Annual `Ukulele Festival

Sunday, July 15:
Annual `Ukulele Festival. In 1971, at a time when very few people were interested in the ukulele, Roy Sakuma organized the 1st Annual Ukulele Festival. It was Sakuma’s dream to present a free concert to show people that the ukulele could be played as a solo instrument of sophistication and virtuosity and not just a rhythm instrument for background music.  Today, the annual `Ukulele Festival is now a summer tradition in Hawai`i. It has grown internationally and is by far the largest `ukulele festival of its kind in the world, with crowds of thousands, guest artists from around the world and an `ukulele orchestra of over 800 students, mostly children. Other festival offerings include free `ukulele lessons, `ukulele displays and giveaways by `ukulele manufacturers, food booths, and `Ukelele Festival souvenir t-shirts available for purchase.  Kapiolani Park Bandstand, 3840 Paki Ave., Honolulu. 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free admission.  For information visit https://www.ukulelefestivalhawaii.org/en/.