RELEASE NUMBER 109/15
HONOLULU, HAWAII – Fingers will be flying and toes will be tapping when the 2015 Ukulele Exhibition takes place at Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort November 21 and 22, 2015. For two days, visitors and kamaaina will have a chance to view more than 40 handcrafted ukes from across the globe including Hawaii, Thailand, and everywhere in between. Ukulele builders will also be on hand to provide seminars on their favorite building techniques and jigs, and music lovers can also take in live ukulele music throughout the day by community “kanikapila” groups and more. The event is free and open to the public and will take place in the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort lobby.
“The ukulele is such an important part of Hawaiian music and culture, so we can’t wait to welcome the Ukulele Exhibition to our resort again this year,” said Robert McConnell, general manager at Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort. “Outrigger is a long-time supporter of celebrating local music, and we hope our guests and the community will join us in celebrating Hawaii’s most iconic instrument.”
The Ukulele Guild of Hawaii began as a group of ukulele builders sharing a common interest and desire to exchange information, techniques and experiences in the early 1990s. In September, 2001, a group of 18 people led by founder Mike Chock met to officially create a membership forum. A year later in 2001, the Inaugural Ukulele Guild of Hawaii Exhibition and Conference debuted. Today, the Guild has just under 100 active members including players, historians, and the founding luthiers.
“One of the very best parts of the Ukulele Exhibition is introducing locals and visitors to our incredible instrument makers, knowledgeable collectors, and talented ukulele musicians,” said Kimo Hussey of the Ukulele Guild of Hawaii. “Whether you’re an avid uke enthusiast or brand new to the instrument, we invite you to stop by and take part in one of Hawaii’s most celebrated traditions.”
From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 21, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 22, the exhibit will display more than 40 high-quality ukulele made in Hawaii, California, Japan, Thailand, Korea, Australia and Canada. Ukulele builders will give engaging seminars on building ukes every hour, and attendees will be treated to live music from local ukulele players including community “kanikapila” groups every half hour throughout the day. On Saturday, November 21, the festivities will continue at Duke’s Waikiki where live ukulele entertainment will begin at 4 p.m.
For those that miss the ukulele exhibition weekend, the Ukulele Guild of Hawaii will feature a limited-time ukulele display case in the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort lobby. The free exhibit will run from now through December 2015.
For more information about the Ukulele Guild of Hawaii, visit www.ukuleleguild.org.
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