Ka `Ukulele / The `Ukulele |
This `ukulele page is dedicated to my friend,
Craig "Brudda Bu" Thompson, `ukulele player extraordinaire, who "Lives Aloha" by generously sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm for the `ukulele.Sources:
ka `ukulele
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the `ukulele. Lit., jumping / leaping flea, probably from the Hawaiian nickname of Edward Purvis, who was small and quick and who popularized the instrument brought to Hawai`i by the Portuguese. |
E kaomi ma`ane`i no "Ka Mo`olelo o ka `Ukulele." |
Click here for "The Story of the `Ukulele." |
Nâ Hua `Ôlelo Kumu / Root Words |
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`uku |
flea, louse |
`uku lele |
flea (Siphonaptera) |
`Ôlelo no`eau: "`A`ohe `uku lele nânâ i `aki. |
Saying: "Not a flea to bite." Fig., perfect comfort. |
lele |
to fly, jump, leap, hop, skip |
E Pela `O Ia Pololei, E `Ôlelo `O Ia Pololei. Spell It Right, Say It Right. |
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E pela `o ia pololei:
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Spell it right: |
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E `ôlelo `o ia pololei: |
Say it right: |
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(mino`aka = smile = |
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`Ukulele Parts |
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ka `ôpû |
[kah OO POO] |
the body |
Lit., the stomach, belly |
ke nî `au nui |
[keh NEE au noo (y)ee] |
the bridge |
Lit., the large midrib of the coconut frond or the large nut. |
ka wâ |
[kah WAH] |
the fret |
Lit., interval |
ka papa kî |
[kah pah pah KEE] |
the head |
Lit., board key |
ka puka |
[kah poo kah] |
the hole |
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ke `au |
[keh au] |
the neck |
Lit., handle |
ke nî `au |
[keh NEE au] |
the nut, peg |
Lit., midrib of the coconut frond |
ke nî `au li`ili`i |
[keh NEE au lee ee lee ee] |
the head nut |
Lit., little nut. |
ke kaula |
[keh kau lah] |
the string |
Lit., rope, cord, string |
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the strings |
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strings |
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G string
G: pronounced [GEE] ? |
Lit., string uppermost |
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C string C: pronounced [SEH] |
Lit., string two |
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E string E pronounced: [EH] |
Lit., string three |
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A string A pronounced: [AH] |
Lit., string four |
Kinds of `Ukulele |
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ka `ukulele Ohta-san |
the Ohta-san `ukulele |
named for a famous `ukulele artist. |
ka `ukulele hâ `oi |
the baritone `ukulele |
hâ `oi = `ehâ + `oi = four |
ka `ukulele leo `ekahi |
the soprano `ukulele |
leo `ekahi = voice two |
ka `ukulele leo `ekolu |
the tenor `ukulele |
leo `ekolu = voice three |
ka `ukulele leo Lili`u |
the Lili`u `ukulele |
leo Lili`u = voice Lili`u; named for Queen Lili`uokalani. |
ka `ukulele pahu kîkâ |
the cigar-box `ukulele |
pahu = box kîkâ = guitar |
ka `ukulele pûniu |
the coconut shell `ukulele |
pû = sounding niu = coconut |
ka `ukulele `ea honu |
the turtle shell `ukulele |
`ea = shell of Hawksbill turtle; honu = turtle |
ka `ukulele `elua puka |
the double-hole `ukulele |
`elua puka = two holes |
ka `ukulele `ewalu kaula |
the eight-string `ukulele |
`ewalu kaula = eight strings |
ka `ukulele `okia |
the cutaway `ukulele |
`oki= cut |
Nâ Hâme`a / Gadgets, Thingamajigs, Gizmos, Doohickies |
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`ûmi`i kaula |
capo, as used on fretted instruments to raise the pitch of all strings. |
pahu |
case |
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ana manawa |
metronome |
hao ho`okani, (ke) `ô ho`okani |
tuning fork |
`Ukulele Links and Book / Music Resources |
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Ho'olohe i ke kani honehone o ka `ukulele: Listen to the sweet sound of the `ukulele: |
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`Ukulele Homepage, |
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`Ukuleles by Kâwika (w/ sound clips) |
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`Ukulele News (online edition) |
To order books / music: |
To join `ukulele discussions with Bradda Bu and other `ukulele enthusiast, go to the newsgroup, alt.music.hawaiian. |
Examples of Bradda Bu's aloha from the na`au: click here. |
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