Ukeleles

The ukulele was the furthest thing from Steve Salardino's mind as he whipped his long hair around in the '80s to the goat-slaying sounds of Brit-metal avatars such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. But during a protracted period of unemployment in 1994, he was given a toy ukulele by his friend Eddy French. The pair would pass afternoons on French's porch with Salardino on uke and French slinging the banjo. "It gave me a way to express myself that was simple," Salardino says. "And small.

The ukulele was the furthest thing from Steve Salardino's mind as he whipped his long hair around in the '80s to the goat-slaying sounds of Brit-metal avatars such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. But during a protracted period of unemployment in 1994, he was given a toy ukulele by his friend Eddy French. The pair would pass afternoons on French's porch with Salardino on uke and French slinging the banjo. "It gave me a way to express myself that was simple," Salardino says. "And small.

Although it seems like any excuse would do for a luau, such tropical-themed outdoor celebrations should be in full bloom this weekend, because Monday is the 30th anniversary of Hawaii's statehood. With plenty of resources at local party-favor shops and ethnic grocery stores--perhaps catering to the 150,000 estimated Hawaiians in Los Angeles--Angelenos can easily bring a little of the 50th state into their neck of the tropics.