King Kalakaua: The Ukulele's Royal Champion

King Kalakaua: Hawaii's Renaissance Monarch

King David Kalakaua (1836-1891) ascended to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1874. His fifteen-year reign would prove to be a pivotal period in Hawaiian cultural history, and the ukulele would become one of the most enduring symbols of his cultural renaissance.

Kalakaua was a progressive leader with international vision. He was the first monarch to circumnavigate the globe, visiting leaders in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the United States. He brought electricity to Iolani Palace before even the White House had it. But his most lasting legacy may be his deliberate revival and preservation of Hawaiian cultural practices.

"Hula is the language of the heart, therefore the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people."

— King David Kalakaua

When Kalakaua came to power, Hawaii's cultural practices had been suppressed for decades by missionary influence and Western pressures. Hula dancing had been restricted, traditional chants were fading from memory, and the Hawaiian language was in decline. Kalakaua reversed this trend, declaring: "Hula is the language of the heart, therefore the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people."

His famous motto, "Ho'oulu Lahui" ("Increase the Nation"), referred not just to population growth but to cultural revitalization. It was in this environment of cultural renaissance that the ukulele would find its royal patron.

The Royal Connection: From Machete to Ukulele

The machete, a small string instrument from Madeira, Portugal, arrived in Hawaii with Portuguese immigrants who came to work on sugar plantations. The story of how this instrument transformed into the ukulele is a fascinating one, involving three instrument makers named Manuel Nunes, Augusto Dias, and Jose do Espirito Santo.

But the critical factor in the ukulele's rise to prominence was King Kalakaua's interest in the instrument. A musician himself, Kalakaua was known to play several instruments, including the ukulele. More importantly, he incorporated the ukulele into royal celebrations, court gatherings, and official events.

Archival records from the Royal Hawaiian Band, founded by Kalakaua's predecessor King Kamehameha III and expanded under Kalakaua's patronage, indicate that ukulele performances became a regular feature by the mid-1880s. The band's conductor, Henry Berger, integrated the ukulele into arrangements that blended Hawaiian and Western musical traditions.

The Iolani Palace Performances: Elevating the Ukulele's Status

Historical accounts from visitors to Iolani Palace, royal diaries, and newspaper reports of the period detail how Kalakaua showcased the ukulele during state functions and royal entertainment. In doing so, he elevated its status from a common folk instrument to one worthy of royal audiences.

An account from American writer and traveler Charles Stoddard, who visited Hawaii in 1884, described a royal soirée where Kalakaua himself played the ukulele and talked about its virtues to assembled foreign dignitaries:

"His Majesty took up a small instrument resembling a diminutive guitar, which the natives call a ukulele, and played a lively accompaniment to several meles [songs] performed by members of the court. The charming simplicity of this scene - a reigning monarch entertaining his guests with folk music - struck me as exceptional and delightful."

— Charles Stoddard, "South Sea Idylls" (Revised Edition, 1892)

The palace's music room, still preserved today, was where the King would often gather musicians and compose songs. Several of these compositions became standards in the Hawaiian music repertoire and are still performed with ukulele accompaniment today.

Cultural Motivations: The Ukulele as Political Symbol

Kalakaua's promotion of the ukulele wasn't merely a matter of musical taste. It was a deliberate political and cultural strategy. In the late 19th century, Hawaii faced increasing pressure from foreign powers, particularly the United States, which sought to expand its influence in the Pacific.

By promoting distinctive Hawaiian cultural forms, including the now-Hawaiian ukulele, Kalakaua was asserting Hawaiian national identity on the world stage. The ukulele became part of his broader effort to preserve Hawaiian sovereignty through cultural distinctiveness.

Archival correspondence between Kalakaua and his ministers reveals his explicit strategy of using cultural diplomacy - including musical performances featuring the ukulele - to strengthen Hawaii's position in international relations. When he made his historic world tour in 1881, performances of Hawaiian music, including ukulele, were part of the diplomatic presentations.

The Name Itself: A Royal Connection?

Even the name "ukulele" may have royal connections, though historical accounts vary. The most commonly accepted translation of ukulele is "jumping flea," supposedly inspired by the quick finger movements of early player Edward Purvis, who was a member of Kalakaua's staff.

Linguistic evidence from Hawaiian sources of the period supports this etymology, though alternative explanations have been proposed. What's clear is that the name was established during Kalakaua's reign, with the earliest documented use of the term "ukulele" appearing in Hawaiian language newspapers from the mid-1880s.

Royal Patronage and Instrument Development

Royal patronage didn't just elevate the ukulele's status; it influenced its physical development. Examination of surviving instruments from the period shows that as the ukulele gained royal favor, craftsmen began incorporating more refined details.

The most prestigious ukuleles made during Kalakaua's reign featured:

• Koa wood from Hawaii's native forests, establishing this as the traditional material
• More elaborate inlay work, including royal insignia in some cases
• Refined appointments like binding and purfling
• Superior craftsmanship reflecting their higher status

Instruments made by Nunes, Dias, and Santo from this period are now among the most valuable historical ukuleles in existence, with examples in the Bishop Museum and several private collections.

Legacy: How Kalakaua's Influence Shaped Ukulele History

When King Kalakaua died in 1891, the ukulele's position in Hawaiian culture was secure. His sister and successor, Queen Liliuokalani (another accomplished musician and composer), continued to support Hawaiian music traditions. But shortly after, in 1893, the Hawaiian monarchy was overthrown, and by 1898, Hawaii was annexed by the United States.

During this period of profound change, the ukulele served as a cultural touchstone - a reminder of Hawaiian identity that had been elevated and legitimized by Kalakaua's royal patronage. The ukulele became a symbol of resistance to cultural erasure.

As Hawaii transitioned into a U.S. territory and later a state, the ukulele would go on to experience waves of popularity on the U.S. mainland and internationally. But its roots as a symbol of Hawaiian cultural identity, cemented during Kalakaua's reign, have never been forgotten.

"The survival and global spread of the ukulele represents perhaps the most visible and enduring success of King Kalakaua's cultural revival program. When we hear a ukulele today, we are hearing the echo of his vision."

— Dr. James Revell, Cultural Historian

Conclusion: The Merrie Monarch's Musical Legacy

King David Kalakaua's contribution to ukulele history demonstrates how royal patronage can elevate and transform a cultural practice. By embracing the ukulele - an instrument with immigrant origins - and incorporating it into court life, Kalakaua helped create what would become one of Hawaii's most recognizable cultural symbols.

His deliberate cultural renaissance policies created an environment where the ukulele could flourish, evolve, and eventually become an ambassador of Hawaiian culture to the world. When we play or hear a ukulele today, we are participating in a cultural tradition that was significantly shaped by Hawaii's "Merrie Monarch."