Hawaiian standard · Free song lesson
How to play Kaimana Hila on Ukulele or Guitar
Charles E. King, published 1916
Kaimana Hila is the Hawaiian rendering of Diamond Head, the crater that stands watch over Waikīkī. The song comes from the golden era of hapa haole music and was published in 1916 by Charles E. King, the composer and bandleader often called the dean of Hawaiian music. It remains a staple at ukulele jams across the islands, including ours on the first Saturday of every month.
Key of C on ukulele, G on guitar · 3/4 time · Level 2 · Medium · 5 chords
The chords you need
Tap any chord to open its diagram in the chord library, where you can see the fingering and hear how it should sound.
On the ukulele · key of C
On the guitar · key of G
The progression
One box is one measure of 3/4. Strum through each box, change chords at the start of the next, and you are playing the song. Start way slower than feels cool.
Ukulele · key of C
Vamp
The classic Hawaiian vamp. Play it as the intro, between verses, and twice at the end to close the song.
Verse
Each verse follows this same shape, so once you have it down you have the whole song.
Guitar · key of G
Vamp
The same Hawaiian vamp, moved to guitar country: two seventh chords walking you home to G. Intro, turnarounds, and twice at the end.
Verse
Same shape as the ukulele verse, transposed to G so every chord stays in first position.
The strum
A waltz: count 1 2 3 in every measure and lean on the first downstrum. Keep it light and rolling.
Full speed sits around 90 to 110 BPM
Start way under that. Speed comes on its own.
Practice setlist
- Learn the vamp first. Two seventh chords walking you home, D7 to G7 to C on uke, is the handshake of Hawaiian music, and it shows up in hundreds of songs.
- Count 1 2 3 out loud while you strum until the waltz feel settles into your hand.
- The seventh chord in measure eight is just your home chord with one extra finger. Sneak it in without stopping the strum.
Ten focused minutes a day beats one heroic hour on Sunday.
Sounding sour? Get in tune first with the free browser tuner.
Sounds better on real strings
Play it on your own ukulele.
A song this good deserves an instrument that fits your hands. Come in and play a few. New and used ukuleles on the wall, and a crew that will help you find yours without any pressure. And when a chord change fights back, teachers run lessons at the shop 7 days a week.
Never played a note before? Start with Play Your First Song Today, our free step-by-step starter for total beginners. Then come back for this one.
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