(1921 - )

Sons of ukulele maker Samuel Kamaka Sr., Sam Kamaka Jr. and Fred Kamaka Sr. grew up in the ukulele business. From helping their father as children in the 1920s to watching over a company now run by their children, the Kamaka brothers have been involved in the manufacture of fine ukuleles for a remarkable ten decades. After his father’s death in 1953, Sam Jr. revitalized the family business and over the next few decades built Kamaka Hawaii Inc. into the premier ukulele manufacturer in the world. As the master luthier at Kamaka, Sam invented new ukulele models and construction techniques. Sam and Fred also ensured the company’s long-term success by passing their skills and knowledge along to their children, who today run the modernized company.