Kamaka Hawaii, Included , also known as Kamaka Ukulele or just Kamaka is a family-based ukulele maker in Hawaii. It is often credited with producing some of the best ukuleles in the world, and creating the first pineapple ukulele.
Video Kamaka Ukulele
History
Kamaka was founded in 1916 by Samuel Kaialiilii Kamaka, who has been making koa ukuleles since the beginning of this century. The first store was called "Kamaka Ukulele and Guitar Works" and ran out of the basement of Samuel Kamaka. In 1921, Kamaka opened a shop in the town of Kaimuki, near Honolulu. Kamaka already has a reputation for making high-quality instruments, and the store is a success.
The Pineapple Ukulele
In the 1920s, Samuel Kamaka began to create new ukulele designs, which produced a softer sound than normal-length ukulele. His friends are said to have commented that the new ukulele looks like a pineapple, and one of Samuel's friends, an artist, painted a pineapple image on the front of the new ukulele. The new form soon became popular, and in 1928 Kamaka was awarded a patent on a pineapple ukulele.
Kamika and Sons
Samuel Kamaka has two sons, Samuel Jr. and Frederick, and when the kids were in elementary school, he started teaching them the art of ukuleles crafts. In 1945 the company was reorganized as "Kamaka and Sons Enterprises", but when Kamaka's two boys were designed to fight in World War II, the ukulele took the backseat. When the boys returned from the war, Samuel Jr. and Frederick attended Washington State University, and then got a job in the Army. Samuel Jr. holds a master's degree and pursues a doctorate in entomology from Oregon State University.
Kamaka is inherited
Samuel Kamaka retired early in 1952 for illness and went to the family home in Waianae to make ukuleles. He died in December 1953, after 40 years of career at ukulele. After the death of his father, Samuel Jr. leaving his studies, instead choosing to continue the family business. He returned the company to its original location in Kaimuki, and expanded the company in 1959. Kamaka and Sons were incorporated in 1968, and in 1972 Frederick became general manager. Kamaka is still family owned by Samuel Jr. and Frederick Sr. Their son runs the day-to-day operations. Samuel Jr.'s son, Chris is Production Manager and Casey's son is a luthier. Son Frederick Sr. Frederick Jr. is the Business Manager. Children Chris, Dustin and Christopher also work at the factory.
Samuel Kamaka Jr. active in local luthier scene; along with friend George Gilmore (from Guitar and Lute Workshop), they created the Lute Society. Together, they taught night courses in lute and guitar construction techniques from 1966 to 1970.
Maps Kamaka Ukulele
Employment of people with limitations
In 1955, Kamaka first employed a disabled employee, during which the disabled was deemed unable to work. Two people who have hearing impairments are hired as craftsmen, and are found as exemplary workers, as they enhance the touch, allowing them to make better ukuleles, able to feel the thickness of the wood.
In 1999 Kamaka held a retirement celebration for two major craftsmen Jose Hipolito and Kenneth Mcfeeley who have worked in this company for over 40 years; both are deaf from birth.
Ukulele Model
Kamaka Hawaii makes nine separate ukulele models, all made with koa wood.
- Standard (soprano) (HF-1)
- Standard Pineapple (soprano) (HP-1)
- Concert (HF-2)
- Four-stringed torque (HF-3)
- Six-stringed tens (HF-36)
- Ten-string (HF-38)
- Baritone (HF-4)
- Standard Deluxe (HF-1D)
- The Bell Deluxe concert (HB-2D)
Also, there is an option on all models except HF-4 and HB-2D for "long neck" (concert neck on a soprano, tenor's neck on concert, etc.).
Famous support
Kamaka ukuleles is supported by a number of professional musicians including the magical ukulele Jake Shimabukuro. Shimabukuro, who gained popular recognition after George Harrison's 'While My Guitar Weently Weeps' arrangement, played Kamaka's four-tone tenacity string that was tailored to the specifications by the luthiers in Kamaka's workshop. This tool features kai kangai wood of a powerful Hawaiian master class and Fishman's pickup.
George Harrison also liked the Kamaka ukulele; he played concerts, a 6-string tenor and an 8-string tenor. According to one music store in Maui, Hawaii, Harrison will buy all the Kamaka ukuleles in stock to give to his friends as gifts.
Adam Sandler played the Kamaka ukulele in the First Date movie. Ukulele is a Kamaka 6 custom string designed for Sandler specification. It appears on official movie posters and on DVD covers and soundtracks, although the ukulele is digitally modified to resemble a 4-string.
Awards, awards and acknowledgments
- Award of recognition for "Exceptional and Reliable Service" from Better Business Bureau of Hawaii (1988)
- "Extraordinary Wealth with Disabilities Award" provided by the State of Hawaii Vocational Rehabilitation and Services for Blind Division (1990)
- Sam Kamaka Jr. and Fred Kamaka Sr was elected as Hawaiian Business Persons of the Year and was given the 'O'o Award of the Hawaiian Business/Professional Association (now known as the Original Hawaii Chamber of Commerce) (1992)/li>
- Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi proclaimed April 30, 1992 as "Samuel and Frederick Kamaka Day." (1992)
- Hawaii Governor John Waihee rewards Sam Jr. and Fred Sr. with a certificate of appreciation. Acknowledge Sam Jr. is as "one of the legends of the music industry" and "one of Hawaii's favorite sons." (1992)
- Kamaka Hawaii received the Holo I Mua Award for Excellence from the Better Business Bureau of Hawaii (now the "Torch Award for Business Ethics"). In 77 years of manufacture, no customer complaints were filed against the company. (1993)
- The state legislature of Hawaii recognizes Kamaka brothers and their companies to "make a good ukulel appreciated all over the world and thus preserve Hawaiian culture and contribute to the music of the world." (1995)
- Samuel Kamaka Sr was appointed the Ukulele Hall of Fame in Rhode Island. [1] (2000)
- Sam Kamaka, Jr. received the Ukulele Treasure award from Ukulele Guild of Hawaii (2004)
References
External links
- Kamaka's website.
- Documentary on Kamaka
- Kamaka History
- Bringing Kamaka Legacy. Kamaka Ukulele's 90th Anniversary. Honolulu Advertiser Articles from August 27, 2006.
- History of 'Ukulele
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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