The ukulele’s story
In 1879 a ship called the Ravenscrag brought families from the Portuguese island of Madeira to Hawaiʻi. Among them were instrument makers, who built a small four-string guitar from home.
Hawaiʻi’s King Kalākaua loved it and played it at court. Its Hawaiian name, ʻukulele, is often explained as “jumping flea” — like quick fingers hopping on the strings.