Message from the founder

The 2026 Hawaii Ukulele Picnic will return as a physical event in July 2026. We are also excited to announce that the 13th Annual International Ukulele Competition Finals will also be returning to Honolulu, with qualifying taking place online in advance.

While COVID-related restrictions have been lifted, things have never been better for children. Children are under more stress than we think. I not only hope that ukulele can heal children's hearts, I also believe that ukulele can give children hope. Participating in our ukulele competition gives them the opportunity to set their own goals, have dreams of achieving them, and work hard to achieve them.

It takes a lot of courage to observe and evaluate your own performance. However, if you take the courageous step forward, your life will be more positive later on. I hope you can live this period of your life to the fullest.

I also encourage experienced ukulele players to attend this event and try their skills in front of their ukulele friends from around the world. This will be a great opportunity to share the joy of playing the ukulele with many people. We hope to see you at the 12th annual event!

President of Ukulele Foundation of Hawaii
Kazuyuki Sekiguchi