The ukulele came to Hawaii from Portugal. Pronounced, OO-KOO-le-le in Hawaiian, it translates to “jumping fleas,” as the fingering on the small neck resembled jumping fleas as described by the natives of Honolulu in the 19th Century. And so it grew in popularity as it traveled across time and the continent, which took us to K2 Music in Reny’s Plaza in Camden on Friday, Jan. 24, for what can only be described as a Uke-in, or a Festival of Ukes, but more than anything it was a lot of people with ukuleles talking, connecting, playing and having a lot of fun.

Ukuleles have become somewhat of a fascination with this reporter as of late as I realized it’s widespread and growing popularity on the Midcoast. Friday night only reinforced that belief as I saw people from young to old and all walks of life. Also it came to me that the Waldo County school system just bought 48 ukuleles for elementary school students. A far cry from the recorders I was forced to learn in elementary school.

Linda Bohm, of Ellsworth, made the trip down with two friends and was having a great time.

“I bought my ukulele here and I’ve been playing for three weeks,” she said.

Gloria Howard, of Bangor: “I’m new and I’m looking to play. I like the sound of it, it’s an easy instrument to learn and it’s just something you can do on your own and so far it’s been great.”

Pam Farrarr, of Ellsworth, had a friend buy her a ukulele kit. 

“I had a good friend who played the ukulele and I so admired the music he bought me a kit and I built one,” she said. “I took Frets Halligan’s class inBelfasta year ago and just can’t put it down. The kit was easy to build, but I much prefer the ukuleles here at K2. I love it, it makes me happy.”

Greg Harrison, of Hope, came with his two children, Abby and Archer. He explained that they had all got ukuleles for Christmas and were having a lot of fun with them. Seems like a great way to spend a cold winter night with the family.

Harvey Curtis, of K2 Music, said the evening was better then they had hoped for.

“Unbelievable,” said Curtis. “We’ve sold a lot of music books and the food is doing well. This is exactly what we were going for. These people love the instrument and enjoy it whether they’re players, beginners, or advanced just to get together and hang out to talk about the instrument and play a little bit. People are getting in touch with groups where they can go play, lessons and we have teachers here. This is exactly what we were going for.”

Dean Filbrick and Cathy Nelligaen, both from Bangor, made the drive down because Cathy can’t find ukulele players in Bangor.

“I came down to hopefully connect with some other players, maybe find some teachers,” said Cathy. “There’s nothing like this in Bangor, I know no one up there that plays and the one teacher I had passed away.”

Three of the more notable ukulele players on the Midcoast — Howard Greenberg  of Thomaston, Frets Halligan, of Belfast, and Jeff Weinberger, of K2 Music — were on hand to play and talk to those attending. Jeff Weinberger teaches ukulele for Bay Chamber Concerts. Frets Halligan said he had a new class beginning with the adult education program at the Belfast High School.

Gallager said he had played the ukulele for four years this coming April 25.

“I had played guitar many years ago and I had played a little bit of classical guitar, he said. “Neal and Tracy Flewelling were friends of mine and I got him interested in making ukuleles and we made a few and he continued making them. He was already a great luthier and was creating guitars. The process to finish a ukulele can take as long as it does to make it. Maybe three days if you’re making just one and of course with the finish, you can wait days for it to dry between coats. The basic model is mahogany with some inlay and about $400, a lot fancier with an extended fingerboard, inlay and other features is around $625. There are four different models and two made from koa, which is a wood that grows only inHawaii.”

 Flewelling’s website is here: http://www.flewellingguitars.com/Home/Ukulele

PBP: Is there a Stradivarius of the ukulele world?

“Yes, there probably is if you’re talking to vintage Martin ukulele collectors,” said Howard. “The Holy Grail would be the Martin 5K, which is a highly coveted, highly decorated soprano ukulele. Arguably the best ukulele ever made.

There is one on eBay right now for $15,000.  Letting the cat out of the bag: Mac Economy, of K2 Music, talked to the crowd about ukuleles and was struck by an inspiration.

“We should do a K2/2K Ukulele March. We could start here and maybe end down around the harbor,” said Economy.

Two people from the crowd immediately offered up boats to cruise the harbor and play ukuleles. Economy had to agree it was a great idea. Will have to wait and see what the great minds at K2music can come up with.