Ukulele | Hawaii Public Radio

Bridging The Gap~January 12th, 2021: More ʻUkulele In Strange Places!

By Paige Okamura • Jan 12, 2021

More ʻukulele in non-Hawaiian (strange) music!.

Kanikapila Sunday with Derrick Malama for January 3, 2021 - Playlist

By Derrick Malama • Jan 3, 2021

Kanikapila Sunday features three hours of Great Hawaiian Music, including contemporary, traditional and hapa haole songs. You'll also hear slack key guitar and 'ukulele instrumentals. Plus, the Kanikapila Sunday Classic! Join host Derrick Malama TODAY from 1:00-4:00 p.m. Hawai’i Time (3:00-6:00 p.m. Pacific/6:00-9:00 p.m. Eastern on HPR-1. Listen online, on the HPR app, or ask your smart speaker to ‘Play KHPR’! Connect by Facebook.

Kanikapila Sunday with Derrick Malama for December 27, 2020 - Playlist

By Derrick Malama • Dec 27, 2020

Kanikapila Sunday features three hours of Great Hawaiian Music, including contemporary, traditional and hapa haole songs. You'll also hear slack key guitar and 'ukulele instrumentals. Plus, the Kanikapila Sunday Classic! Join host Derrick Malama TODAY from 1:00-4:00 p.m. Hawai’i Time (3:00-6:00 p.m. Pacific/6:00-9:00 p.m. Eastern on HPR-1. Listen online, on the HPR app, or ask your smart speaker to ‘Play KHPR’! Connect by Facebook.

Bridging The Gap~March 31st, 2020: ʻUkulele In Strange Places

By Paige Okamura • Mar 31, 2020

I'm really excited to finally debut this show because it's been in the making for months. Usually we're used to hearing the ʻukulele in Hawaiian music, so to hear it used in music that's not Hawaiian, has always been pleasantly strange to me. Over the last 6 months or so, I've been collecting non-Hawaiian songs that utilize an ʻukulele in them, and this is the result.

Finally! Taimane Represents on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert

By Noe Tanigawa • Mar 6, 2020

NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts have become a powerful launch pad for musicians, since they started in 2008. Its most popular video, of Anderson Paak, has racked up more than forty million views. Bob Boilen, host of All Songs Considered, curates the series, which has helped millions of listeners discover new artists. Now, a musician from Hawai‘i has made the cut.

Kanikapila Sunday with Derrick Malama for March 1, 2020 - Playlist

By Derrick Malama • Mar 1, 2020

Kanikapila Sunday features three hours of Great Hawaiian Music, including contemporary, traditional and hapa haole songs. You'll also hear slack key guitar and ‘ukulele instrumentals. Plus, the Kanikapila Sunday Classic! Tune in TODAY with host Derrick Malama from 1:00-4:00 PM Hawai’i Time on HPR-1.

The Kanikapila Sunday Holiday Special - December 22, 2019

By Derrick Malama • Dec 22, 2019

Kanikapila Sunday features three hours of Great Hawaiian Music with host Derrick Malama from 1:00-4:00 PM Hawai’i Time on HPR-1.

Tune in TODAY for the Holiday Special, featuring songs for the season from the Brothers Cazimero, Amy Hanaiali'i, Kuana Torres Kahele, the Makaha Sons, Na Leo, Henry Kapono, Raiatea Helm, Eddie Kamae & the Sons of Hawai'i, Willie K, and more!

Mahalo for listening today and Mele Kalikimaka! Derrick

Kanikapila Sunday with Derrick Malama for December 15, 2019 - Playlist

By Derrick Malama • Dec 15, 2019

Kanikapila Sunday features three hours of Great Hawaiian Music, including contemporary, traditional and hapa haole songs. You'll also hear slack key guitar and ‘ukulele instrumentals.

On today's show, enjoy some holiday music from Henry Kapono, the Makaha Sons, Raiatea Helm, Kuana Torres Kahele, the Brothers Cazimero and more.

Plus, the Kanikapila Sunday Classic! Tune in TODAY with host Derrick Malama from 1:00-4:00 PM Hawai’i Time on HPR-1.

Kanikapila Sunday with Derrick Malama for October 13, 2019 - Playlist

By Derrick Malama • Oct 13, 2019

Kanikapila Sunday features three hours of Great Hawaiian Music, including contemporary, traditional and hapa haole songs. You'll also hear slack key guitar and ‘ukulele instrumentals. Plus, the Kanikapila Sunday Classic! Tune in TODAY with host Derrick Malama from 1:00-4:00 PM Hawai’i Time on HPR-1.

To check out past programs, click here

Mahalo for listening! Derrick

Kanikapila Sunday with Derrick Malama for September 15, 2019 - Playlist

By Derrick Malama • Sep 15, 2019

Kanikapila Sunday features three hours of Great Hawaiian Music, including contemporary, traditional and hapa haole songs. You'll also hear slack key guitar and ‘ukulele instrumentals. Plus, the Kanikapila Sunday Classic! Tune in TODAY with host Derrick Malama from 1:00-4:00 PM Hawai’i Time on HPR-1.

