Around The Islands
Feature Profile
Jake Shimabukuro: Down to Earth
by Mike Yoshiura
Jake Shimabukuro always thought that playing music was just his hobby. "For me music is a personal journey!" Even after his latest album, Dragon, named after the late Bruce Lee, topped the charts in Japan, he still refuses to consider himself a star.
The Portuguese Paniolas brought the ukulele to the Hawaiian Islands in 1879, and over time it has become a trademark of the Hawaiian culture. Jake Shimabukuro, a 29-year-old native of Kaimuki, is using his innovation and imagination to take the sounds of the wooden-four-string instrument to new heights.
A Personal Journey
To be - or not to be? - that is the question. Star is a title that this local performer refuses to be labeled with. "I don't think I'm a star," said Jake Shimabukuro, with adamancy in his voice. "For me music is a personal journey. I'm always trying to better myself as a musician and a person. It's about educating myself, and tapping into different cultures and styles. At the end of the day, I love music!"
The Perfectionist
"I was not a natural," he says, as he laughs, "I was actually a slow learner!" Shimabukuro used to take lessons from Roy Sakuma, and while most of the other students would practice the entire song, Jake would try to perfect a song by practicing it in segments. "In class the other students could play the entire song, but I could only play certain segments that I tried to perfect at home. I was a perfectionist, which is why I took longer to learn the songs."
24-7-365
According to Jake, his ukulele is with him 24-7-365!! "It pretty much never leaves my side." His mother introduced him to the wooden-four-string instrument when he was just 4-years-old. Who knew that it would someday amount to his labor of love? Jake's mom was also his first formal teacher, in the first grade at Ala Wai Elementary. "Growing up I used to practice at least four hours a day. I would practice for a few hours when I came home from school, and another one-to-two hours after dinner." These days Jake's schedule is booked, which leaves him anywhere from one-to-five hours a day for practice. One constant will remain the same; his ukulele will never leave his side.
On The Road Again
Does Jake Shimabukuro ever take the time to just sit back and reflect? In 2005, Jake was on tour for eight months out of the year (not consecutive months), taking him through a grand total of 30 different states. His hectic-travel schedule left him with very little time for himself. "Last year was the busiest I've ever been. In one week you can wake up in six different cities, and you're constantly waking up in different places. Sometimes I wake up and I don't even know where I am because I'm so disoriented from the jet lag. I usually only see the airport, the hotel and wherever it is I'm performing. It's just city-to-city, and it's a routine you sort of get locked into. It's a constant battle for me."
Bridging the Gaps
Jake takes the stage in Japan at least five times a year, and he admits that the Japanese music and culture has been a big influence on his music over the last two years. "I've learned a lot from Japanese music, and there's a lot of performers that I admire. Going to Japan makes me appreciate my culture even more, and it only makes my music better." Listening to Japanese guitar players like: Char and Haruhata inspire Shimabukuro to break boundaries and try new things.
Fanfare In Japan
"They (Japanese) appreciate Hawaiian culture there. Everyone in Japan is so polite and respectful. If they don't know who you are then they won't clap too loud. As a whole they are very shy and timid, almost subdued in comparison to the American fans. The Japanese fans will cry during a performance, and when they ask for an autograph they're crying and shaking." American fans on the other hand, are like Jake's on-stage performance, very high energy. One trait that both fans have in common is their passion for Shimabukuro's groundbreaking music. And when he's in Japan, Jake can dine on his favorite international cuisine, SUSHI!!
Very Superstitious…Writing's On The Wall
Most performers are very superstitious. Athletes, actors, singers and musicians are all creatures of habit that maintain certain rituals before taking the main stage. "I'm not the superstitious type! Before a performance I stretch my fingers backstage and warm up by playing a couple of songs, but it's not like I have a set routine." One thing that remains constant throughout Jake's practices and performances is his four-string-tenor ukulele made of Koa wood, and customized for his lightning quick fingers by the Kamaka Ukulele Company. Jake's modest-instrument collection consists of five ukuleles, although it seems that he's gotten very comfortable with one instrument in particular. To some fans he may seem choosey, almost to the point where he could be considered somewhat superstitious. "I like to keep things consistent because I want the same sound when I perform that I have in practice."
