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Roy Sakuma

He couldn't keep a beat and struggled to learn to play. But for the past 30 years, he's taught hundreds of others to play the ukulele and spread the joy of the instrument all over the world. He's Roy Sakuma, just another reason you're so Lucky You Live Hawaii.

It's been a series of wishes for Roy Sakuma. The first wish came more than 30 years ago when Roy worked for the city.

"I used to clean Kapiolani Park and every day during lunchtime I'd sit on the bench, look at the Kapiolani Park bandstand and I'd have this dream of putting on this ukulele festival," says Roy.

In 1970, the festival became a reality and has been attracting people to Hawaii from around the world every year since. Another wish was to become a teacher, to share with young and old the beauty of this instrument that came to Hawaii from Portugal in the late 1800's.

"To see the laughter, their facial expressions, their enjoyment and the trials and tribulations that we go through in learning a song and then all of a sudden that big smile like, 'wow I can do it you know.' It's just an amazing feeling," says Roy.

But achieving those wishes wasn't easy for Roy. Believe it or not, he had a tough time learning to play the instrument he now teaches others to play.

"I was a total klutz, I had no sense of rhythm. I couldn't even clap with the radio, that's how bad I was. It was a struggle for me to learn how to play the ukulele," says Roy.

Roy's wife, Kathy, also teaches at their ukulele studios. She too has the passion.

"Five year old kids up until teenagers, adults, and even senior citizens, when they put that ukulele in their hand, no matter what they play, whether it's a beginners song or something more advanced, they feel good and they feel happy and joyful," says Kathy.

"I wouldn't trade it for the world. It's the greatest feeling," says Roy.

And just one more reason you are so lucky you live Hawaii.

Roy says interest in the ukulele really picked up about 12 years ago as people started listening to artists like Iz and the Ka'au Crater Boys. And he says it's still growing.

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