Who doesn’t love the plucky sounds created by the ʻukulele, one of Hawaiʻi’s favorite and most iconic instruments. A distant member of the lute family, the ʻuke was actually brought over to the Islands by Portuguese immigrants from Madeira, however, Hawaiʻi locals—and monarchs like King Kalālakaua—quickly adopted the four-stringed noisemaker.
Now, the ʻuke has gone global, however many of its top players still originate from the Aloha State. To celebrate National ʻUkulele Day—which is today—we’ve compiled a list of 25 ʻukulele hits, we’re talking songs like Herb Ohta and Lyle Ritz’s rendition of “Fly Me to the Moon,” Daniel Ho’s “Pineapple Mango” and “Pay Phone” by Honoka & Azita, all on a Spotify playlist, which can be found below.
And if you have an ʻukulele that you haven’t touched in a while, pick it up and give it a strum. It may just bring a smile to your face.
