By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
Master craftsmen Jose Hipolito Jr., above, and Kenneth
J. McFeeley have retired after 40-years at the Kamaka
Ukulele Factory. The instruments they made are considered
some of the best-sounding ukuleles in the world. But both
men are hearing-impaired and have never heard their ukuleles
played. They make the instruments by feel, sensing the vibration
of their sanding and knowing when they've crafted the perfect
ukulele. Hipolito tunes the ukulele by feeling the vibration of
the string on the wood. Three other hearing-impaired
workers still work at the factory.

Master ukulele
craftsmen retiring

The two expert craftsmen are hearing impaired and design instruments by feel

By Ben DiPietro
Associated Press

They've never heard a ukulele, but Jose Hipolito Jr. and Kenneth McFeeley sure know how to make them.

The two men are hearing-impaired, but still became master ukulele makers, creating the instruments for more than 40 years by feel.

By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
Master craftsman Kenneth J. McFeeley.

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The two cousins were rewarded for their years of service with a retirement party yesterday at the Kamaka Hawaii factory, which has been making ukuleles since 1916.

Hipolito, who worked for Kamaka for 44 years, and McFeeley, who worked there for 40 years, sense the vibrations of their sanding, knowing exactly when they had made the perfect ukulele.

"We just kept honing it ... until it would sound right," Hipolito said with the help of sign-language interpreter Jan Fried. "We would keep sanding it, touching it and feeling the vibrations."

Factory co-owner Sam Kamaka Jr. hired Hipolito when he took over the business with his brother, Fred Kamaka Jr., in 1954.

By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
Master craftsman Jose Hipolito Jr., left, with Samuel
Kamaka, owner of Kamaka Ukuleles.

Hipolito and McFeeley, both deaf since birth, were referred by counselors who worked with disabled people. The Kamakas' father, who started the company, previously had hired disabled workers.

Three other hearing-impaired workers still work at the factory.

"The first person sent to me was Jose Hipolito Jr. Later came his cousin, Kenneth McFeeley, and two other fellows who were hearing-impaired," Sam Kamaka said. "That was really a challenge for me, the communication, but it worked out perfect."

Both also expressed pride at helping to create instruments that were used to make such great music, and then laughed when asked if they knew how to play.

"Not me! No!" Hipolito said. "I don't even know how. I can tune them but I can't play them."