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Considered one of the parent instruments, “the mother”, of the modern-day ukulele, the ukulele is believed to have received its current tuning of G-C-E-A from the Rajao, which is tuned D-G-C-E-A. To my knowledge, there are only a few examples of these early historical instruments in existence that have been made in Hawaii. This extremely rare 1895 Jose do Espirito Santo Rajao is a world-class collectible over 100 years old. The rajao originated on the island of Madeira, Portugal and came with laborers to Hawaii to work in the plantation fields. This inst

Considered one of the parent instruments of the ukulele, the ukulele is believed to have received its current tuning of G-C-E-A from the Rajao, which is tuned D-G-C-E-A. To my knowledge there are only a few examples of these early historical instruments in existence that have been made in Hawaii. This extremely rare 1891 Santo 5-String Rajao is a world class collectible over 100 years in age. The instrument originated on the island of Madeira, Portugal and was handcrafted by one of three portuguese cabinet makers (Jose do Espirito Santo, Augusto Dias, and Manuel Nun

An extremely rare 1890 Jose do Espirito Santo soprano ukulele is a world class collectible over 100 years in age. The instrument was handcrafted by Jose do Espirito Santo, one of three Portuguese cabinet makers – Jose do Espirito Santo, Augusto Dias, and Manuel Nunes – who first came to Hawaii from the island of Madeira, Portugal in the late 1800s to work in the plantation fields. Once their contract ended, all three moved to Oahu and were credited with the invention of the ukulele. A very serious collectible piece which many museums have never seen. The