 with Madeiran immigrants in Hawaii, won royal backing in the 1890s, swept mainland America after the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition, faded during the rock era, then surged back through Israel Kamakawiwoʻole in 1993 and YouTube in the 2000s.
Madeira’s string roots
On the Atlantic island of Madeira, Portuguese musicians play the machete, braguinha, and rajão — the small instruments that would shape the ukulele.
Arrival in Hawaii
The SS Ravenscrag docks in Honolulu with 423 Madeiran immigrants, whose nightly street concerts captivate the islands.
Full timelineThe ukulele is born
Woodworkers Manuel Nunes, Augusto Dias, and José do Espírito Santo open shops and craft the first koa-wood ukuleles.
Meet the makersRoyal patronage
King Kalākaua and Queen Liliʻuokalani embrace the instrument, turning it into a symbol of Hawaiian pride and identity.
Mainland breakthrough
At San Francisco’s Panama-Pacific Exposition, Hawaiian players spark a nationwide craze and sheet-music publishers rush to print uke songs.
The Jazz Age boom
Martin and others mass-produce ukuleles. Stars like Cliff “Ukulele Ike” Edwards and Roy Smeck make it the sound of a generation.
The uke reaches Japan
Yukihiko Haida introduces the ukulele to Japan, which becomes a lasting home for Hawaiian music and uke virtuosos.
Plastic & television
Maccaferri sells millions of plastic ukuleles and Arthur Godfrey popularizes it on TV — before rock ’n’ roll pushes it aside.
The IZ revival
Israel Kamakawiwoʻole’s medley of “Over the Rainbow” reawakens the world to the ukulele’s gentle power.
Hear the storyThe YouTube boom
Jake Shimabukuro’s viral “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” proves the uke is a serious instrument, igniting a global revival.
A global renaissance
Millions play worldwide, from classrooms to concert halls. The ukulele is more popular now than at any point in its history.
Who Invented the Ukulele?
Three Madeiran woodworkers invented the ukulele in 1880s Honolulu: Manuel Nunes, Augusto Dias, and José do Espírito Santo. Each opened his own shop and adapted the Portuguese machete using Hawaiian koa wood. Nunes is most often called the “father of the ukulele,” though all three shaped the instrument.
No record settles it. All three were making machete-like instruments in the same few Honolulu blocks within a couple of years of each other. Nunes claimed the title loudest — but the ukulele was, in truth, a shared creation by three Madeiran hands.
What Are the Different Types of Ukulele?
There are four main ukulele types, smallest to largest: soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone. Sopranos (~21″) give the classic bright sound; concerts and tenors are larger and fuller; the baritone (~30″) is the deepest and is tuned D-G-B-E like a guitar’s top four strings.
| Type | Length | Frets | Tuning | Sound |
|---|
New to the ukulele? A concert or soprano is the usual starting point — soprano for the classic sound, concert for a little more room and volume. Guitarists often feel at home on a baritone, thanks to its familiar D-G-B-E tuning.
Why Is It Called a Ukulele?
“Ukulele” means “jumping flea” in Hawaiian — ‘uku (flea) + lele (jumping) — likely describing how a player’s fingers dance across the strings. Two other theories exist: it was named after a lively royal court member, or, in Queen Liliʻuokalani’s words, it means “the gift that came here.”
The Jumping Flea
The literal Hawaiian translation. Many say it captures how a player’s fingers dart across the strings like hopping fleas.
The Lively Officer
Edward Purvis, a small, energetic member of King Kalākaua’s court, was nicknamed ‘Ukulele. A fine player, he may have lent the instrument his name.
The Gift That Came
Queen Liliʻuokalani, Hawaii’s last monarch, preferred this poetic reading — honouring the instrument as a treasured arrival to the islands.
How Did the Ukulele Become Popular Again?
After fading during the rock era, the ukulele roared back in the 1990s and 2000s. In 1993, Israel Kamakawiwoʻole’s “Over the Rainbow” medley became a global hit. In 2006, Jake Shimabukuro’s virtuoso “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” went viral on YouTube. Today, millions learn online and the uke thrives worldwide.
