Jonah Kumalae
Encyclopedia
Jonah Kumalae was a Hawaii
an politician, businessman, publisher and ukulele
manufacturer and musician. Though most noted for manufacturing and marketing his 'Gold Award' Kumalae Ukuleles from 1911 to 1940, he may be best remembered by local Hawaiians for his purchase and relocation of the Spreckels Mansion, former home to Claus Spreckels
, sugar industry magnate. In 1921, Kumalae purchased the three-story home with its noted square tower, and then had it relocated piece by piece to its final location on King Street, Honolulu.
manufacturer. Then in 1911, he began making ukuleles in earnest, having been a very accomplished musician. His ukuleles were made of Koa wood, brought over from the big island of Hawai'i. In 1915, Kumalae got a big break in his ukulele manufacturing and sales. He applied for, and won, a bid to display his ukuleles at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition of 1915, where his ukulele design won a Gold Award. This enabled Kumalae to market and sell his ukuleles to companies on the U.S. Mainland and, according to many ukulele historians, was instrumental in ushering in a 'new wave' of ukulele and Hawaiian music popularity. He is also considered to be the most prolific ukulele manufacturer of his time, producing as many as 300 ukuleles per month at the peak of his business, or possibly as many as 600 per month. Kumalae ukuleles occupy an important and influential place in the history of the Hawaiian ukulele. Historians believe that it was Kumalae ukuleles that were given to passengers on island-bound cruise ships in the 1920s, as well as distributed at local hotels. One of these hotels was the famous Royal Hawaiian Hotel
, which opened in 1927. Noted ukulele historian and enthusiast Ron Cook documented his work on Kumalae ukuleles that were labeled and sold to guests at the Royal Hawaiian. Cook states that later ukuleles sold at the hotel did not bear the Kumalae label, but are more than likely Kumalaes. Famous musician and entertainer Tiny Tim
Khaury (most noted for his rendition of the song 'Tip Toe through the Tulips') owned a Kumalae ukulele, which was put up for auction by his daughter in 2004, for a reported $2900.
Land Company, candidate for Mayor of Honolulu in 1923, and was on the Board of Supervisors from 1919-1923. Kumalae was both active and controversial, known for championing the causes of his native countrymen, and for many clashes with the established government. In 1923, as a Board of Supervisors member, Kumalae allegedly 'stole' a county vehicle. He claimed to have done so to prove the point that county vehicles were being taken home and used by county employees for things other than county business. This claim is supported by the fact that he would later sponsor a bill requiring all government vehicles to bear the phrase, "For Official Use Only," a law that still stands today.
He is also regarded as the 'father' of the Act that made the Flag of Royal Hawaii the official emblem of the Territory of Hawaii.
Royal family, and High Chief Kaehu Kuho'ohei Pahu Paki (known as Paki). He was the son of Moses Keli'ia'a and Laika Manuia, daughter of David Manuia. Manuia was the son of Paki and his first wife, Kaiwi. As was customary at that time, Kumalae took the name of his adoptive family.
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
an politician, businessman, publisher and ukulele
Ukulele
The ukulele, ; from ; it is a subset of the guitar family of instruments, generally with four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings....
manufacturer and musician. Though most noted for manufacturing and marketing his 'Gold Award' Kumalae Ukuleles from 1911 to 1940, he may be best remembered by local Hawaiians for his purchase and relocation of the Spreckels Mansion, former home to Claus Spreckels
Claus Spreckels
Claus Spreckels, formally Adolph Claus J. Spreckels , , was a major industrialist in Hawai'i during the kingdom, republican and territorial periods of the islands' history...
, sugar industry magnate. In 1921, Kumalae purchased the three-story home with its noted square tower, and then had it relocated piece by piece to its final location on King Street, Honolulu.
