01/19/2022
THE 'UKULELE: The origin of the 'ukulele, indispensable to Hawaiian music for decades. It was brought to Hawaii in 1879 by Portuguese immigrants. The name 'ukulele means “leaping flea” nickname of Edward Purvis, a small quick man who popularized the instrument.
When the sailing ship Ravenscrag from Madeira docked at Honolulu Harbor on August 23, 1879, there were 419 Portuguese settlers aboard. The story goes that after a grueling 15,000 miles over a period of four months, the immigrants were so happy to finally reach Hawaii they broke into song, accompanied by their traditional instruments, to the delight of the bystanders.
The Portuguese braguinha, as it was called in Madeira or cavaquinho in Portugal was the forerunner of the Hawaiian 'ukulele. The instrument was usually played along with the mandolin and guitar at country folk festivals like those following a grape harvest.
It's not known whether the 'ukulele got its name because the quick plucking of fingers across the instrument reminded Hawaiians of fleas or because it was associated with an army officer named Edward Purvis. Purvis loved the 'ukulele and became quite a virtuoso in the late 19th century, playing for the royal court and amusing them with his fast movements and small stature. Hawaiians referred to him as "'Ukulele," and the instrument became "'Ukulele's instrument."
It is the simplicity and convenient size of the 'ukulele as well as the ease of playing it that have kept it the most loved of Hawaiian instruments throughout the years. The 'ukulele is today the foremost symbol of Hawaiian music.
c: TitaWorks
Netta Kanoho
