Kainoa Kamaka is a terrific ukulele player. He was born in Hilo, on the Big Island. He comes from a family of three sisters and one brother. He is the youngest. He is one-half Hawaiian and the rest is Chinese, Filipino, and Haole.
His relatives are memebers of Hui Ohana a very popular recording group here in Hawaii. His is also distantly related to the Kamaka family that own the Kamaka Hawaii Ukulele Factory in Honolulu.The members of Kainoa's family grew up without television and electronic video games. They spent their time playing outside and playing the ukulele. Kainoa learned to play the ukulele from watching his family. His Tutu spent a lot of time teaching him how to play the ukulele.
It wasn't until high school that Kainoa studied music and learned the foundations of music. Kainoa plays the ukulele three to four times a week. He has been playing the ukulele all of his life and ten of which has been professionally. He bought his first ukulele, an uhilani, for $1000. He said he can buy two guitars for that!
Kainoa is in a world of his own when he plays his music. He says, "Have you ever done something that makes you really, really happy? Well, it's like eating ice cream on a hot day -- you have a feeling of peace and freedom." Kainoa likes to play all kinds of music on his ukulele and excitedly claims, "If you have good music, you can play any kind of music -- you're in control."
Kainoa's advice to those of you just learning how to play the ukulele is, "Have patience. Don't lose that element of yourself. Don't try to be someone else."