Growing up, the ukulele was always a respected instrument. It's a big part of our culture. It wasn't until I started traveling outside of Hawaii that I realized people didn't really consider the ukulele to be a real instrument.

When you go into the studio or get up on the stage with people who have more experience or knowledge, you learn.

The ukulele has always appealed to the older generation.

Bill Gates recently picked up the ukulele. And Warren Buffett is a huge ukulele fan. I even got to strum a few chords with Francis Ford Coppola. It blows my mind that these people, who have everything in the world they could want, have picked up the ukulele and found a little bit of joy.

Classical music presents some of the world's most challenging pieces.

The ukulele is the instrument of peace.

Hawaii is a small, close community.