Following the Ukulele Home: Celebrating 150 Years Since the Ravenscrag

Soon the ukulele world will mark an extraordinary anniversary.

It will be 150 years since the Ravenscrag sailed into Honolulu Harbor, carrying hundreds of immigrants from the Portuguese island of Madeira. They came in search of opportunity, bringing with them little more than hope, determination, and the traditions of home.

Among those traditions was music.

The small four-string instruments they carried—the machete, rajão, and braguinha—would inspire the creation of an instrument that would become one of the world's most beloved: the ukulele.

Today, it is difficult to imagine the musical landscape without it.

The ukulele has become a symbol of joy, community, and aloha. It has found its way into homes, schools, festivals, and concert stages across the globe. It has comforted people through difficult times, introduced countless beginners to making music, and built lifelong friendships among people who might never otherwise have met.

All of that can be traced back to one remarkable journey.

A Voyage That Changed Music

The Ravenscrag departed Madeira in 1879 with more than 400 passengers bound for the Hawaiian Kingdom. The voyage lasted months, crossing thousands of miles of open ocean before arriving in Honolulu on August 23, 1879.

Among the passengers were skilled cabinetmakers, craftsmen, and instrument builders, including Manuel Nunes, José do Espírito Santo, Augusto Dias, and João Fernandes. In Hawaiʻi, they continued building the familiar instruments of their homeland while adapting them to local woods, local tastes, and a new culture.

Over time, something entirely new emerged.

The instrument evolved, gained a Hawaiian name, and became woven into the cultural fabric of the islands. What began as an immigrant tradition became one of Hawaiʻi's greatest gifts to the world.

It is a beautiful reminder that culture grows through connection.

Returning to Where the Story Began

For the 150th anniversary, we won't simply be celebrating in Hawaiʻi.

We'll be traveling to Madeira.

Rather than following the voyage westward, we'll be making the journey in reverse—returning to the island where this remarkable story began.

Madeira is famous for its dramatic mountains, lush forests, colorful villages, and breathtaking Atlantic coastline. It is also remains home to the musical traditions that laid the foundation for the modern ukulele.

Walking its streets, hearing its music, visiting workshops where traditional instruments are still built, and meeting local musicians offers a rare opportunity to experience the ukulele's deeper roots.

It's a chance to see the story from its beginning.

More Than a Retreat

This journey isn't just about workshops or performances.

It's about understanding how music travels with people.

It's about honoring the courage of families who crossed an ocean to build new lives.

It's about celebrating the craftspeople whose skills helped shape an instrument that has brought happiness to millions.

And it's about recognizing that every time we pick up a ukulele, we're participating in a story that stretches across generations, continents, and cultures.

Whether you've been playing for six months or sixty years, there's something deeply meaningful about standing where that story began.

Join Us for History

Anniversaries like this don't come around often.

The 150th anniversary of the Ravenscrag is more than a milestone—it is an opportunity to reflect on where the ukulele came from, how far it has traveled, and the communities it continues to create around the world.

We'll celebrate by returning to Madeira, where one chapter of the ukulele's story began before setting sail toward Hawaiʻi and into history.

We hope you'll join us as we follow the ukulele home.