(BJ Soriano, born and raised in Hawaii, has enjoyed many years teaching her passion for the ‘ukulele to others, so that they, too, may become as passionate. Check out BJ’s Strum & Scrapbook Studio at 190 Keawe Street #27 in Hilo, call (808) 557-0708 or visit her website at www.bjsstrumandscrapbook.com.)
In my last article, I expounded on the accomplishments of the legendary Johnny Kameaaloha Almeida, who was touted back in the 1900’s as the “Dean of Hawaiian music.” But, to deduce that Mr. Almeida was the first and premier ‘ukulele virtuoso would have been a bit premature on my part, because I learned that early in the 20th century, like Almeida, Ernest Kaleihoku Kaai, known as the “Father of Hawaiian music” and “Hawai‘i’s Greatest ‘Ukulele Player” would rise to that acclaim. Ernest Kaleihoku Kaai graced our Hawaiian Islands from 1881 – 1962. It is said that he performed in many places around the world. Not only a great musician, he also organized music ensembles and composed and published music throughout his life. 
One of these ensembles, The Royal Hawaiian Troubadours, toured the Far East with Ernest Kaai; and at one time, he had as many as 12 bands in Hawai‘i.
Having accomplished all that would probably be more than enough for most people, but not for Kaai; he also operated the Kaai ‘Ukulele Manufacturing Company along with having the prestigious distinction for publishing the first ‘ukulele instruction book, “The ‘Ukulele, A Hawaiian Guitar and How to Play It,” back in 1906. I invite you to visit www.ukuleles.com/Collecting/manuals.html; there you’ll find nearly 400 ‘ukulele instructional books or reference manuals ever published. Being recognized worldwide as the first author of an ‘ukulele instruction book is significantly noteworthy in my opinion. His instructional methods included music notation, chord frames, tablature, chord nomenclatures and progressions that are still used in most Hawaiian music today.
There are some who suggest that in all probability, Ernest Kaai invented these notational styles for the ‘ukulele. All in all, Kaai wrote and published eight forms of ‘ukulele instructional books, spanning from 1906 through 1954.
Ernest Kaai is also credited for raising the ‘ukulele to a higher level while performing in the Hawaiian orchestra. A Hawaiian orchestra consisted primarily of a steel guitar and a Spanish-like guitar. In the 1930’s, the ‘ukulele became the third member instrument of the orchestra. Kaai unmistakably showed the world that the ‘ukulele was not only for accompanying, but in fact, was a solo instrument. His sophisticated fingering, picking and stroking style was a testament to just that. Kaai was also touted as the first musician to play a complete melody on the ‘ukulele using only chords. There are but a few musicians I know personally who have mastered the art of melody chording on the uke; Byron Yasui and Benny Chong come quickly to mind.
The ‘ukulele was not Ernest Kaai’s only talent; pages from George Kanahele’s, Hawaiian Music and Musicians, book states, “Kaai also played the mandolin and guitar, was a vocalist, publisher, composer/arranger, teacher, bandleader and impresario.”
Beginning in 1909 and through 1920, Kaai owned the Kaai ‘Ukulele Manufacturing Company. He sold the company in 1917, and became a shareholder in the newly formed Aloha ‘Ukulele Manufacturing Company. In 1923, the world became a smaller place for Kaai; he left Hawai‘i to tour the Far East and Australia and eventually settled in Sri Lanka. During the mid-1930’s, he planned to pen a “Hawaiian Village” in Shanghai, China, but the war forced him to flee, and he returned to Hawai‘i in 1937. He then moved to Miami, Florida in 1941, incorporated the Kaai Music Studios in 1946, and there he lived until his death in 1962. I find myself a bit sad that he was not here during my lifetime and that he spent many years away from the islands for most of his life. Notwithstanding his absence, though, he has left an indelible impression for me and for all of us here at home in the land of aloha.
Credits: — John King, Nalu Music, 2007
– The ‘Ukulele Hall of Fame Museum 1997-1998
March 20th, 2009 at 5:16 am
aloha bj!
am enjoying following along from afar!
April 26th, 2009 at 7:23 am
Perhaps I shouldn’t be leaving my email address to the public, but I feel this is important for me to do. I am a descendent of Ernest Kaleihoku Kaai Sr., he was my great grandather. My grandfather, Ernest Kaleihoku Kaai Jr., was also a famous musician in Hawaii. If you are interested in learning more about my grandfather, we have a stack of articles and pictures that my grandfather left my Tutu on all their trips around the world travelling. The only problem is we have not kept them bright and clean for preservations sake and i keep telling my mom to get on it! Auwe, in any case, my email address is lononuiakea@msn.com. Contact me if you like. Also, who is John King? Do you know him? He seems so interested in my tutu man and I would like to contact him as well.
May 2nd, 2009 at 5:56 am
Does anyone know where one would be able obtain any of Ernest Kaai’s recordings? I’ve read so many great things about him but I have not been able to find any recordings anywhere. If any one can point me in the right direction I would appreciate it.
Thanks,
Bill Wright