"It has my name inlaid on it around the hole in the fretboard," Lake said. "That is why it makes me believe they wanted it for themselves."

Lake, winner of a Na Hoku Hanohano Lifetime Achievement Award and a member of the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame & Museum, said he last played the 'ukulele Thursday night during a regular practice session with the Kahauanu Lake Singers.

He flew to Maui Saturday and when he returned home the 'ukulele was not in its case and he called police.

"I usually come here Sunday and fool around with melodies," Lake said. "I opened the case and almost cried. That is like my other half."

Lake said he always leaves the kolohala wood 'ukulele in his office in the Jade Building in Kaimuki so it has not been simply misplaced. There were no signs of forced entry into the office and nothing else was taken he said.

"If it was for drugs they would have taken other things," Lake said.

Musical instruments are a common target of burglars, according to police.

Kenneth Makuakane, a songwriter and producer of traditional Hawaiian music with multiple Na Hoku awards, had more than $8,000 worth of musical instruments and two laptop computers stolen from his music studio last year and musician Cyril Pahinui had three guitars taken from of his Waikele home.

Lake said he has another 'ukulele make by Young but it is in bad shape. He took the instrument to Kamaka 'ukulele shop for repairs and hopes to get it back before Christmas.

"I’m not going to give up the music business just because I don’t have that 'ukulele," he said.

Lake is not offering a reward for the stolen instrument and is hoping someone simply returns it to his shop. It would cost $5,000 to replace the 'ukulele, he said.

"If they called me and said do you want to pay for it I’d tell them to shove it," he said. "Why should I pay for what is already mine?"