MENOMONIE, Wis. — A University of Wisconsin industrial arts graduate recently showed six students how to build what he hopes will become family heirlooms.

Over the past 50 years, Kazukiyo "Jiggs" Kuboyama, a 1957 graduate, has taught several hundred people how to make their own 'ukulele.

"When people make their own 'ukulele they treasure it," said Kuboyama, 79. "Each one has a plate with the name of the person who made it and the date. I have always had an interest in teaching people to make things. I like to see people take care of their 'ukulele. If they treasure it, maybe later it will become an heirloom."

Kuboyama started teaching others to build 'ukulele when he was an industrial arts teacher at Wai'anae High School. He later was an apprenticeship coordinator at Honolulu Community College and taught 'ukulele classes to help carpenters learn the importance of finishing their work well.

After retiring he continued to teach 'ukulele-making classes.

"I am still learning," Kuboyama said. "There is no end to it. Different wood has its own sound."

He has been honored by the 'Ukulele Guild of Hawai'i for his promotion of 'ukulele and dedication to maintaining the craft.

Students in the UW-Stout class learned to cut mahogany sheets to create the body, neck and head of the four-string instruments they made last week.

The sides of the body are made by using a mold to form wood that has been soaked in hot water.

It takes about 40 hours to complete an 'ukulele, Kuboyama said.

Anson Albarado, a retired Cadott industrial arts teacher, worked on his 'ukulele using clothespins to hold a part in the interior that will be glued to the back.

"I am originally from Hawai'i," Albarado said. "My wife encouraged me to take the class. I like the fact I'm learning to create a local instrument I grew up with."

Albarado, a 31-year teaching veteran, doesn't play the 'ukulele but thinks it might be fun to learn on an instrument he made.

Kevin Dietsche, a UW-Stout junior majoring in technology education, built the molds the other students were using to form their 'ukulele. In return, he got to take the class for free.

"It's easy if you have a good instructor," Dietsche said. "If anything goes wrong, Jiggs knows how to fix it."

Dietsche plans to build 'ukulele for friends and relatives as gifts as well.

The class was the first offered by the Lake Menomin Art Institute, an outreach of UW-Stout targeting traditional arts.

Having Kuboyama teach a class seemed like a perfect fit because of his connection to UW-Stout. Kuboyama does not charge for his classes, only for his expenses. That, he said, is because he believes in sharing knowledge and having people treasure the instrument they build.