VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.

->>HUELL: GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY, I'M HUELL HOWSER.

WE'RE GETTING READY FOR A REAL ADVENTURE.

TO SET THIS UP WE GO BACK ABOUT A YEAR, WHEN I MET DENNIS AT FARMER'S MARKET.

DENNIS CAME OVER TO ME AND SAID WHAT, DENNIS?

DON'T GIVE IT AWAY.

- >> I SAID, HUELL, I KNOW SOMETHING IN CALIFORNIA HERE THAT YOU HAVE GOT TO SEE IN NEWPORT BEACH, SOMETHING SPECIAL, COLORFUL, MAGICAL, WONDERFUL, FANTASTIC AND FABULOUS.

I SAID, HUELL, YOU HAVE TO COME SEE THIS.

->>HUELL: OKAY THAT'S GOOD.

THAT GOT MY ATTENTION OFF THE THE BAT AND IT TOOK AWHILE FOR US TO GET DOWN HERE.

WHAT ELSE, I GUESS WE'RE WEARING HAWAIIAN SHIRTS.

- >> OKAY AND HOW ABOUT THE HINT HAWAII.

->>HUELL: AND HULA.

- >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE.

->>HUELL: WE ARE DOWN AT THE OASIS SENIOR CENTER IN NEWPORT BEACH.

- >> YOU JUST GAVE IT AWAY.

->>HUELL: NOW DIDN'T.

IT'S ABOUT 10:00 ON A MONTHEN DAY MORNING.

WE'RE GETTING READY TO GO INSIDE, I GUESS THE BEST HINT IS TO BE QUIET AND PUT THE MIC OUT HERE AND LISTEN FOR A MINUTE.

--♪ MUSIC♪- >>HUELL: HERE WE ARE.

-♪ MUSIC♪- (HAWAIIAN STYLE MUSIC) ♪ ONE BRIGHT SUNDAY AFTERNOON, ♪ ♪ I REACHED OUT, AND THE CUSTOMERS WERE LINED UP IN GROVES ♪ ♪ LET THIS BE A WARNING SO EARLY IN THE MORNING ♪ ♪ THE PRINCE CLAIMING PAPAYA, HE WANTS TO GIVE IT AWAY ♪ ♪ HE LOVES TO GIVE IT AWAY ♪ ->>HUELL: WELL, WE REALLY WALKED INTO SOMETHING, DIDN'T WE.

- >> YOU GOT IN A REAL SESSION.

->>HUELL: WHERE ARE WE.

LET'S STAND OVER HERE TO SEE EVERYONE BEHIND US.

- >> THIS IS THE OASIS UKELELEE STRUMERS FROM CORONA DEL MAR, NEWPORT BEACH.

->>HUELL: WHAT HAPPENS DOWN HERE?

- >> EVERY MONDAY MORNING WE GET TOGETHER AND PLAY OLD SONGS FROM THE 30'S AND 40'S AND PLAY THE UKELELEE, AND WE PLAY HAWAIIAN SONGS.

->>HUELL: YOU CALL IT THE UKELELEE?

HAVE I BEEN SAYING IT ALL WRONG DURING THE YEARSING?

>> YES.

->>HUELL: IT'S UKELELEE.

- >> YOU SAY IT THE AMERICAN WAY.

- ->>HUELL: SAY IT AGAIN?

- >> UKELELEE.

->>HUELL: DID YOU XWROE UP PLAYING THE UKELELEE?

- >> I STARTED AT 11 YEARS OLD FROM DES MOINES, OHIO AND NOT HAWAII.

->>HUELL: HOW MANY STARTED AS KIDS OR PICKED IT UP LATER?

- >> THINK MOST PEOPLE PICKED IT UP LATER ON.

THIS IS TOBY'S THIRD TIME.

->>HUELL: YOU ARE THE NEWCOMER.

- >> YES.

->>HUELL: HOW DID YOU GET... - >> THROUGH A LOT CONNECTIONS.

YOU HAVE TO BE CONNECTED TO GET HERE.

->>HUELL: WE'RE HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WHAT HAPPENS HERE?

- >> EVERY MORNING WE START OFF WITH WHAT YOU HEARD, FABULOUS AMERICA AND THEN TONY ASKS ME WHAT PAGE WE'RE ON AND I TELL HIM WHERE WE STOPPED LAST WEEK AND IF I DON'T LIKE IT WE SKIP IT.

->>HUELL: YOU WORK YOUR WAY THROUGH THE SONG BOOK?

- >> YES.

IT'S NOT A CLASS, IT'S MORE OF A MEETING.

->>HUELL: LOTS OF FUN.

- >> LOTS OF FUN.

->>HUELL: DO WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE PLAYING NEXT?

