POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Notes

Hawaiian music was very popular in Australia during the 1920s and 1930s and remained so until the 1950s. The ukulele was developed in Hawaii in the 1880s by Portuguese cabinet makers from the Madeira Islands who had emigrated to work in the cane fields. It is descended from the small four-string Madeiran guitar known as the machete. Jonah Kumalae is credited with helping create the first ukulele craze when his ukuleles were exhibited at the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition (P.P.I.E) in San Francisco. The P.P.I.E. ran from February 20th until December 4th 1915 and was attended by millions of people. It took three years to construct, covered 635 acres and included exhibitors from all over the world. The Hawaiian Pavilion was one of the most popular with the millions visitors who attended this phenomenally sucessful world fair. Amongst the other displays, visitors were treated to music from the Hawaiian Quintet led by Henry Kailimai. One reporter apparently described the music as "weird, unworldly melodies that seem to rise and fall on the long swells of the Pacific…." Hula girls were also featured at the exposition. Ukuleles sold in their millions until falling out of favour in the 1950s. They are currently undergoing a revival with ukulele clubs and festivals springing up around the world. References: Ukulele Hall of Fame, http://www.ukulele.org Panama Pacific International Exposition, http://www.sanfranciscomemories.com/ppie/index.html