Kamaka Hawaii is honored to be recognized for our commitment to handcrafted excellence and our decades of serving the people of Hawaii and the world.
1959
Kamaka Hawaii becomes a member of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.
1988
Kamaka Hawaii receives the Recognition Award for “outstanding and valuable service” from the Better Business Bureau of Hawaii.
1989
On behalf of the State of Hawaii, Sam Kamaka Jr. and Fred Kamaka Sr. demonstrate the art of ukulele making at the Smithsonian Institution’s Festival of American Folklife in Washington, D.C.
On the 30th Anniversary of Hawaii’s Statehood, Kamaka Hawaii receives the Riley H. Allen Award for Creativity in Newspaper Advertising for the Progress Edition, from the Hawaii Newspaper Agency.
1990
Kamaka Hawaii receives the Outstanding Employer of Persons with Disabilities Award given by the State of Hawaii Vocational Rehabilitation and Services for the Blind Division and presented by Senator Daniel Inouye.
The Mahalo Award is presented to Kamaka Hawaii “in grateful acknowledgement & appreciation for exemplifying the true spirit of Aloha by participating and supporting the 20th Annual Ukulele Festival” from Mayor Frank Fasi and Ukulele Festival Director Roy Sakuma.
1992
Kamaka Hawaii receives the Riley H. Allen Award for Distinguished Achievement in Newspaper Advertising from the Hawaii Newspaper Agency.
Sam Kamaka Jr. and Fred Kamaka Sr. are selected as the Hawaiian Business Persons of the Year and given the prestigious Oo Award from the Hawaiian Business/Professional Association (now known as the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce). Oo is a symbol of recognition for Hawaiian business professionals who have excelled in our community. The Oo Award honors men and women who have demonstrated skill, creativity, innovation and industry—all key ingredients for survival and success in modern Hawaii.
In conjunction with the 16th Annual Oo Award Banquet at the Willows, Mayor Frank Fasi proclaims April 30, 1992 as “Samuel and Frederick Kamaka Day.” The Kamaka brothers also receive certificates of recognition and honor from the State of Hawaii Senate, State of Hawaii House of Representatives, and the Council of the City & County of Honolulu.
Furthermore, Governor John Waihee presents Sam Jr. and Fred Sr. with certificates of commendation. In those certificates, Sam Jr. is recognized as “one of the legends of the music industry” and “one of Hawaii’s favorite sons.” The Governor also mentions Fred Sr.’s “long and most distinguished” history of military service in which he received the Silver Star for valor during the Korean War.
1993
Kamaka Hawaii receives the Holo I Mua Award for Excellence from the Better Business Bureau of Hawaii (now known as the “Torch Award for Business Ethics”). In 77 years of manufacturing, no customer complaints were lodged against the company.
The BBB Torch Awards for Business Ethics honors businesses that demonstrate exceedingly high standards. The award is designed to promote not only the importance of ethics in business, but also the willingness and efforts made by outstanding businesses to ensure Hawaii’s marketplace remains fair to all of us living and visiting in our islands.
1995
Sam Kamaka Jr. is asked to create the koa carrying case for the Damien reliquary which is returned to Molokai following the beatification ceremony in Brussels, Belgium. Sam Jr. also constructs the solid milo wood burial container for the reliquary and its reinternment at Father Damien’s grave in Kalawao, Molokai.
1999
The 20th Legislature of the House of Representatives of the State of Hawaii passes House Resolution No. 99, recognizing and congratulating Fred Sr., Sam Jr. and Kamaka Hawaii, Inc. for continuing the business of “making fine ukuleles esteemed throughout the world and thus preserving Hawaiian culture and contributing to world music.”
2000
Sam Kamaka Sr. is the seventh person inducted into the Ukulele Hall of Fame Museum in Rhode Island, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of ukulele history. Sam Jr. and Fred Sr. attend and participate in the induction ceremony in West Orange, New Jersey.
2004
Sam Kamaka, Jr. receives the “Ukulele Treasure” award from the Ukulele Guild of Hawaii for his outstanding achievement and steadfast commitment to the perpetuation of the ukulele.
2005
Sam Kamaka, Jr. and Fred Kamaka, Sr. receive the Hookahiko Award from Outrigger for their longstanding dedication to crafting world renown ukuleles.
2006
Dawn Kaniaupio of Alphamedia Productions and Director Stuart Yamane complete the PBS documentary entitled “Heart Strings: The Story of the Kamaka ‘Ukulele”
2008
Sam Kamaka, Jr. and Fred Kamaka, Sr. receive the David Malo Award for their outstanding contributions in promoting an understanding and appreciation of the richness of Hawaiian culture and heritage. The award was presented by the Rotary Club of West Honolulu.
2011
The Kamaka Hawaii Tenor 4-String Ukulele receives Acoustic Guitar Magazine’s People’s Choice Bronze Award in Other Stringed Instruments Category.
2012
Samuel Kamaka, Jr. and Frederick Kamaka, Sr. are inducted into the Ukulele Hall of Fame Museum in Rhode Island, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of ukulele history.
2013
Kamaka Hawaii, Inc. receives Pacific Edge Magazine Business Achievement Award for Family-Run Business.
2014
Kamaka Hawaii, Inc. receives Hawaii Magazine Readers’ Choice Award for Best Ukulele Maker.
Kamaka Hawaii, Inc. is inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame which celebrates the achievements of significant individuals and groups who “promote, preserve, and perpetuate Hawaiian music and hula.”
Kamaka Hawaii receives the Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Large Business and the 2014 Kalani Alii Award for Lifetime Achievement & Contributions of Samuel Kamaka, Jr. and Frederick Kamaka, Sr.
2015
Kamaka Hawaii, Inc. receives Hawaii Magazine Readers’ Choice Award for Best Ukulele Maker for the second time.
2016
Kamaka Hawaii, Inc. receives Hawaii Magazine Readers’ Choice Award for Best Ukulele Maker and Na Hoku Hanohano Award, Anthology Album of the Year, Kamaka Ukulele Presents: Keep Strumming! Celebrating 100 Years
2017
Kamaka Hawaii, Inc. receives Hawaii Magazine Readers’ Choice Award for Best Ukulele Maker.
2018
Kamaka Hawaii, Inc. receives Hawaii Magazine Readers’ Choice Award for Best Ukulele Maker.
2019
Kamaka Hawaii, Inc. receives Hawaii Magazine Readers’ Choice Award for Best Ukulele Maker and 111-Hawaii Award.
2020
Kamaka Hawaii, Inc. receives Hawaii Magazine Readers’ Choice Award for Best Ukulele Maker.
2022
Kamaka Hawaii, Inc. receives Krash Kealoha Industry Award and Aloha Is Foundation Honor Award.
