Kamaka Ukulele
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| Kamaka Hawaii | |
|---|---|
| Type | Corporation |
| Founded | Kaimuki, Hawaii, USA (1916) |
| Headquarters | Kaimuki, Hawaii, USA (1916-1952, 1953-Present), Waianae, Hawaii (1952-1953)) |
| Key people | Samuel Kamaka, Sr. (Founder), Samuel Kamaka, Jr., Frederick Kamaka |
| Industry | Musical Instruments |
| Products | Ukuleles |
| Revenue | NA |
| Employees | NA |
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 fines ukuleles, and created the first pineapple ukulele.
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[edit] History
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.
[edit] The Pineapple
In the 1920s, Samuel Kamaka started making a new design of ukulele, which produced a sound mellower 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.
[edit] Kamaka and Sons
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 both boys returned from WWII and afterwards Frederick attended Washington State University,and later got a job in the Army. Samuel Jr. gained a masters degree and pursued a doctorate in entomology from Oregon State University.
[edit] Kamaka is Handed Down
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 of 1953, after a 40 year career in ukulele craft. Immediately afterwards, 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 Frederick and Samuel Jr.'s sons, Chris, Casey, and Frederick Jr.
[edit] Employment of People With Disabilities
In 1955, Kamaka first hired disabled employees, a time at which the disabled were viewed as unable to work. Two hearing-impaired individuals were hired as craftsmen, and were found not to be bad workers but exemplary workers, because of their enhanced sense of touch allowed them to craft better ukuleles, able to feel the thickness of the wood [1]. In 1999 Kamaka held a retirement celebration for two master craftsman who had been with the company for over 40 years, both were deaf since birth.
[edit] Ukulele Models
Kamaka Hawaii makes nine separate models of ukulele, all made with koa wood.
- Standard (Soprano)*
- Standard Pineapple
- Concert
- Tenor four-string
- Tenor six-string
- Tenor eight-string
- Baritone
- Concert Bell
* Indicates ukulele also comes in deluxe model
[edit] Awards, Honors, and Recognitions
- Recognition award for "Outstanding and reliable service" from the Better Business Bureau of Hawaii (1988)
- "Outstanding Employer of Persons with Disabilities Award" presented by the State of Hawaii Vocational Rehabilitation and Services for the Blind Division (1990)
- Sam Kamaka Jr. and Fred Kamaka Sr. selected as the Hawaiian Business Persons of the Year and given 'O'o Award from the Hawaiian Business/Professional Association (now known as the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce) (1992)
- Mayor Frank Fasi proclaims April 30, 1992 as "Samuel and Frederick Kamaka Day." (1992)
- Governor John Waihee awards Sam Jr. and Fred Sr. with certificates of commendation. Recognizing Sam Jr. is as "one of the legends of the music industry" and "one of Hawaii's favorite sons." (1992)
- Kamaka Hawaii receives the Holo I Mua Award for Excellence from the Better Business Bureau of Hawaii (now "Torch Award for Business Ethics"). In 77 years of manufacturing, no customer complaints were lodged against the company. (1993)
- Hawaiian state Legislature recognizes the Kamaka brothers and their company for "making fine ukuleles esteemed throughout the world and thus preserving Hawaiian culture and contributing to world music." (1995)
- Samuel Kamaka Sr. inducted into the Ukulele Hall of Fame in Rhode Island.[2] (2000)
- Sam Kamaka, Jr. receives the "Ukulele Treasure" award from the Ukulele Guild of Hawaii (2004)
