I recently crawled out from under the rock on which I live and discovered ukulele sensation Jake Shimabukuro playing George Harrison’s While My Guitar Gently Weeps. Jake's rendition of the Beatle's song was, apparently, a YouTube sensation a few years back.
Jake is fifth-generation Japanese-American
Japanese immigrants started arriving in Hawaii in 1885 as government contract laborers for the sugar plantations. Their numbers swelled and peaked in 1920, when the Japanese represented 43% of Hawaii’s overall population. Since then, the percentage of Japanese living in Hawaii has fallen to 16.7%, according to the 2000 census (and Wikipedia).
You will find the Japanese culture’s influence in Hawaii. Think sushi, tonkatsu, mochi and teriyaki everything. Even shave ice. And the many Japanese customs, like the obon festival to honor the dead, hanami or cherry blossom viewing in spring and kadomatsu or “gate pine” to ring in the new year.
This explains Hawaii’s aching heart when we witnessed the March 11 earthquakes and resulting tsunami.
Within hours, people across Hawaii started pledging their support. Two days later, Jake Shimabukuro performed in a fundraiser at Waikiki Beach Walk®, which raised nearly $17,000. A month later, Jake and a whole gang of other Hawaiian musicians played at “Aloha for Japan,” which generated more $3 million in aid for the people of Japan. Matsumoto Shave Ice in Haleiwa on Oahu pledged $5,000 and .25 for every shave ice sold during the month of March. On May 1, Hawaiian Airlines presents “Lei Day for Japan,” yet another fundraiser.
Here's another video clip of Jake. Here, he plays Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody in front of a TED crowd. If you're like me, these two videos will make you run (or click) for iTunes and download a few of Jake's CDs. I recommend Peace Love Ukulele and Gently Weeps. "If everyone played the ukulele," Jake says, "the world would be a better place."