Lottery is on for Jake ukes

Today is the first day to enter a lottery to purchase a limited-edition Jake Shimabukuro Signature Model Ukulele made exclusively by Kamaka Ukulele. Only 100 of these ukuleles will be made and will only be available for purchase through this lottery. The retail price is $5,500.

Due to hundreds of inquiries about purchasing the Jake Signature Model even before the design was finalized, the musician and Kamaka Hawaii have coordinated the lottery to determine purchase eligibility and to promote fairness. No preferences will be given to any lottery entries.

The tenor four-string, designed by luthier Casey Kamaka to Shimabukuro's specifications, will be individually hand-numbered and autographed, and personally inspected by Shimabukuro to ensure quality.

The Jake Signature model features premium curly koa, ebony fingerboard and bridge with Jake's new logo inlayed in mother of pearl with an abalone heart rosette. Other features include rosewood top and back binding, flat-top-style headstock found only on Jake's personal ukes, gold Schaller keys with ebony buttons, a Fishman Acoustic Matrix pickup and a custom case.

"I have been practicing the ukulele for over 25 years, and nothing inspires me more than playing a Kamaka four-string tenor," Shimabukuro said. "I am so proud to be associated with the Kamaka family, and it's such an honor to be working with them in releasing my first signature model."

A lottery entry form is available at www.jakeshimabukuro.com/kamaka/jake-uke.html. Aug. 15 is the deadline to enter.