The ukulele is highly prized everywhere in Hawaii. I have heard it live and recorded but have yet to try my hand at it. One adult ukulele and one keiki (child) ukulele are raffled each week at the Honolulu Zoo Wildest Show Concert Series. Some of the instruments that are given away are worth between $700 and $800.
My kumu hula uses an ukulele while we practice a hula to a part of a song before she plays the recorded version. What a lovely sound, especially over crashing waves.