Ukulele maker
In his younger years (circa 1894) Kumalae worked as a school teacher and agricultural farmer, and poiPoi
Poi may refer to:* Poi , a 2006 Tamil film* Poi , the Polynesian staple food* Poi , a Māori dance from New Zealand* Poi, Pakistan, a town in the Balochistan province of Pakistan* Poi, the Tibetan name for Tibet...
manufacturer. Then in 1911, he began making ukuleles in earnest, having been a very accomplished musician. His ukuleles were made of Koa wood, brought over from the big island of Hawai'i. In 1915, Kumalae got a big break in his ukulele manufacturing and sales. He applied for, and won, a bid to display his ukuleles at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition of 1915, where his ukulele design won a Gold Award. This enabled Kumalae to market and sell his ukuleles to companies on the U.S. Mainland and, according to many ukulele historians, was instrumental in ushering in a 'new wave' of ukulele and Hawaiian music popularity. He is also considered to be the most prolific ukulele manufacturer of his time, producing as many as 300 ukuleles per month at the peak of his business, or possibly as many as 600 per month. Kumalae ukuleles occupy an important and influential place in the history of the Hawaiian ukulele. Historians believe that it was Kumalae ukuleles that were given to passengers on island-bound cruise ships in the 1920s, as well as distributed at local hotels. One of these hotels was the famous Royal Hawaiian Hotel
Royal Hawaiian Hotel
Royal Hawaiian Hotel, also known as the Pink Palace of the Pacific, is a hotel located at 2259 Kalākaua Avenue in Honolulu, Hawaii, on the island of Oahu. One of the first hotels established in Waikiki, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel is considered one of the flagship hotels in Hawaii tourism...
, which opened in 1927. Noted ukulele historian and enthusiast Ron Cook documented his work on Kumalae ukuleles that were labeled and sold to guests at the Royal Hawaiian. Cook states that later ukuleles sold at the hotel did not bear the Kumalae label, but are more than likely Kumalaes. Famous musician and entertainer Tiny Tim
Tiny Tim (musician)
Tiny Tim , , born in Manhattan, was an American singer and ukulele player. He was most famous for his rendition of "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" sung in a distinctive high falsetto/vibrato voice.-Rise to fame:Born to Lebanese parents in 1932, Khaury displayed musical talent at a very young age...
Khaury (most noted for his rendition of the song 'Tip Toe through the Tulips') owned a Kumalae ukulele, which was put up for auction by his daughter in 2004, for a reported $2900.
Newspaper publisher
Kumalae owned and published the democratic newspaper Ke Alakai O Hawaii until his death in 1940. The paper was printed in the native Hawaiian language and was, for a time, the only Hawaiian paper in Honolulu.Political career
A Democrat, Kumalae had a long and distinguished career in Hawaiian politics. He served as a member of the inaugural Territorial Legislature from 1900–1904, and again from 1918-1920. He also served as Food Commissioner, director of the HawaiiHawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
Land Company, candidate for Mayor of Honolulu in 1923, and was on the Board of Supervisors from 1919-1923. Kumalae was both active and controversial, known for championing the causes of his native countrymen, and for many clashes with the established government. In 1923, as a Board of Supervisors member, Kumalae allegedly 'stole' a county vehicle. He claimed to have done so to prove the point that county vehicles were being taken home and used by county employees for things other than county business. This claim is supported by the fact that he would later sponsor a bill requiring all government vehicles to bear the phrase, "For Official Use Only," a law that still stands today.
He is also regarded as the 'father' of the Act that made the Flag of Royal Hawaii the official emblem of the Territory of Hawaii.
Life and ancestry
Jonah Kumalae married Lena Ahana on May 28, 1901, and they had eight children. It has been presented by some historians that his ancestry can be traced to the MauiMaui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
Royal family, and High Chief Kaehu Kuho'ohei Pahu Paki (known as Paki). He was the son of Moses Keli'ia'a and Laika Manuia, daughter of David Manuia. Manuia was the son of Paki and his first wife, Kaiwi. As was customary at that time, Kumalae took the name of his adoptive family.