Jonah Kumalae
In the early part of the 20th century, the ʻukulele had already found popularity with the people of the Hawaiian Islands. On the mainland, however, the ʻukulele 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 ʻukulele at the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exhibition in San Francisco, Jonah Kumalae helped to usher in the first and greatest wave of ʻukulele popularity. Although few reliable records are known today, many people consider Kumalae to be the most prolific maker of ʻukulele in Hawaiʻi in the time period from 1915 to 1940.
In the early part of the 20th century, the ʻukulele had already found popularity with the people of the Hawaiian Islands. On the mainland, however, the ʻukulele 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 ʻukulele at the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exhibition in San Francisco, Jonah Kumalae helped to usher in the first and greatest wave of ʻukulele popularity. In the years after receiving the Gold Award at the Exhibition, Kumalae dramatically increased his ʻukulele production. Although few reliable records are known today, many people consider Kumalae to be the most prolific maker of ʻukulele in Hawaii in the time period from 1915 to 1940.
(Courtesy Hawaiʻi State Archives)
Kumalae was born in 1875 in Honolulu. Aside from ʻukulele, Kumalae had a long and colorful political career. He was a member of the Territorial House of Representatives at various times 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.
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 ʻukulele in a small factory in back of the house. The family stopped making ʻukulele when Jonah Kumalae died in May 1940 at age 65.
