Ukuleles - Honolulu / Oahu

**Sandy Beckler** · Jun-25-2009, 10:32pm

I am looking for vendors or shops (Honolulu / Oahu) who deal in Ukulele's, and that are not necessarily tourist driven....

Thanks, Sandy

**JEStanek** · Jun-25-2009, 10:50pm

I'm totally satisfied with my Kamaka Concert Uke my wife got for me while at a conference in Honolulu. Great feel tone and woods.

Jamie

**allenhopkins** · Jun-25-2009, 11:51pm

Good question to ask at the Flea Market Music message board.

**Dan Hoover** · Jun-26-2009, 7:18am

check this site out.. he's mostly a online store,but you can call him and set up a meeting...

http://ukulelefriend.com/index.html

**mzuch** · Jun-26-2009, 1:10pm

You've got to look up musicguymic of ebay fame. I met him at NY Uke Fest and he's an honest and reputable guy. He has the widest selection I've ever seen as well as the lowest prices. I bought an all-solid mahogany Kala concert from him with case for about $200. He is on Oahu and accommodates visitors, IIRC. You might also take some of the factory tours given by Kamaka, Kanile'a and KoAloha, et al. Wish I could go with you!

**Sandy Beckler** · Jun-26-2009, 2:44pm

Thanks Jamie,
I'm going to take the Kamaka tour.
Thanks Allen,
I've posted a message on Flea Market Music (Good Resource)
Thanks Also to Dan and MZuch...I'll contact.

I'm Off.................
Sandy

**mandolooter** · Jun-27-2009, 6:33am

Give these folks a visit too...they make some great ukes!
http://www.koolauukulele.com/

Their shop is in Waihiawa (center of island) about a block from where I used to live. Easy to find too!

These folks reside in Kaneohe on the windward side...

http://kanileaukulele.com/aboutKrist...3ad22286df2d36

Last but not least...
http://www.koaloha.com/Customer_Serv...erService.html

They are kinda downtown near the Honolulu Community College

Have fun shopping and everything else the islands have to offer!

**Sandy Beckler** · Jul-11-2009, 3:15pm

Just wanted to re-cap my trip to Oahu and thank those of you who offered suggestions....
We had a great trip, and I went with a laundry list of places to go and people to see.
We started off at 10:30 Tuesday morning with a tour of Kamaka Ukulele in Honolulu, we met Fred Kamaka, one of Sam's sons (he's 84 and sharp as a tack)
He guided the wife and I, and a group of 6 or 8 through their building process (they've been building for 94 years) It was well worth the time spent.
We also visited a number of different shops Puapua (in the Pacific Beach Hotel)
in Waikiki, Aloha in the Hilton Village, and a number of other shops around the island.
We also stopped by Kanile'a Ukulele and met with Joe Souza, he is a builder in Kaneohe, what a really nice guy, and very helpful.

I was really happy to get home, and back to my mandolins.....
Thanks again and Mahalo
Sandy

**JEStanek** · Jul-11-2009, 6:16pm

Soooo, no purchases?

Jamie

**Dennis Ladd** · Jul-11-2009, 6:42pm

I second the motion to get a Kamaka uke. Great tone and sustain. I have an eight stringer that must have been welded in tune. Good luck in your search!

**Sandy Beckler** · Jul-11-2009, 6:45pm

After realizing that I was "out of my realm", and being unable to convince the wife that I needed to place an order with Kamaka, for a standard Soprano @ $650.00 and a one month wait...I came home, came to my senses....and unbeknownst to my personal financier (wife) I ordered a "Lanikai LU-21" and a hardshell case from Musicians Friend. (It arrived yesterday, and seems like a steal for the price).

If it becomes a passion, I'll place the order for the Kamaka anyway.

Sandy

**JEStanek** · Jul-11-2009, 8:15pm

Hey, everyone starts (and sometimes stays) somewhere. Enjoy your Uke and most af all, have fun with it.

Jamie

**guitharsis** · Jul-12-2009, 6:08am

Sandy

I too have just started playing uke. In June acquired a Kiwaya KS-1 soprano uke from Bernunzio's here in Rochester NY. It sounded great in the store and when I restrung it with Aquila's, just amazing. Would like to get a Kamaka soprano someday too.

Also acquired a Lanikai LU-21T from the Cafe classifieds. It's as new and came with Aquila strings. Still haven't made up my mind if i prefer a standard or a tenor. Like them both.

Have fun.

**delsbrother** · Jul-12-2009, 7:33am

There are several online sources for new Kamakas without having to wait. Also don't forget about buying used. The Flea Market music website has a marketplace similar to the Cafe's. There are often deals to be had on very nice ukes.

