en:bio:manuel_nunes

Manuel Nunes

14.6.1843–9.7.1922

Grown up on Madeira, the carpenter Nunes emigrated with his family in 1879 to Hawaii to look for work there. In addition to furniture, from 1885 he made musical instruments. His family business existed until 1918.

Educated in primary and high school of Funchal and settled in Honolulu in 1879, at which time he invented and introduced the ukulele into the Kingdom of Hawaii, since becoming the leading manufacturer of ukuleles in Honolulu, distributing them in different parts of the United States.1)

Nunes was for a long time credited for being the inventor of the ukulele; his company had been advertising this slogan since 1909. This legend is not true; however, Nunes was one of the first to make ukuleles.

References

  • Tranquada, Jim; King, John: „The Singular Case of Manuel Nunes and the Invention of the Bouncing Flea“. In: The Galpin Society Journal 2007:4 Bd. 60. , S. 85–95
  • Siddall, John William (Hg.): Men of Hawaii: being a biographical reference library, complete and authentic, of the men of note and substantial achievement in the Hawaiian Islands. Bd. 1. Honolulu: Honolulu Star-Bulletin 1917 S. 204–205

Videos


History of the Ukulele - 'Apanhei-te Cavaquinho' (2012)

Pictures

Soprane ukulele, made in Hawaii, c. 1900. All parts are made of koa. The body is built out of one piece of wood.

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1)
Men of Hawaii vol. 1, p. 205