Ernest Kaʻai

Ernest Kaʻai
Background information
Birth nameErnest Kaleihoku Kaʻai
Also known asErnest Kaʻai
BornJanuary 1, 1881
Honolulu, Oahu, Kingdom of Hawai'i
DiedSeptember 26, 1962
Miami Springs, Florida
OccupationLive performer
Instrument(s)Ukulele
Mandolin
Guitar
Steel Guitar
Years active19061962

Ernest Kaʻai (1881–1962) was considered by many to have been the foremost ukulele authority of his time and is noted by some as being "Hawaii's Greatest Ukulele Player". Kaʻai, who was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, was said to have been the first musician to play a complete melody with chords. He was the son of Simon Kaloa Kaʻai, a prominent politician during the Kingdom of Hawaii.