Ukulele Festival Hawaii

The ukulele is surely Hawaii’s signature instrument, and its popularity today - within a diverse range of musical styles - is largely down to the efforts of one man, Roy Sakuma. In 1971, at a time when very few people were interested in the ukulele, Sakuma organized the 1st Annual Ukulele Festival, in an effort to show the world how the ukulele could be played, not just as a rhythmic addition to background music, but as a solo instrument of sophistication and virtuosity. Waikiki’s Ukulele Festival is now a summer tradition in Hawaii, and is by far and away the largest ukulele festival in the world. Every year, thousands of people gather to watch performances from local and international artists, and an 800-strong ukulele orchestra compromised of Sakuma’s students.