**Sandy Beckler** · Jul-12-2009, 2:10pm

I ran across a youtube video of "Jake Shimabukuro" doing "My Ukulele Gently Weeps" ala George Harrison, and was "knocked out", and then my wife turned me on to another youtube video of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole doing "Over the Rainbow" and it just seemed to be a natural progression for me....I'm still addicted to the mandolin, but everyone needs a little "strange" once in a while.

Sandy

**Dr. Jazz** · Jul-12-2009, 2:44pm

Check out James Hill on Youtube. James is one of the hot players that is making the uke more interesting to the folks who don't have the "Tiny Tim" reference hot-glued into our brains. I sell dozens of ukes and they are almost always to younger players. It's pretty cool.

**Mental Floss** · Jul-13-2009, 8:16pm

I have fallen in love with the Ukulele. It is a cool little vibe and playing a ukulele has made me a better mandolin player....

**neal** · Jul-14-2009, 5:41am

Originally Posted by Mental Floss

I have fallen in love with the Ukulele. It is a cool little vibe and playing a ukulele has made me a better mandolin player....

This is one of those eternal truths.

.....I was wondering when I was going to post something in this thread, that post was a perfect opportunity.

**mzuch** · Jul-14-2009, 10:11am

Fortunately, UAS is a lot less expensive to treat than MAS!

**neal** · Jul-14-2009, 5:47pm

Originally Posted by mzuch

Fortunately, UAS is a lot less expensive to treat than MAS!

Not really.

**catmandu2** · Jul-14-2009, 7:13pm

Originally Posted by guitharsis

Still haven't made up my mind if i prefer a standard or a tenor. Like them both.

Do you mean standard = soprano? Personally, I find the soprano is just too small for me to play comfortably...when I can "stretch out" on a concert

. I need a good standard (wooden) uke -- I don't have one, although I have a good banjo-uke, and a resonator which work well for me. I get called about once per month to play a solo gig where I play several varieties of banjos -- including banjo-uke. Fun.

**JEStanek** · Jul-14-2009, 7:40pm

Originally Posted by mzuch

Fortunately, UAS is a lot less expensive to treat than MAS!

I'm with Neal on this... The Martin 5K isn't just the model number, if you know what I mean... and if you don't, it's $5k! I really love my concert sized ukes and would really like a banjo-uke (The Horseflies make good use of one). Ruthie Ungar Merenda makes fine use of a wide variety of ukes (banjo, resonator, regular kind...). Good fun indeed.

Music is just so cool.

Jamie

**mzuch** · Jul-14-2009, 8:27pm

The Martin 5K isn't just the model number, if you know what I mean...

For $5,000 you get the holy grail of vintage ukes. For the same money you get a new mid-range mandolin. Luthier-made ukuleles typically run $1,500 to $2,500. Triple or quadruple that price to even get a mandolin luthier to answer the phone; 10x that range for a top maker. I just snagged a new Kanile'a K2 tenor for under $1,000; that might buy me a lower-end Eastman mandolin on sale.

**neal** · Jul-15-2009, 6:19am

Actually, for around 3500, maybe a little less, you can get the new Martin 5K. I had a chance to play my first one last week, nice uke. For the "holy grail" vintage 5K you'll have to pay a lot more. Lots. 2 or 3 Gibson F2 kinda lots.

Per instrument, you are correct, mandolin has it beat. That's the insidious little trick. I buy a mandolin, save up for a great one or two, spend my 6000 and just due to the shear weight of the purchase on my wallet, have to stop.

I buy a nice Gibson 3, like the one in my avatar, for 1300, that other vintage longboard Gibson style 2 at 375 seems like a steal. Then you remember you have the Kiwaya you spent a penney or two (600) on, but that was ages ago! Then a custom comes up, and you know that it's just perfect, so there goes another 1500, but holy cow! It needs a good case, so Cedar Creek is called. Then you spot a great deal on an Ameritage case for the Gibby, hey, that deserves a good case too, after all, you play 'em out and want the protection. Then those stupid foam cases you have for the other good ukes (actually not stupid, just an excuse) stare atcha until you get some nice guardian vintage cases or Fremont rectangle cases.

Then you think, "resonator, hmm...." National, 1200, few months, Nat's not for you, you take a loss... then there's the few "experimenters", old Harmony POS, or one of the "cute" ukes. Losses all.

Then there's the fact that, because you are technically inept, those little cracks must be fixed in those vintages, and you'd like pickups (yes, pickups.K&K Twinspot, best), so the luthier comes in.

Then, thanks to a topic like this coming up, you realize you've spent 3 or four good mandolins worth.........

I have about 650 in that 375$ '20 Gibson style 2, but it's just sooooo sweet... and worth a bit less now due to the pickup, maybe.. but that's just the way it is. No pickup in the style 3. (And all ukes were not mentioned in this post)

I know, same could be said for mandolin, but the mando world is understood to be expensive, so one is a little more circumspect and adult about the purchases (usually). Ukes sneak up on you...

But I've never been driven to the poorhouse with a bigger smile on my face.