- >> WE JUST TURN THE PAGE.

->>HUELL: LET'S TURN THE PAGE WE WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU ARE DOING NEXT.

HOW DOES IT WORK, TONY?

- >> WE JUST GO THROUGH THE BOOK.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT UKELELEE VERSUS UKELELEE.

"UKA" IS A FLEA IN THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE.

IT'S A JUMP AND FLEE THING.

THEY WERE PLAYING THIS REALLY FAST AND HE SAID IT LOOKS LIKE A DOG STRACHING FLEES SO, WE'RE SCRATCHING FLEES TODAY.

->>HUELL: DID IT START IN HAWAII?

- >> YES THIS VERSION OF THE UKELELEE.

THE ONE THAT THE PORTUGUESE BROUGHT HAD A LONGER STEM.

->>HUELL: IT'S AN OFF SHOOT OF THE GUITAR AND SOMETHING FROM PORTUGAL?

- >> YES.

THEY BROUGHT IT AROUND DURING THE TRADING DAYS.

->>HUELL: OKAY.

THEY'RE READY TO GO.

THAT YOU REMEMBER ITCHING TO GET STARTED.

YOU ARE THE LEADING.

- >> THE MASTER OF ARMS, JUST KEEPING THESE KIDS IN ORDER.

THIS IS JUST THE PAGE, THE NEXT PAGE 169.

->>HUELL: TURN THE PAGE.

- >> JUST TURN THE PAGE, KIDS.

EVERYONE GOT IT?

ONE, TWO, THREE, ONE, TWO, THREE.

- ♪ FAR AWAY PLACES ♪ ♪ FAR AWAY OVER THE SEA ♪ ♪ THOSE FAR AWAY PLACES... ♪ ♪ THEY'RE CALLING, CALLING ME ♪ OH, IS IT CHINA OR MAYBE SIAN ♪ ♪ I WANT TO SEE FOR MYSELF ♪ THOSE FAR AWAY PLACES WILL... ♪ ♪ IN A WORLD THAT I... ♪ ♪ I START GETTING RESTLESS WHENEVER I...

THE WHISTLES ON THE TRAIN ♪ ♪ AND LOOK FOR THE CASTLES IN SPAIN ♪ ♪ THEY CALL ME A DREAMER ♪ ♪ MAYBE I AM ♪ ♪ ... TO SEE ♪ ♪ THOSE FAR AWAY PLACES ♪ ♪ THEY'RE CALLING, CALLING ME ♪ >>HUELL: WHAT KIND OF SONGS ARE UKELELEE SONGS?

- >> ANY SONG IS AN UKELELEE SONG.

WHEN OUR GENERATION WERE DOWN AT SANTA MONICA AND HERMOSA AND WHAT NOT, THEY BROUGHT UKELELEE AND A LOT OF LYMRIC SONGS THAT WERE PLAYED.

THE SONGS FROM THE 20'S AND 30'S THEY LIKED TO PLAY.

->>HUELL: NOT JUST HAWAIIAN SONGS?

- >> WHEN THE UKELELEE HIT THE MAIN LAND AND THE COLLEGE KIDS PLAYED WITH THEIR COON SKIN COATS AND HATS.

->>HUELL: AND THE UKELELEE.

- >> THEY PLAYED COLLEGE AND NOVELTY SONGS, FUNNY LITTLE SONGS.

THEY ENJOY SINGING THEM.

->>HUELL: LET'S GET IN TIGHT HERE.

- ♪ EVERYBODY IS GOING OUT AND HAVING FUN ♪ ♪ I'M JUST A... ♪ ♪ I CAN'T GET OVER HOW... ♪ OH, LONESOME ME ♪ ♪ ... ♪ MUSE ♪ I KNOW THAT I JUST HAD SOME FUN... ♪ ♪ ... ♪ ♪ OH, LONESOME ME ♪ ♪ FOOT AND FANCY FREE ♪ ♪ ♪ BUT I STILL LOVE HIM SO, AND BROTHER DON'T YOU KNOW, I WELCOME HIM BACK IN MY ARMS HUGHES ♪ FORGET ABOUT THE MAGIC ♪ ♪ I THOUGHT OF EVERYTHING FROM A TO Z ♪ ♪ OH, LONESOME MAY.

♪ OH, LONESOME ME ♪ ♪ OH, LONESOME ME ♪ (APPLAUSE) ♪ MAYBE I'LL LOSE ♪ ♪ MAYBE I'M IN FOR CRYING THE BLUES ♪ ->>HUELL: TONY, I'M INTERESTED TO KNOW I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS ALL VOCAL, NOT JUST INSTRUMENTAL.

- >> RIGHT.

