Inspired by the 1950’s Maccaferri ukulele, Kala created a new uke with a focus on the outdoor enthusiast. The Waterman is a ukulele for everyone but pays special tribute to people that live the waterman, outdoor lifestyle. The Waterman ukulele pays homage in part to the legendary ukulele designer, Mario Maccaferri. Inspired at the 1939 World’s Fair he saw plastic as the material of the future. Mario eventually combined his skills as a luthier and his business of injection molding and invented the Maccaferi Ukulele. After being endorsed by entertainer, Arthur Godfrey, on his TV show, 9 million of the Maccaferri ukes were sold between 1949 and 1969.