The ukulele was invented in Hawaii in the 1880s by Portuguese immigrants from Madeira, specifically three cabinet makers: Manuel Nunes, José do Espírito Santo, and Augusto Dias. These men brought with them small guitar-like instruments from Madeira, such as the machete (or braguinha) and the rajão, which they adapted and combined to create the ukulele
. The ukulele's design is a hybrid: it retained the size, shape, and fingerboard of the machete but adopted the tuning of the rajão's top four strings (G-C-E-A). Hawaiian wood, especially koa, was used to craft these instruments, giving the ukulele its distinctive sound
. King Kalākaua of Hawaii was a key promoter of the ukulele, incorporating it into royal performances and helping establish it as a central part of Hawaiian music and culture
. In summary, the ukulele was invented by Madeiran Portuguese immigrants in Hawaii, with Manuel Nunes, José do Espírito Santo, and Augusto Dias generally credited as the first makers who developed the instrument into the form known today.
