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Hawaiian Ukulele Manufacturers
Information about ukulele makers based ind Hawaii.
- A -
Applause Ukuleles
Applause was established in South Korea in 1982 and they are
affiliated with Kaman, the maker of Ovation Instruments.
The Applause U.S. Office is located in Bloomfield Connecticut.
Applause ukuleles have Kaman's trademark molded plastic
back and they retail for approximately $200.
Aria Ukuleles
Aria Ukuleles are made by the Japanese company Aria Guitars.
Their United States Web site is
AriaUSA.com.
- B -
Bean Sprout Banjo Ukulele
Boat Paddle Ukuleles
(paddle shaped ukuleles, New Haven Missouri)
Boxalele
(box shaped ukuleles, San Francisco)
Braddah Ukuleles
This line of solida mahogany ukuleles
was introduced by Mele in 1995. For
more information see "Mele Ukuleles" below.
Brueko Ukuleles
(Germany)
Bushman Ukuleles
(new Palestine, Indiana)
- C -
Ceniza Ukuleles
Brand is C. K. Ceniza
Established in 1986
Located in the Waianae Mountains
3 sopranos: standard, concert, pineapple
Husband and wife team
Made by hand
$500 to $650
- D -
DaSilva Ukulele Company
(Michael De Silva, Berkeley, California)
- E -
Epiphone
(made by Gibson)
- F -
Famous Ukuleles
(made in Gunma, NW of Tokyo)
Magic Fluke Company
Brands: Fluke, Flea, and Fortune
Established in 1998 (by Jim Beloff I think)
Based in New Hartford Connecticut
Retail for about $230 to $290
- G -
Gibson (see Epiphone)
GKU
(Greg K. Uyehara of Honolulu)
Glyph
Gold Tone
G-String Ukulele Company
Established in 1993
Located in Aiea, Hawaii
Four full time employees
loves to build custom ukes, but builds all
Koa bodies, harder wood fretboard
$480 to $900 price range
- H -
Hawaiian Style Ukuleles
Established in 1993
Located in Aiea
Koa bodies, hard wood fretboards and bridges
Loves to build ornate custom ukes but builds all
Ornate ukuleles sell for $520 to $720
Hohner Ukuleles
Ukuleles made by Hohner are sold
under the Lanikai Ukulele brand.
See "Lanikai Ukuleles" below.
- I -
Island Ukulele
(Raymond Rapozo of Kapaa, Kauai, Hawaii)
- J -
Johnson Ukuleles
Plywood body
Hardwood fret board
Made in China
$80 price usually includes a gig bag
- K -
K.P. Ukulele
Ken Potts of Lahaina, Maui. Phone: 808-667-0759
Kala Ukulele
Mike Upton, Petaluma, California
Kalia Ukuleles
Are these Kalia ukuleles made/sold by Mele?
Established in 1997
Located Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii
Are ukes made in Hawaii or Mexico?
One of most affordable made of solid wood
Mexican rosewood body
hardqwood fret board, bridge, binding
$205
Kamaka Ukuleles
This company based in downtown Honolulu has been
making ukuleles since 1916. Kamaka ukuleles have
koa wood bodies, rosewood or ebony fret boards,
and mahogany necks. Pearl dots are other upgrades
are avaialble. Company is run by the original founder's
children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
Kamaka ukuleles typically retail
for $550 to $1350.
Kanilea Ukulele
Joseph Souza of Kaneohoe Hawaii
Kapono Ukuleles
Established in 1998
Made in Ackland New Zealand
by 2nd generation fiddle/violin maker
Hawaiian koa boadies
hardwood fretboard and bridge
soprano standard and Soprano pineapple
$360
Kauwela Ukulele
(Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii)
Kawika
David "Kawika" Hurd of Kona, Hawaii
Kay
Newport Beach, California
Kelii
Established in 1996
Located in Pearl City, Oahu
makes abotu 300 ukuleles a month
Koa body
hardwood fretboard and bridge
$350 to $625
Kepasa
(Kevin Crossett of Vermont)
Kiwaya
(Made in Japan, US dealer is in Renton WA)
KoAloha Ukuleles
Models: KoAloha and KoAlana
Maker: Alvin Okami of Kalihi, Honolulu, Hawaii
Established in 1986
Entirely made of Hawaiian Koa wood
$470 to $650
Koolau
Koolau and Pono Brand
Established in 1980
Located in Kaneohe or Wahiawa?
