Learn to Play “Haele,” a Hawaiian Ukulele Classic from Ernest Ka’ai
![Lesson Gods of Uke Ernst Ka'ai Ukulele Magazine Hawaiian Music Uke Notation](https://i0.wp.com/ukulelemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Lesson-Gods-of-Uke-Ernst-Kaai-Ukulele-Magazine-Hawaiian-Music-Uke-Notation-e1647618156189.png?fit=800%2C427&ssl=1)
BY ADAM PERLMUTTER | FROM THE SPRING 2017 ISSUE OF UKULELE
Ernest Ka’ai was a pioneering Hawaiian musician, composer, and teacher. He was born in Honolulu in 1881 and died in 1962. A brilliant, self-taught multi-instrumentalist, he played mandolin, guitar, steel guitar, and violin equally well, and was the first Hawaiian to copyright his music. But he’s most celebrated as a prodigiously gifted ukulele player—to whom all modern players, whether or not they know it, owe a large debt.
This song, “Haele,” first appeared in his book, The Ukulele & How it is Played, published in 1916. The arrangement here was made by Adam Perlmutter for Ukulele magazine.
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Our arrangement of “Haele” by Ernest Ka’ai, is presented as a companion to the Gods of Uke feature on this pioneering Hawaiian musician, composer, and teacher.
Haele by Ernest Ka’ai, arranged by Adam Perlmutter
![Haele by Ernest Ka'ai, Adam Perlmutter arrangement, ukulele music notation](https://i0.wp.com/ukulelemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/GodsOfUke.ErnestKaai.Haele_.FIN_.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)
![Famous Solos and Duets for the Ukulele book cover by John King](https://i0.wp.com/dev.ukulelemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/616xXowIQYL.jpg?resize=387%2C500&ssl=1)
Essential Ernest
Several of Ernest Ka’ai’s compositions were arranged by John King and appear in his Mel Bay book Famous Solos & Duets for the Ukulele.