Ukulele Festival Hawai’i Gala
Ukulele Festival Hawaii’s Annual Fundraiser Gala is a festive evening with guests from all over the world gathering together as one. It is an evening of celebration as we acknowledge distinguished honorees of our Legacy Award.
Your support at the Gala helps Ukulele Festival Hawaii keep the ukulele festivals free for the enjoyment of the public, promote the ukulele as an instrument of virtuosity, provide college scholarships, help shape young lives through motivational talks and provide ukulele instruments to those in need.
Mahalo for helping Ukulele Festival Hawaii continue its mission of spreading aloha by bringing laughter, love and hope to children and adults throughout Hawaii and the world through the music of the ukulele.
Legacy Award Honorees
2021
Willie K
Hawaiian phenomenon Willie K’s spontaneous spirit and passion of playing music made his performances with Ukulele Festival Hawaii heartwarming, uplifting and exciting. Willie K, who passed in May 2020 after a lengthy battle with cancer, continued to perform even while ill. He loved sharing his time with Ukulele Festival Hawaii and performing alongside the children and community of ukulele players. Those memories are a special gift that we treasure, and his generous and loving spirit will forever be etched in our hearts.
2019
James Ingram
In memory and recognition of James Ingram’s beloved connection to Hawaii, a very special friendship and his lifetime contributions over the course of his illustrious career. James Ingram guest-appeared six times from 1994 to 2012. James loved the idea of this free event with hundreds of children playing music together.
2019
Jake Shimabukuro
Jake Shimabukuro is the most influential and iconic ukulele player of this generation topping Billboard World Music charts. His strong ties to the ukulele are forged by years of lessons as a young student at Roy Sakuma Ukulele Studios and further developing his craft by studying the likes of ukulele masters Eddie Kamae, Ohta San and Peter Moon.
2018
Danny Kaleikini
Danny Kaleikini has supported Ukulele Festival Hawaii as Master of Ceremonies since 1973. The spirit of aloha and the love of Hawaii is held dearly within Danny Kaleikini, also known as “Kaniela”. His long-standing residency as the Kahala Hilton ran for 30 years. Through his generous spirit, Danny continues to contribute goodwill, inspiration and beauty to our culture.
2017
Ohta San
Ohta San influenced greatly by Hawaiian ukulele virtuoso Eddie Kamae, is credited with elevating the ukulele to a solo instrument of virtuoso status. Ohta San’s diversity and style is respected as the ultimate height of ukulele artistry. One of the many highlights of his career is "Song for Anna" written expressly for him by famed French composer and conductor Andre Popp who invited him to record with the Paris Symphony Orchestra.
2017
Eddie Kamae
Eddie Kamae revolutionized the traditional method of playing the ukulele and transformed it from a rhythmic instrument with limited capabilities into a major instrument with unlimited potential.
2016
Kamaka Hawai’i
Kamaka Hawaii's 100th Anniversary and four generations of the Kamaka Ohana are honored and recognized by Ukulele Festival Hawaii for their 100 years of world-class craftmanship. Ukulele Festival Hawaii is grateful for Kamaka Ukulele's support and encouragement which has been an integral part of Ukulele Festival Hawaii's history.
Support
Ukulele Festival Hawaii
Your donation is tax-deductible. Ukulele Festival Hawaii produces, promotes and arranges ukulele festivals free to the public, encourages interest in Hawaii's arts and culture through education and scholarships, and promotes local and international interest in the ukulele as an instrument of virtuoso quality. Mahalo for your support.