Kanikapila Sunday with Derrick Malama for August 4, 2019 - Playlist

By Derrick Malama • Aug 4, 2019

Kanikapila Sunday features three hours of Great Hawaiian Music, including contemporary, traditional and hapa haole songs. You'll also hear slack key guitar and ‘ukulele instrumentals. Plus, the Kanikapila Sunday Classic! Tune in TODAY with host Derrick Malama from 1:00-4:00 PM Hawai’i Time on HPR-1.

Kanikapila Sunday with Derrick Malama for July 7, 2019 - Playlist

By Derrick Malama • Jul 7, 2019

Kanikapila Sunday features three hours of Great Hawaiian Music, including contemporary, traditional and hapa haole songs. You'll also hear slack key guitar and ‘ukulele instrumentals. Plus, the Kanikapila Sunday Classic! Tune in TODAY with host Derrick Malama from 1:00-4:00 PM Hawai’i Time on HPR-1. Mahalo!

Kanikapila Sunday with Derrick Malama for June 16, 2019 - Happy Father's Day!!

By Derrick Malama • Jun 16, 2019

Kanikapila Sunday features three hours of Great Hawaiian Music, including contemporary, traditional and hapa haole songs. You'll also hear slack key guitar and ‘ukulele instrumentals. Plus, the Kanikapila Sunday Classic! Tune in TODAY with host Derrick Malama from 1:00-4:00 PM Hawai’i Time on HPR-1.

Hawaiʻi Ukulele Makers Celebrate Portuguese Roots

By Associated Press • Mar 22, 2019

The owners of a family ukulele business in Hawaiʻi will celebrate their deep musical roots at a cultural festival in Portugal.

Ukulele Legend Lyle Ritz Remembered

By Heidi Chang • Mar 10, 2017

Lyle Ritz, a revered bass player, who was also known as the “Father of Jazz Ukulele,” died last week in Portland, Oregon. Since the late 1950s, Ritz has had a huge impact on musicians in Hawaii and he also once lived in the Islands. HPR contributing reporter Heidi Chang has this remembrance.

KANIKAPILA SUNDAY PLAYLIST FOR JANUARY 22, 2017

By Derrick Malama • Jan 22, 2017

TITLE---ARTIST---ALBUM---LABEL

HOUR ONE

Sweet Lei Ka Lehua---Na Palapalai---Ka Pua Hae Hawaii---Koops2 Entertainment

Halawa---Raiatea Helm---Hawaiian Blossom---Raiatea Helm Records

Waipahe`e Falls---Makaha Sons of Ni`ihau---Puana Hou me ke aloha---Poki Records

Mahalo Ia `Oe, E Maui---Hoku Zuttermeister---Ku`u Pua Sakura---Kaleiola Records

Pua`ala---Kainani Kahaunaele---`Ohai `Ula---Koops2 Entertainment

Lei Hali`a---Kealii Reichel---Lei Hali`a---Punahele Productions

Taimane's Hawaii Theatre Debut

By Nick Yee • Mar 21, 2016

‘Ukulele virtuoso Taimane will make her Hawai‘i Theater debut this coming weekend.

After parting ways with Mountain Apple recording she’s set out to push her music into larger stage productions.

Taimane: Stardust

By Noe Tanigawa • Mar 23, 2015

Don Ho first spotted the ‘ukulele phenomenon, Taimane, when she was thirteen, and recording deals and international gigs have followed. This Saturday, she releases her new album, “We Are Made of Stars,” at the Bishop Museum on the lawn under the stars and in the planetarium. HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports.

All are invited to this free CD release party Saturday, March 28 at the Bishop Museum, Planetarium and Gallery Lawns, 7-10pm.

Ages All Ages, Picnic on the Lawn. BYOFC (Bring your own food and chairs!)

‘Ukulele History: One Instrument at a Time

By Jackie Young • Dec 26, 2014

The ‘ukulele is unique part of the history and culture of Hawai‘i. Older instruments can tell their own stories—a fact that one collector wants to share with a broader audience both in the state and around the world. Jackie Young has his story.

Ukulele Bill Still Alive

By Wayne Yoshioka • Apr 28, 2014

A bill to name the official state musical instrument stalled and died last week in conference committee because both houses could not reach an agreement. But there is still hope for passage of another measure that could do the same thing before the session adjourns Thursday. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka explains.

National Legislative Publication Picks Ukulele Bill #1

By Wayne Yoshioka • Apr 22, 2014

The National Conference of State Legislatures ranked Hawai’i number one for having the most interesting legislative proposal in the country. It has nothing to do with the state budget … minimum wage increase or proposals to buy conservation land. The number one topic in the national publication’s monthly magazine has to do with a bill naming Hawai’i’s official musical instrument. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka provides an update on that measure.

Ukulele Not A Guarantee for State Instrument

By Wayne Yoshioka • Mar 26, 2014

Officially designating Hawai’i’s State Instrument is proving to be far more difficult at the State Capitol than many lawmakers ever anticipated. As HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports, legislation is seldom easy and far from being simple.

Some Lawmakers Oppose Ukulele as State Instrument

By Wayne Yoshioka • Mar 4, 2014

State lawmakers considered more than 500 bills today before a critical legislative deadline, Thursday. Proposed measures must be approved in the originating House in order to crossover to the other chamber for consideration. As HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports, all bills have a long way to go and there are no guarantees, not even for the one of the most popular instruments in Hawai’i.