We are told in Britannica online that the Ukulele was brought to Hawaii by the Portuguese traders in about in the 1870’s.
It is really a small guitar with four strings hardly ever being longer than 24 inches.
It has and is played both in Europe and the USA for solo performances and also as part of jazz music.
Its size makes it a popular instrument to have on hand to entertain people and it is known for creating a happy and enthusiastic response when played among friends.