Long-time guitar repair co now makes high end ukes
$2000 to $3500
- L -
Lahaina Ukulele Company
(no Web site)
335 Hoohana Street, Suite 70
Kahului, Maui, Hawaii 96732-2967
Phone: 808-873-7947
Lanikai Ukuleles
Lanikai ukuleles are made by Hohner, a company
very well known for its harmonicas.
Lehua Ukuleles
Estabished in 1997
Based in Hilo (or San Diego???)
Made in Mexico (or Portugal???)
Plywood body
Hardwood fret board
Ukuleles retail for about $360
Likeke Strings
(Rich Smith of Vermont)
Leonard Young (see Young Ukuleles)
LoPrinzi, Augustino
- M -
Martin Ukuleles
Company Name: C. F. Martin
Established inf 1833
Located in Nazareth PA
No longer mass produced
A few custom ukes still produced in PA factory
Vintage instruments still available
Martin Ukulele History
Maui Music
Estabished in 1896
Located in Lahaina, Maui
Recent Fire burned their factory to the ground
Owner's hand severely burned (!)
Hawaiian Koa Bodies
Arched Rosewood fret board
$480 to $610
Mele Ukuleles
Brands: Mele, Braddah, and Hula
Established in 1992 by Michael Rock
Made partly in Maui and partly in the Philippines
Factory is located in Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii
Every size ukulele in koa or mahogany
Typical price range: $245 to $480
Moore Bettah Ukuleles
(Chuck Moore, Big Island, Hawaii)
- N -
National Ukuleles
Established in 1927
Located in San Luis Obispo
Resonating cone design has unique sound
metalic body
- O -
O Kona
The O Kona ukulele company is located
on the Big Island of Hawaii. (Note
that their Web site at ukulelesofkona.com
is no longer online.)
- P -
Palm Tree
(John and Pam Ramsey, Colorado Springs)
Pegasus Guitars Ukuleles
Peter Howlett Ukuleles
(South Wales UK)
Po Mahimna Ukuleles
(made by Dennis Lake on the Big Island)
Pohaku Ukuleles
(made in Berkeley CA by Peter Hurney)
Pono Ukulele (see Koolau)
- R -
Risa Ukuleles
(Germany)
- S -
Samick
Shimo Ukuleles
(Takahiro Shimo of Japan)
- T -
Tangi Ukuleles
Established in 1993
Located in Honolulu Hawaii
Made "overseas" (where?)
Koa and Mahogony available
Ebony fretboard
gig bag included
$200 to $650
(tangiukuleles.net no longer online)
Tanglewood Ukuleles
(United Kingdom)
Tony Graziano
(Santa Cruz, California)
- U -
Uke Brand
(Hill Guitar of Felton, California)
- Y -
Young U&kuleles
Leonard Young died October 9, 2007
Others:
Carlos Ukuleles (made in New Zealand)
EleUkes (made in Korea)
Fujii
Honu Ukuleles
Hamano Ukuleles
Harley Benton Ukuleles
Keilani Ukuleles
Kelii Ukuleles
Mahalo Ukuleles
Mario Maccaferri
Maui Music
Maxtone Ukuleles
Nakanishi Ukuleles (1958-2006, nakanishi-ukulele.com is gone))
National Stribng Instrument Corporation Ukuleles
Ohana Ukuleles
Oscar Schmidt Company Ukuleles (built by Applause in Asia)
Ovation Guitar Company Ukulel3es
Stagg Ukuleles
Tension Ukuleles
TT (Tadashi Oguma of Hilo)
(ttukuleles.com web site is gone)
Vineyard
Yahama Ukuleles
EARLIEST UKULELE MAKERS
Augusto Dias
Jonah Kumalae
Manuel Nunes and Sons - one son was Leonardo nunes
See also:
More About the Hawaiian Ukulele
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Related Links
Hawaiian Ukulele - Main Menu
About Hawaiian Music
Hawaii for Visitors
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