Jonah Kumalae | Jonah Kumalae (1875 -
1940)
2002 Hall of Fame Inductee
In the early part of the 20th century, the ukulele had already found
popularity with the people of the Hawaiian Islands. On the mainland,
however, the ukulele was only just starting to catch the interest of
people, as the popularity of Hawaiian music on the mainland started to
grow. By presenting his ukuleles at the 1915 Panama Pacific
International Exhibition in San Francisco, Jonah Kumalae helped to
usher in the first and greatest wave of ukulele popularity. Although
few reliable records are known today, many people consider Kumalae to
be the most prolific maker of ukuleles in Hawaii in the time period
from 1915 to 1940, when he died. |
Jonah Kumalae (far right) and his musicians
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In the early part of the 20th century, the ukulele had already found popularity with the people of the Hawaiian Islands. On the mainland, however, the ukulele was only just starting to catch the interest of people, as the popularity of Hawaiian music on the mainland started to grow. By presenting his ukuleles at the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exhibition in San Francisco, Jonah Kumalae helped to usher in the first and greatest wave of ukulele popularity. In the years after receiving the Gold Award at the Exhibition, Kumalae dramatically increased his ukulele production. Although few reliable records are known today, many people consider Kumalae to be the most prolific maker of ukuleles in Hawaii in the time period from 1915 to 1940.
Jonah Kumalae
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Kumalae was born in 1875 in Honolulu. Aside from ukuleles, Kumalae had a long and colorful political career. He was a member of the Territorial House of Representatives at various time between 1901 and 1925. He served on the Taro and Poi Commission, was Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Home Rule Party, and was director of the Hawaii Land Company. He also ran for Mayor of Honolulu in 1923.
Kumalae ukulele headstock decal
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Jonah Kumalae, Jr., remembered his family home in an interview in 1999 for the Honolulu Star Bulletin. The house was purchased from the founder of one of the sugar companies, and at the time Kumalae had four employees making ukuleles in a small factory in back of the house. The family stopped making ukuleles when Jonah Kumalae died in May 1940 at age 65.
An assortment of Kumalae ukuleles, including a mini (center)
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