HE'S AN INSTRUMENTALIST.

WHEN YOU SEE THEM MOVING THE HANDS UP AND DOWN THE MUSIC BOARD THEY KNOW THE DIFFERENT POSITIONS OF THE CORDS.

MOST OF US PLAY UP HERE.

THIS IS WHERE THE MONEY IS, THIS IS WHERE YOU SING.

->>HUELL: SO UKELELEE MUSIC, IS MUSIC MEANT TO BE SUNG?

- >> IT'S USUALLY IN ACCOMPANY OF AN INSTRUMENT.

THE KIDS GREW UP PLAYING ON THE BEACH AND SINGING WITH IT.

THEY DIDN'T JUST GO DOWN AND PLAY.

"INFINITELY (INSTRUMENTAL) (APPLAUSE) ->>HUELL: WOW, VERY GOOD.

THIS IS YOUR SON?

- >> THIS IS MY SON, YES.

->>HUELL: YOU ARE STARTING HIM OUT ON IT.

- >> PASSING IT ON.

->>HUELL: I JUST NOTICEED THIS WONDERFUL MUSIC YOU JUST PLAYED.

LOOK AT THE CONDITION, THERE'S A HOLE IN THE UKELELEE.

- >> THERE'S PROBABLY A FEW IN MY HEAD TOO.

I ALWAYS EXPLAIN THE FIRST THING WE DO SAY PROPER CARE OF AN UKELELEE.

THIS IS -- >>HUELL: HOW IS THIS?

- >> JUST WEARING IT OUT WITH THE FINGER NAIL HERE, IT HAS WORN A HOLE.

I DON'T WANT TO PART WITH IT LONG ENOUGH TO HAVE IT REPAIRED.

SOME DAY I LET GET IT REPAIRED.

->>HUELL: HOW OLD IS THIS THING?

- >> PROBABLY 1950'S.

->>HUELL: YOU HAVE PUT SOME MILES ON IT.

- >> I CERTAINLY HAVE.

->>HUELL: WHY IS EVERYONE LAUGHING AT THAT ONE?

-HA, HA... ♪ LA, LA, LA, LA ♪ ♪ LA, LA, LA, ♪ ♪ LA, LA, LA, LA ♪ ♪ SING, SING A SONG ♪ ♪ SING OUT LOUD ♪ ♪ SING OUT STRONG ♪ ♪ SING OF GOOD TIMES NOT SAD ♪ SING OF HAPPY NOT SAD ♪ ♪ SING, SING A SONG ♪ ♪ MAKE IT SIMPLE ♪ ♪ IT LAST THE WHOLE NIGHT LONG ♪ ♪ DON'T WORRY IF IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH, FOR ANYONE ELSE BUT ME ♪ ♪ SING, SING A SONG ♪ - ♪ SING A SONG ♪ MUSE ♪ SING, SING A SONG ♪ - >> THIS IS THE SMALLEST SIZE, A SOPRANO.

THEY COME IN DIFFERENT CONFIGURATIONS AND PRICES.

THIS IS A VERY RARE ONE.

IT WAS MADE BY MARTIN IN THE 30'S, IT'S PROBABLY AROUND 12 TO 1500 DOLLARS FOR THIS ONE.

->>HUELL: I'M HANDING IT BACK TO YOU.

SORRY ABOUT THE REMARKS EARLIER.

- >> THIS IS LARGER IT'S CALLED A CONCERT UKELELEE.

THEN THE NEXT SIZE UP IS A TENOR UKELELEE.

THIS IS A MARTIN TENOR, A BEAUTIFUL INSTRUMENT AND THE SOUND IS INCREDIBLE.

->>HUELL: SO, THE IDEA OF UKELELEE GETTING IN SOUVENIR SHOPS AND ALL THAT GIVES IT A BAD NAME.

- >> THAT'S BECAUSE IT STARTED OUT AS PLASTIC UKELELEE.

THEY WERE THROW AWAY TOY THINGS.

THEY'RE WORTH THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS NOW.

->>HUELL: THERE ARE PEOPLE TAKING OUT UKELELEE OUT OF THE ATTICS AND TAKING THEM TO THE ANTIQUE ROAD SHOW TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY'RE WORTH?

- >> YES.

THERE ARE EXPENSIVE UKELELEE AND SOME ARE PLASTIC.

->>HUELL: WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE?

- >> IT'S NOT HARD.

YOU ARE THUMBING A RIDE.

->>HUELL: WHAT'S THIS?

- >> YOU ARE GOING TO DO HOOWILAU.

IT'S A DANCE IN HAWAII.

YOU ARE A NEW PERSON HERE AND EVERY NEW PERSON HERE HAS TO DO THIS.

