This is a Lionel Ritchie song that became popular in the Jah-waiian circles. The band Ekolu recorded it, and it became a notorious sleeper for Kanikapilas everywhere! Easy and fun plus recognizable equals great ukulele song!

When I was in high school Forever Be Mine by Bitty McClean was one of those songs you play to get girls. All of us played the wrong chords so frequently that we kind of ended up making it our own. Lol. This is that version... localfied...Haha! Maybe someday we'll do the real version with the righ...

When I first began learning music, Waimanalo Blues was one of the songs that I really delved into. There's much going on, but yet it's such a simple melody. Not to mention the visuals that the lyrics evoke. In this lesson, we take a look at a Fingerstyle version of this Hawaiian classic... my own...

Margarita shows Braddah IZs' playful side. This is is a fun song that's really easy to play due to the few amount of chords(3) and the easy rhythm. Here we look at a few muting techniques that make this song sound a little more "advanced" or "professional". This is a popular song to play at any k...

Penned by Sam Li'a Kala'inaina Sr. the "Songwriter of Waipio", Hi'ilawe has gone on to become one of the most popular Hawaiian songs ever written. Made even more popular by the legendary Gabby "Pops" Pahinui, the song speaks of a secret love affair and the gossip that goes along with it. There ar...

The Lava song is an instant classic loved by folks everywhere! The Pixar video features a song by Kuana Torres that is both catchy and easy to play! Learn the song and teach it to your keiki. They'll love it!

The Green Rose Hula has been recorded and performed by just about everyone! A classic in Hawaiian music, playing this song is guaranteed to have people singing along with you. Here I give a very simple explanation on the chords. No picking/strumming pattern here folks! This is intended for you to...

Composed by Hokule'a sailing team member Boogie Kalama, and first recorded by The Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau, Hokule'a Star of Gladness is one of the songs that everyone seems to know. For myself, personally, the song touches my heart for the memories that it conjures up about the family kanikapilas ...

Written by Del Beazley and made famous by the legendary Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, Maui Hawaiian Sup'paman has become a standard at local kanikapila sessions. It speaks of the adventures of the Hawaiian Demi-God, Maui. This fun song will surely have the crowd singing along with you!

Guava Jam is one of the first instrumental songs that I learned on the ukulele. Originally done by the Peter Moon band as a Kihoalu song it was made even more popular by Troy Fernandez and Ernie Cruz Jr. on the Ka'au Crater Boys first album Tropical Hawaiian Day. Over the years I guess I've kinda...

Kalena Ku is a beautifully written lullaby to the daughter of one of the greatest ukulele players to ever grace the world of music. Kelly Boy DeLima is the epitome of what a great ukulele player should be. Here we go over this heartwarming song that contrasts both the complexity of finger picking...

Made popular by the late Pekelo Cosma, Ko'ali is one of my favorite Hawaiian Songs. For me personally, the song brings me back to my early high-school days when my Grandma used to keep Hawaiian music playing all day. Here I teach the way I play the song. Hope you like it!

Tiny Bubbles, made famous by the legendary Don Ho became synonymous with Hawaiian Music during the heyday of Hapa-Haole swing. It's a fun, easy song that your friends will love singing along to at get togethers.

E huli makou is a very popular song among Hawaiian elementary age children but is now, more and more, becoming popular among ukulele clubs world-wide! It's a fun song that when played, is usually accompanied by a dance. The words, e huli (pronounced ay who-lee, to turn), Imua (pronounced ee moo ...

According to Nona (Winona) Beamer, Henehene Kou 'Aka was composed by a bunch of Kamehameha students after taking a trolley ride around Honolulu. It's a lot of fun to play, mostly due to the intricate strumming in Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's rendition of the song. Make sure to watch your fingers when ...

One of my all time favorite Hapa-Haole songs, this song was controversial to say the least. It shows the sense of humor that was prevalent in that era. Hope you enjoy this song that will be sure to be a great ice-breaker at any gathering!

Penned by Bob Nelson, the Maui Waltz is one of those Hapa-Haole songs that can get stuck in your head for days...I, personally, tend to like the Peter Moon Band version best, but it's been recorded by all the big names in Hawaiian music. Here I teach a chord-melody version of the song. I hope it ...

A lot of people don't know this about me, but my first instrument is guitar. I grew up playing Ki Ho'alu, or slack key, and the style helped to shape my musical identity. Many people tell me that there's something that just sounds really "Hawaiian" about the way I play ukulele.

Pau Hana Jam i...

Here we go over a hapa-haole classic, Hanalei Moon. Written by Robert "Bob" Nelson, a Juilliard Schooled songwriter who also penned the Maui Waltz, Hanalei Moon speaks of the seductive lure of a tropical Hawaiian night with perfect weather conditions. One of the "old time" favorites, this song ev...

Written and composed by Helen Parker, Akaka Falls has one of Hawaiian music's most instantly recognizable melodies. Legend tells of a man named Akaka, who fell to his death from the falls. Two nearby smaller waterfalls are said to be his two lovers, Lehua and Maile, whose tears still flow for the...