Jake be nimble, Jake be quick
Jake's fingers are so nimble and quick that when he strikes them against those four strings it's like the lightning before a storm. This musical pioneer attributes his lightning-quick fingers back to his teenage days, when he played the drums in his high school band at Kaimuki. "Playing the drums really helped me develop my hand speed and rhythm." Jake also joined the Bulldog wrestling team his senior year, and though the prerequisites don't include nimbleness and lightning quick reflexes, it's highly recommended. "More importantly than anything else, I learned a lot about myself from joining the wrestling team."
A Possible Future In Politics
Jake held the office of class president at Kaimuki High School, from his sophomore year up until he graduated in 1994. He was also elected Honolulu chairman and district council representative for his senior year. "When I was in high school I thought I'd get into politics someday. It was either that or teaching because I love working with the youth."
Finding Himself
Every adolescent is responsible for developing an identity - to find him self - so to speak. It happens to even the best of us…"When I was in the sixth grade my parents got divorced, and I was going through some tough times. I started hanging out with the wrong crowd, and all of a sudden I was getting all D's and F's. I swear I almost flunked the seventh grade."
A Role Model
"One figure that really influenced me was my grandpa from Molokai on my mom's side of the family. He was the real samurai type! Every summer my mom sent me to Molokai with hopes that I'd learn responsibility working at his construction company. Every summer I didn't want to go, but really, I never had a choice. My grandpa had a passion for spearfishing, and in Molokai he was known as a great fisherman."
The Turning Point
"The summer going into the eighth grade was a life-changing year for me. I was a total rebel…I felt lost, and I didn't know what to do. Every summer I would go to stay with my grandpa in Molokai, and every summer, I never like go! That summer was the same as usual. I was supposed to go to Molokai, but instead I cried to my mom to let me stay home."
Seeing Things In A Whole New Light
One month into his annual summer visit, Jake's grandpa decided to introduce him to spearfishing. The thought of waking up at the crack of dawn made Jake want to forget all about that idea, but once again, Jake had no say. Grandpa dragged him out of bed kicking and screaming at 5 a.m. that Sunday morning. "I was all habutteru! We didn't speak to each other the whole way to the wharf. We were on the boat still not speaking to each other, when my grandfather literally threw me in the water with only a mask, snorkel and spear."
There's No Room For Quitters
"And don't come back without a fish," yelled Jake's grandpa. An upset Shimabukuro swam around for a little over two hours and got bored, when he decided to make his way back to the boat. Within an arm's length away from his grandfather's boat, Jake popped his head out of the water, and before he could request permission to come aboard his grandpa shoved his head back underwater. In disgust, his grandpa yelled at the top of his lungs, "NOOOOOO! Don't come back without a fish!"
A Heartfelt Moment
Jake swam around for another hour, when he spotted the tail end of a manini-holo sticking out of a small crevice in the reef, AHHH-HA! Thank goodness, because after spending the last three hours in the water, Jake was starting to get cold. His hands were trembling franticly, but he mustered up the strength to aim the spear and fire…BULLSEYE! Jake was so proud after accomplishing the task at hand. He immediately stood up in the four feet of water and cried out, "GRANDPAAA! I got one!" The two laughed for almost five minutes straight, when Jake suddenly realized that this was the first time both he and his grandfather had laughed out loud, together.
Turning Over A New Leaf
The day after this revelation was a Monday, which meant that it was back to work for Jake. Only this time he had a different attitude and newfound respect for his grandfather. "I went back to work, and it was almost as if I were a completely different person. I saw things in a different light." For the remainder of Jake's summer vacation in Molokai, he and his grandpa made spearfishing a weekly excursion, which they looked forward to all week long. "My grandpa taught me to take pride in whatever I do in life. He was the kind of person that would stick to his word, and if he told you something it was stronger than any written contract. He made me into the person I am today."
Jake and his younger brother Bruce recently got back into diving three months ago, after a four-year layoff. "I love the ocean. It's nice to be out there." Jake's grandpa died nine years ago, and being in the water brings back his loving memory. "When I'm in the water I feel close to him."
To All The Future Musicians…
"It's just about being relaxed when you play, and most importantly enjoy the music that you play. Don't force things, and always have a positive attitude when it comes to instruments. Do something that you are passionate about, and throw your whole heart into it. And always say no to drugs! Be drug free!"
