Jesse Kalima

Jesse Kalima was born in Honolulu on October 31, 1920 when it was still the "Territory of Hawai'i". He became well known at the age of 15 when he won an amateur 'ukulele championship with his rendition of "Stars And Stripes Forever". Along the way, he would form groups with his brothers and also played as part of the Hawai'i Calls radio show in the 1940's and 1950's up until and including Hawai'i statehood in 1959. He would continue to play for most of his life while including his sons Dana and Jesse Jr. within his groups. Kalima died on July 13, 1980 at age 59.
2005: Winner of a Nā Hōkū Hanohano Lifetime Achievement Award under the auspices of the Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts.