Ukulele Master Has Passed Away

[George Keoki Lake]

Ukulele Master, KAHAUANU LAKE, a Treasure of Hawaiian Music died at the age of 79 last week. He was
probably one of the first Hawaiian musicians to use the larger baritone ukulele in traditional Island music. (I realize this is a "Steel Guitar Forum", however this grand ukulele master deserves recognition as an accomplished composer whose many songs have been performed by Hawaiian steel players over the years.) Those of us old enough to remember will recall the famed Kahauanu Lake Trio consisting of his brother Thomas, (bass), and Al Machida on r/guitar. Even older folks will recall his wife, (kumu hula), Auntie Ma'ike Aiu Lake. As Keith Haugen has stated, "Kahauanu Lake was one of only a handful of performing and recording artists in the field of Hawaiian music who created a new sound yet kept it very traditionally Hawaiian." Kahauanu founded the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame.