Kamaka Ukulele

Kaimuki, Hawaii, USA (1916-1952, 1953-Present),

Kamaka Hawaii, Incorporated, also known as Kamaka Ukulele or just Kamaka is a family-owned Hawaii-based maker of ukuleles. It is often credited with producing some of the world's finest ukuleles, and created the first pineapple ukulele.

Kamaka was founded in 1916 by Samuel Kaialiilii Kamaka, who had been already making koa ukuleles since the beginning of the century. The first shop was called "Kamaka Ukulele and Guitar Works" and was run out of Samuel Kamaka's basement. In 1921 Kamaka opened a store in the town of Kaimuki, near Honolulu. Kamaka already had a reputation for making high-quality instruments, and the shop was a success.

In the 1920s, Samuel Kamaka started making a new design of ukulele, which produced a more mellow sound than that of a normal figure-eight shaped ukulele. His friends are said to have commented that this new ukulele looked like a pineapple, and one of Samuel's friends, an artist, painted an image of a pineapple on the front of the new ukulele. The new shape immediately became popular, and in 1928 Kamaka was awarded a patent on the pineapple ukulele.

Samuel Kamaka had two sons, Samuel Jr. and Frederick, and when the boys were just in grade school he began to teach them the art of crafting ukuleles. In 1945 the company reorganized as "Kamaka and Sons Enterprises", but when both Kamaka boys were drafted to fight in World War II, ukulele making took a back seat. When the boys returned from the war, Samuel Jr. and Frederick attended Washington State University, and later got a job in the Army. Samuel Jr. earned a master's degree and pursued a doctorate in entomology from Oregon State University.

Samuel Kamaka semi-retired early in 1952 due to illness and went to the family estate in Waianae to make ukuleles. He died in December 1953, after a 40-year career in ukulele craft. Upon his father's death, Samuel Jr. abandoned his studies, instead choosing to continue the family business. He restored the company to its original location in Kaimuki, and expanded the company in 1959. Kamaka and Sons incorporated in 1968, and in 1972 Frederick became the general manager. Kamaka is still family-owned by Samuel Jr. and Frederick Sr. Their sons run the day-to-day operations. Samuel Jr.'s son Chris is the Production Manager and son Casey is the luthier. Frederick Sr.'s son Frederick Jr. is the Business Manager. Chris' sons Dustin and Christopher also work in the factory.