Over the Rainbow
Recorded in a single late-night session, IZ’s tender medley appeared on his 1993 album Facing Future. Its gentle ukulele and voice reintroduced the instrument to millions and became one of the most-loved recordings ever made.
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
In 2006, a clip of Jake playing in New York’s Central Park spread across the young YouTube. His dazzling fingerwork proved the ukulele could be a serious virtuoso instrument, inspiring a whole new generation to pick it up.
Videos are embedded via YouTube and remain the property of their respective owners — “Over the Rainbow” from The Mountain Apple Company (Israel Kamakawiwoʻole’s official channel), and Jake Shimabukuro’s 2006 Central Park performance. No files are hosted on this site.
Ukulele Myths, Debunked
The biggest ukulele myth is that it’s purely Hawaiian — it actually has Portuguese roots from Madeira. Other common myths: that it’s just a tiny guitar (it has its own reentrant tuning), that it’s only a beginner’s toy (virtuosos play it), and that it’s said “you-ka-lay-lee” (Hawaiian: oo-koo-leh-leh).
Flip each card to reveal the truthUkulele History: Frequently Asked Questions
Quick, clear answers to the questions people ask most about the ukulele’s origins.
Who invented the ukulele?
The ukulele was created by three Madeiran woodworkers in 1880s Hawaii: Manuel Nunes, Augusto Dias, and José do Espírito Santo. They adapted the Portuguese machete using local koa wood. Nunes is often called the “father of the ukulele,” though all three shaped the instrument together.
When was the ukulele invented?
The ukulele emerged in the early 1880s in Honolulu, shortly after Portuguese immigrants arrived from Madeira in 1879. The first Hawaiian-made ukuleles appeared once the Madeiran craftsmen opened their instrument shops in the mid-1880s.
What does “ukulele” mean?
In Hawaiian, “ukulele” means “jumping flea” — ‘uku (flea) plus lele (jumping) — possibly describing how a player’s fingers dance across the strings. Queen Liliʻuokalani preferred another meaning: “the gift that came here.”
Did the ukulele come from Hawaii or Portugal?
Both. The ukulele’s ancestors — the machete, braguinha, and rajão — came from Madeira, Portugal. But the ukulele itself was developed in Hawaii, where Madeiran craftsmen reshaped these instruments with koa wood and Hawaiian style. It’s a shared Portuguese-Hawaiian creation.
What was the first ukulele made of?
Early ukuleles were built from Hawaiian koa, a native acacia wood prized for its warm tone and beautiful grain. Koa remains the traditional and most iconic ukulele wood, though modern instruments also use mahogany, spruce, and other tonewoods.
How is a ukulele tuned?
A standard soprano, concert, or tenor ukulele is tuned G-C-E-A. It uses reentrant tuning, meaning the top G string is pitched high rather than low — which gives the uke its bright, cheerful sound. Baritone ukuleles are tuned D-G-B-E.
Why did King Kalākaua support the ukulele?
King Kalākaua, Hawaii’s “Merrie Monarch,” championed the ukulele as part of a revival of Hawaiian music and culture. He featured it at royal gatherings and performances, giving the instrument prestige that helped it spread across the islands and beyond.
Why did the ukulele become popular again?
The ukulele’s modern revival began with Israel Kamakawiwoʻole’s 1993 “Over the Rainbow” medley and surged after Jake Shimabukuro’s 2006 viral YouTube video. Affordable instruments and online lessons then made it a global favorite in classrooms and homes.
Explore More Ukulele History
Go deeper into the people, songs, and craft behind the world’s happiest instrument.
Ukulele History Timeline
Every milestone from 1879 to today, laid out in one scrollable journey.
ReadThe Luthiers Who Built It
How Nunes, Dias, and Santo turned the Portuguese machete into the ukulele.
ReadThe “Over the Rainbow” Story
The song — and the man — who reawakened the world to the uke.
ReadWhat the Uke Was First Called
Jumping flea, royal gift, or a lively officer? The naming mystery, explained.
ReadUkulele Tuning Guide
Master G-C-E-A tuning and the bright, reentrant sound that defines the uke.
ReadChoosing Your First Ukulele
Soprano, concert, tenor, or baritone — which size and sound fits you best?
Read