Musical instrument sales are down across the country, yet the 'ukulele's popularity is on the rise with manufacturers and retailers reporting a growing number of orders from online buyers. And in Hawai'i, in-store sales have remained steady despite a slumping economy.

" 'Ukuleles have been our savior," said Leslie Bodene, manager of the music supply store Bounty Music on Maui. She said 'ukulele sales have remained steady at the Kahului store and increased at its online site, http://www.ukes.com, where five to seven or more of the instruments are sold a day.

The story is much the same at O'ahu retailers Coconut Grove Music, Hilo Hattie and Goodguys Music and Sound, managers at those stores said.

And it doesn't appear to be a passing fancy, added Roy Sakuma, who founded the annual 'Ukulele Festival and has taught the instrument for nearly 40 years.

"It's just continuing to grow. It's how you throw a pebble in the water and watch the ripples spread, spread, spread," Sakuma said.

Kala Brand Ukulele, an 'ukulele manufacturer based in San Francisco, has had success by marketing lower-end 'ukulele. Mike Upton, the company's founder and owner, said he's amazed at the interest that continues to build for the modest wooden instrument first brought to Hawai'i by Portuguese sailors at the end of the 1800s and beloved among followers of Hawaiian music.

"It's pretty incredible, actually," Upton said. "It's an 'ukulele revival."

Since forming Kala in 2005, Upton said the company's sales have doubled each year. Last year, Kala sold nearly 100,000 'ukulele.

Upton credits Kala's success to making lower-priced instruments available through online distribution, a move that may help explain the instrument's rapid expansion.

"Around the world there is an interest almost everywhere." Upton said. England is the company's greatest importer. "We sold 15,000 to 20,000 'ukuleles there last year alone."

Upton expects higher sales next year and is increasing production at Kala's Chinese manufacturing plant, a controversial move within the 'ukulele industry.

"The biggest (change in the industry) is the large influx of Chinese-made 'ukuleles," said Fred Kamaka Jr., business manager of local 'ukulele company Kamaka Hawai'i Inc. in Kaka'ako. "The beginning and lower-end brands are all Chinese."

Kamaka said sales of his company's lower-priced 'ukulele, $100 to $200, have suffered as a result of the Chinese-made models whose prices go from $30 to $100. But sales have increased for Kamaka's higher-end models, $500 and up, he said.

Kamaka, whose biggest international buyer is Japan, has been manufacturing 'ukulele in the Islands for nearly a century. Though interest in inexpensive models means the current upward trend in the instrument's sales has evaded the company, that doesn't mean Kamaka is hurting for business.

"We are in the nice position where we have a lot of people asking to carry the brand," said Kamaka, who sells the company's instruments through exclusivity deals with vendors.

"Your price of entry is much lower (with a Chinese instrument) and it increases the market. Then, after they've been playing awhile, they're ready to move up. And that's us."

Upton said the 'ukulele's resurgence is possibly due to the "fun" nature of the instrument.

"There's the community element to it, and people in Hawai'i already know that, but that has really taken off in other parts of the world." Upton said.

Sakuma agreed. "The 'ukulele is such a simple, wonderful instrument to learn and I am not surprised that it's taking off everywhere. We started the ('Ukulele) Festival here, but now they're everywhere," Sakuma said.

The appeal has spread to places like Oz's Music in Ann Arbor, Mich., where 20 or more patrons play songs collectively on the instrument; England, where thousands of people attend concerts by the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain; and most recently Canada, where the 'ukulele is now part of a student's elementary education, just as it is in Hawai'i.

"It's a reasonably priced instrument that is not hard to learn," Sakuma said.

Kamaka said he believes popular musicians such as Jack Johnson, Ziggy Marley, Beirut, and Noah and the Whale have helped give the instrument widespread exposure.

"As my wife said, it is the charm of the instrument that brings people together." Sakuma said. "I saw a video of Israeli and Arab children playing the 'ukulele together, it was just so beautiful. You never hear about that."