Ukulele Club of Hawaii Gets an Infusion of Aloha—and a New Livestream

BY NICOLAS GRIZZLE | FROM THE FALL 2024 ISSUE OF UKULELE

The Ukulele Club of Hawaii just got a new infusion of aloha thanks to the unbridled energy and enthusiasm of a pair of global ukulele community stalwarts. Craig Chee and Sarah Maisel have taken the reins of the club, which was started in 2006, and have made changes that have already increased attendance, including adding a livestream on YouTube. It is now run under their new nonprofit, Four Strings at a Time.

“This was a passion project between two bruddahs, Joe Souza and my husband, Bruddah Sam,” said co-founder Lina Girl at the inaugural meeting of the newly reformed club on April 20. “They were pouring over these other books from ukulele clubs from all around the continent and these two guys said to each other, ‘Hey why don’t we have an ukulele club right here in Hawaii?’”

Souza, who also founded Kanile’a Ukulele, passed the torch at the meeting, saying the club’s mission will stay the same. “This is the official new chapter of ukulele club of Hawaii,” he said. “The goal and essence of this ukulele club has always been to promote ukulele and how the ukulele can always be your best friend in life.”

Though there are about 600 members in the club, meetings were averaging 30–40 attendees. The first new meeting saw 100 people join in person at Windward Mall in Kane’ohe on Oahu, and an additional 800 watched and played along live online. Those numbers have remained consistent since then.

Membership in the club is free, and songs and lessons are available to download or view before each meeting, so participants can spend more time playing together and less time trying to get the music under their fingers. We caught up with Maisel to see how things have been going with the new arrangement.

With the nonprofit Four Strings at a Time taking over, what’s new with Ukulele Club of Hawaii?

For years it met once a month on a Tuesday evening. When Four Strings at a Time took the reins of club, with the blessing of the founders, we changed the meeting day and time to be the third Saturday of the month, 9–10 a.m. The club meetings are now livestreamed and recorded so that people around the world can join us (fourstringsatatime.org/ukuleleclub).

We have a house band leading the songs—we started with the incredible group Ke‘olu. This allows folks to feel less self-conscious when trying out the new tricks we share in our free monthly online mini lessons as well as feel like they are part of this big band. By having the lessons, as well as local guest artists leading songs, we are able to include song pronunciation (‘Olelo Hawai’i) and history/meaning (Mo’olelo), as well as music education. Allowing all of this to be online gives a global opportunity for people to learn more about Hawaiian music and culture. One other addition, we have loaner ukuleles available for those who want to give it a try!

What are some of your club’s favorite songs?

It’s hard to pick favorites! One song that is dear to our members, which we always sing, is “Hawaii Aloha.” This classic song is not only important to our club, but anyone who grew up in Hawaii. 

Has your club participated in any community service projects?

During the month of May, we were able to raise $1,000 and collect over 2,000 diapers for Aloha Diaper Bank.

Is your club involved in any other local events?

Ukulele Club of Hawaii will be involved with the Four Strings at a Time fundraiser on September 21, as well as the Four Strings Concert Series, which takes place quarterly after our club meetings.

What else should we know about your club?

The club is completely free, and anyone can be a member. The goal of club is truly the heart of Four Strings at a Time’s mission: engaging, educating, and enriching all lives around the world through music and the ukulele.