->>HUELL: YOU DIDN'T TELL ME THIS.

- >> YOU HAVE TO PULL THE NET TOO.

- >> WE'RE WE GO, HUELL.

SLOW.

- >> BEND YOUR KNEES.

- ♪ WE'RE GOING TO A HOOKI ♪ ♪ EVERYBODY, LOVES A HOOKILAU ♪ ♪ WHERE THE -- AND THE -- ♪ ♪ WE THROW OUR NET UP IN THE SEA ♪ ♪ COME ON SWIMMING TO ME ♪ ♪ WE'RE GOING TO THE HOOKILAU, TO A HOOKILAU ♪ ♪ WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY ♪ ♪ THE HOOKILAU NETS DOWN IN THE BAY ♪ ♪ OH, WE'RE GOING TO A HOOKILAU, TO A HOOKILAU ♪ ♪ EVERYBODY LOVES A HOOKILAU ♪ OH, WE THROW OUR NETS INTO THE SEA AND ALL OF THE -- COME SWIMMING TO ME ♪ ♪ WE'RE GOING TO A HOOKILAU, TO A HOOKILAU ♪ ♪ TO A HOOKILAU, LAU, LAU ♪ ♪ WHEN YOU ARE WATCHING A HOO LA GIRL DANCE, YOU ARE ATTEMPTED ROMANCE ♪ ♪ KEEP YOUR EYES ON HER HANDS ♪ ♪ REMEMBER THEY'RE TELLING A STORY TO YOU ♪ ♪ HER HOOP IS SWINGING, LOUIE KEEP YOUR ION THE SWING, IT DOESN'T MEAN A THING, KEEP YOUR EYES ON HER HANDS ♪ ♪ KEEP YOUR EYES WHERE THEY BELONG ♪ ♪ BECAUSE, LOUIE, KEEP YOUR EYES WHERE THEY BELONG ♪ ♪ WE'RE HAVING SOME FUN ♪ (APPLAUSE) ♪ IF YOU ARE TOO YOUNG TO DATE OR OVER 98 JUST KEEP YOUR EYES ON HER HANDS ♪ ♪ JUST KEEP YOUR EYES WHERE THEY THEY BELONG ♪ ♪ DON'T GO WISHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO MOW THE LAWN ♪ ♪ NO USE OF CONCEALING WE'RE HAVING SOME FUN ♪ ♪ IF YOU ARE TOO YOUNG TO DATE OR OVER 98 KEEP YOUR EYES ON HELPER HANDS ♪ ♪ THEY TELL THE STORY ♪ ♪ JUST KEEP YOUR EYES ON HER HANDS ♪ (APPLAUSE) ->>HUELL: THIS HAS BEEN SO MUCH FUN.

- >> WE, IT'S FUN BECAUSE YOU ARE HERE.

YOU MADE OUR DAY TOOKERS HUELL.

WE WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO.

WE STARTED TALKING SIX MONTHS AGO.

I SENT YOU A BUNCH.

->>HUELL: WE STARTED THIS AT THE FARMER'S MARKET.

- >> YES.

->>HUELL: THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS HERE?

- >> YES.

ABOUT 22 YEARS NOW.

->>HUELL: IT JUST KEEPS GROWING IN POPULARITY BECAUSE IT'S FAIRLY EASY TO LEARN.

THE WORDS TO THE SONGS ARE GREAT TO SING AND IT'S A LOT OF FUN FOR PEOPLE TO GET TOGETHER, ISN'T IT?

- >> IT'S A JOYFUL TIME FOR US.

IT'S A JOYFUL TIME AND BEING HERE TOGETHER AND SINGING THE SONGS TOGETHER.

->>HUELL: THE OLD UKELELEE HAS BEEN AROUND FOR ABOUT A HUNDRED YEARS, IT HAS HAD DIFFERENT STAGES IN IT'S HISTORY.

- >> IT HAS.

IT HAS GROWN FROM A LITTLE SANTA SOPRANO TO A CONCERT SIZE UKELELEE AND THEN A TENOR SIZE AND THEN A BAREATONE UKELELEE AND PEOPLE PLAY THEM ALL.

-(APPLAUSE) ->>HUELL: THE UKELELEE IS ALIVE AND WELL IN NEWPORT BEACH.

WE HAVE HAD A GREAT DAY.

♪ SWEET GEORGIA BROWN HUGHES HUGHES ♪ SWEET GEORGIA BROWN ♪ MUSIC -♪ MUSIC♪- -♪ MUSIC♪- "CAPTIONING EQUIPMENT DONATED BY LLOYD RIGLER AND PERFORMED BY RAPIDTEXT" - >> HERE WE GO.

(APPLAUSE) VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.