A Multifaceted Artist and Teacher

Herb Ohta, Jr.’s interest in music was very evident at an early age. Herb’s grandmother taught him his first song on the ukulele at the age of three. The song was “Happy Birthday.” His father, Ohta-San started his early instruction on the ukulele and Herb continued to study music playing the viola in high school. Herb was also a member of The Honolulu Boys Choir, The Honolulu Children’s Opera Chorus, and The University High School Select Choir. After being inspired by listening to the Makaha Sons of Niihau and other local musicians at the age of 17, he became a devotee of Hawaiian music and the ukulele. 

With 15 Na Hoku Award nominations to his credit, he won a Na Hoku Hanohano Award for “Ukulele Nahenahe” in 2011, “Pure Ukulele” in 2013, Instrumental Song of the Year “Napili Bay” co-written by David Kamakahi in 2013, “Ukulele Friends” in 2015, “Ukulele Friends: The Sequel” in 2018, and “Ukulele Hula” in 2019. Herb is also a four-time Hawaii Music Award. Herb has released three national releases in Japan, one in Taiwan, and co-authored two ukulele instructional books with Grammy Award artist Daniel Ho that was released in Japan and the United States. In 2015 Herb published a songbook of his arrangements in Korea. 

As a teacher, composer, recording artist, entertainer, and producer, Herb Ohta, Jr. solidly established himself in the company of musicians who promote our Hawaiian instrument in the music landscape today. Explore more artists.