Ka `Ukulele / The `Ukulele

This `ukulele page is dedicated to my friend, Craig "Brudda Bu" Thompson, `ukulele player extraordinaire, who "Lives Aloha" by generously sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm for the `ukulele.

Sources:

ka `ukulele

 

 

 

the `ukulele. Lit., jumping / leaping flea, probably from the Hawaiian nickname of Edward Purvis, who was small and quick and who popularized the instrument brought to Hawai`i by the Portuguese.

E kaomi ma`ane`i no "Ka Mo`olelo o ka `Ukulele."

Click here for "The Story of the `Ukulele."

 

Nâ Hua `Ôlelo Kumu / Root Words

`uku

flea, louse

`uku lele

flea (Siphonaptera)

`Ôlelo no`eau:

"`A`ohe `uku lele nânâ i `aki.

Saying:

"Not a flea to bite." Fig., perfect comfort.

lele

to fly, jump, leap, hop, skip

 

E Pela `O Ia Pololei, E `Ôlelo `O Ia Pololei.

Spell It Right, Say It Right.

E pela `o ia pololei:

 

Spell it right:
  • " `Okina, `û, kê, `û, lâ, `ê, lâ,` ê"
  • "Oh kee nah, OO, KEH, OO, EH, LAH EH"
    		•
  • Mai poina i ka `okina.
    		•
  • Don’t forget the `okina.

    • E `ôlelo `o ia pololei:

    Say it right:
    • [oo koo leh leh]
  • [oo koo leh leh]
    		•
  • `A`ole pololei: [yook koo lay lee]
  • `A`ole loa: [yook]
    (mino`aka = smile =     J )
    		•
  • Incorrect: [yook koo lay lee]
  • Never: [yook] J

    •  

    `Ukulele Parts

    ka `ôpû

    [kah OO POO]

    the body

    Lit., the stomach, belly

    ke nî `au nui

    [keh NEE au noo (y)ee]

    the bridge

    Lit., the large midrib of the coconut frond or the large nut.

    ka wâ

    [kah WAH]

    the fret

    Lit., interval

    ka papa kî

    [kah pah pah KEE]

    the head

    Lit., board key

    ka puka

    [kah poo kah]

    the hole

     

    ke `au

    [keh au]

    the neck

    Lit., handle

    ke nî `au

    [keh NEE au]

    the nut, peg

    Lit., midrib of the coconut frond

    ke nî `au li`ili`i

    [keh NEE au lee ee lee ee]

    the head nut

    Lit., little nut.

    ke kaula

    [keh kau lah]

    the string

    Lit., rope, cord, string
    • nâ kaula
  • [NAH kau lah]

    • the strings

     
    • he mau kaula
  • [heh mau kau lah]

    • strings

     
    • ke kaula o luna loa
  • [keh kau lah oh loo nah lo (w)ah]

    • G string

     

    G: pronounced [GEE] ?

    Lit., string uppermost
    • ke kaula `elua
  • [keh kau lah eh loo (w)ah]

    • C string

    C: pronounced [SEH]

    Lit., string two
    • ke kaula `ekolu
  • [keh kau lah eh koh loo]

    • E string

    E pronounced: [EH]

    Lit., string three
    • ke kaula `ehâ
  • [keh kau lah eh HAH]

    • A string

    A pronounced: [AH]

    Lit., string four

     

    Kinds of `Ukulele

    ka `ukulele Ohta-san

    the Ohta-san `ukulele

    named for a famous `ukulele artist.

    ka `ukulele hâ `oi

    the baritone `ukulele

    hâ `oi = `ehâ + `oi = four

    ka `ukulele leo `ekahi

    the soprano `ukulele

    leo `ekahi = voice two

    ka `ukulele leo `ekolu

    the tenor `ukulele

    leo `ekolu = voice three

    ka `ukulele leo Lili`u

    the Lili`u `ukulele

    leo Lili`u = voice Lili`u; named for Queen Lili`uokalani.

    ka `ukulele pahu kîkâ

    the cigar-box `ukulele

    pahu = box

    kîkâ = guitar

    ka `ukulele pûniu

    the coconut shell `ukulele

    pû = sounding

    niu = coconut

    ka `ukulele `ea honu

    the turtle shell `ukulele

    `ea = shell of Hawksbill turtle;

    honu = turtle

    ka `ukulele `elua puka

    the double-hole `ukulele

    `elua puka = two holes

    ka `ukulele `ewalu kaula

    the eight-string `ukulele

    `ewalu kaula = eight strings

    ka `ukulele `okia

    the cutaway `ukulele

    `oki= cut

     

    Nâ Hâme`a / Gadgets, Thingamajigs, Gizmos, Doohickies

    `ûmi`i kaula

    capo, as used on fretted instruments to raise the pitch of all strings.

    pahu

    case
    • pahu `ukulele
  • `ukulele case
    		•
  • kâkai pahu `ukulele
    		•
  • `ukulele case handle

    • ana manawa

    metronome

    hao ho`okani, (ke) `ô ho`okani

    tuning fork

     

    `Ukulele Links and Book / Music Resources

    Ho'olohe i ke kani honehone o ka `ukulele:

    Listen to the sweet sound of the `ukulele:

    A Brief History of the `Ukulele

    `Ukulele Homepage,
    by my buddy Bu

    Hawai`i `Ukulele Guide

    `Ukuleles by Kâwika (w/ sound clips)

    Vintage `Ukuleles & Hawaiian Guitars

    `Ukulele News (online edition)

    To order books / music:

    The Hawaiian Music Island

    To join `ukulele discussions with Bradda Bu and other `ukulele enthusiast, go to the newsgroup, alt.music.hawaiian.

    Usenet: alt.music.hawaiian

    Examples of Bradda Bu's aloha from the na`au: click here.

    BACK TO THE TOP
    This is:     http://hawaiianlanguage.com
    Aloha a hui hou, Leilani
    | home | why | what's new | lessons: table of contents | word lists | leilani's lânai | links | language links | help | e-mail | aloha notes |