Kamaka Ukulele | Honors & Awards

1959

Kamaka Hawaii becomes a member of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.

1988

Kamaka Hawaii receives the Recognition Award for "outstanding and valuable service" from the Better Business Bureau of Hawaii.

1989

On behalf of the State of Hawaii, Sam Kamaka Jr. and Fred Kamaka Sr. demonstrate the art of ukulele making at the Smithsonian Institution's Festival of American Folklife in Washington, D.C.

1989

On the 30th Anniversary of Hawaii's Statehood, Kamaka Hawaii receives the Riley H. Allen Award for Creativity in Newspaper Advertising for the Progress Edition, from the Hawaii Newspaper Agency.

1990

Kamaka Hawaii receives the Outstanding Employer of Persons with Disabilities Award given by the State of Hawaii Vocational Rehabilitation and Services for the Blind Division and presented by Senator Daniel Inouye.

1990

The Mahalo Award is presented to Kamaka Hawaii "in grateful acknowledgement & appreciation for exemplifying the true spirit of Aloha by participating and supporting the 20th Annual Ukulele Festival" from Mayor Frank Fasi and Ukulele Festival Director Roy Sakuma.

1992

Kamaka Hawaii receives the Riley H. Allen Award for Distinguished Achievement in Newspaper Advertising from the Hawaii Newspaper Agency.

1992

Sam Kamaka Jr. and Fred Kamaka Sr. are selected as the Hawaiian Business Persons of the Year and given the prestigious 'O'o Award from the Hawaiian Business/Professional Association (now known as the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce).

In conjunction with the 16th Annual 'O'o Award Banquet at the Willows, Mayor Frank Fasi proclaims April 30, 1992 as "Samuel and Frederick Kamaka Day." The Kamaka brothers also receive certificates of recognition and honor from the State of Hawaii Senate, State of Hawaii House of Representatives, and the Council of the City & County of Honolulu.

Furthermore, Governor John Waihee presents Sam Jr. and Fred Sr. with certificates of commendation. In those certificates, Sam Jr. is recognized as "one of the legends of the music industry" and "one of Hawaii's favorite sons." The Governor also mentions Fred Sr.'s "long and most distinguished" history of military service in which he received the Silver Star for valor during the Korean War.

….the primary tool of the Hawaiian mahi'ai (farmer) was the 'O'o digging stick …a very apt symbol of the hard work that each future recipient of the award would have had to do in order to excel in life and thus become a salutary example for others…

'O'o is a symbol of recognition for Hawaiian business professionals who have excelled in our community. The 'O 'o Award honors men and women who have demonstrated skill, creativity, innovation and industry - all key ingredients for survival and success in modern Hawaii.

Use the following links to find out more about the 'O'o award and the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce

1993

Kamaka Hawaii receives the Holo I Mua Award for Excellence from the Better Business Bureau of Hawaii (now known as the "Torch Award for Business Ethics"). In 77 years of manufacturing, no customer complaints were lodged against the company.

The BBB Torch Awards for Business Ethics honors businesses that demonstrate exceedingly high standards. The award is designed to promote not only the importance of ethics in business, but also the willingness and efforts made by outstanding businesses to ensure Hawaii's marketplace remains fair to all of us living and visiting in our islands.

More information on the Better Business Bureau of Hawaii Torch Awards for Business Ethics.

1995

Sam Kamaka Jr. is asked to create the koa carrying case for the Damien reliquary which is returned to Molokai following the beatification ceremony in Brussels, Belgium. Sam Jr. also constructs the solid milo wood burial container for the reliquary and its reinternment at Father Damien's grave in Kalawao, Molokai.

1999

The 20th Legislature of the House of Representatives of the State of Hawaii passes House Resolution No. 99, recognizing and congratulating Fred Sr., Sam Jr. and Kamaka Hawaii, Inc. for continuing the business of "making fine ukuleles esteemed throughout the world and thus preserving Hawaiian culture and contributing to world music."

2000

Sam Kamaka Sr. is the seventh person inducted into the Ukulele Hall of Fame Museum in Rhode Island, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of ukulele history. Sam Jr. and Fred Sr. attend and participate in the induction ceremony in West Orange, New Jersey.

Visit the Ukulele Hall of Fame for more information.

2004

Sam Kamaka, Jr. receives the "Ukulele Treasure" award from the Ukulele Guild of Hawaii for his outstanding achievement and steadfast commitment to the perpetuation of the ukulele.

2005

Sam Kamaka, Jr. and Fred Kamaka, Sr. receive the Hookahiko Award from Outrigger for their longstanding dedication to crafting world renown ukuleles.

2006

Dawn Kaniaupio of Alphamedia Productions and Director Stuart Yamane complete the PBS documentary entitled "Heart Strings: The Story of the Kamaka 'Ukulele,"