SO LET ME INTRODUCE TO YOU, KALA BRAND UKULELE

... the result of this ever-expanding vision of quality, affordable ukuleles. With over 40 models currently offered, there is an instrument to fit everyone's tastes and budget. Please check out our Hawaiian Koa, Solid Spruce Top, Mahogany and Kala Color Ukuleles, and see if you don’t find what you are looking for. Stay tuned for over 15 new models for 2006, including Archtop Ukuleles, Mango Ukes, and All Solid Wood Ukuleles!!

Alvin Okami has been called by many a modern day "Renaissance Man." He is an inventor, an innovator, a composer/arranger, a singer, an accomplished oboist, an industrial designer, graphic designer, and overall brilliant conceptual and spontaneous idea man.

His musical background has provided him with all the necessary experiences to enable him to design and create an ukulele of unsurpassed quality. From the very beginning, he has been obsessed with the pursuit of producing the finest ukulele available in the market today. As a musician and craftsman, he would accept nothing less than handcrafting the most beautiful and best sounding instrument.

Alvin Okami started his musical career as a singer. With Frank Sinatra as his idol, he found success at local high school song assemblies. He also ventured into musical composition, writing and recording his own songs. This matured inot a career as a vocalist, accompanying ukulele virtuoso, Herbert "Ohta-san" Ohta, in the Waikiki nightclubs. Alvin garnished praise for his vocal talent from the likes of Matt Monroe (Born Free) to Doc Severenson (The Tonight Show).

As night life did not suit him well, he turned to one of his loves, the oboe. One semester away from his degree in music, he left college to join the Royal Hawaiian Band, as the band's oboe soloist. Between performances, he found the time to launch a career writing tracks for commercials. One of his commercials was featured in a national advertising campaign, for a large retailer.

Ever the adventurer, he left the band to start his own manufacturing business in 1981.

Late in 1994, his old friend Herb Ohta Sr. suggested crafting a miniature ukulele for his sister's store. Alvin was not satisfied to complete a simple minature; therefore, he embarked on a mission to make a tuneable, playable miniature. Six months later, he had an ukulele measuring no more than 5 1/2 inches in length! Playable and tuneable! Exact in every detail, painstakingly done by hand.

This reunited him with another old friend, Roy Sakuma. At Roy's invitation, Alvin performed "Hilo March" and "Jingle Bell Rock at the 1995 Ukulele Festival. It was a total hit! KoAloha Ukulele was officially born.

Due to the high demand for good quality ukuleles, Alvin began a quest to craft full sized instruments. With the unfailing support of Roy and Kathy Sakuma, the production of the regular sized instruments began.

Introduced in January of 1999, the FLUKE ukulele has rapidly gained a dedicated following who sing (and play) its praises. This uniquely streamlined ukulele is made entirely in the USA by The Magic Fluke Company, with manufacturing overseen by its designer, Dale Webb.

Limited Edition Hand Painted Fluke Ukes! by John Gonzalez, an artist and illustrator with a passion for the ukulele; specifically FLUKE ukuleles. (LINK)

Ponos are available in all four ukulele size (Soprano, Concert, Tenor and Baritone).

• Solid Mahogany wood for top, back, and sides
• Solid Curly Koa top, back, and sides
• Solid Cedar Top, solid Mahogany back and sides
  
  
• Plus a lot more combinations to offer. Check the Ko’olau site for the latest information and offerings.

Most available with “under saddle” Pickup

Pono instruments are professionally designed and handcrafted by the Ko’olau Guitar and ‘Ukulele Company on the Island of Java, with final adjustments and set-up on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii.

Their Vision statement: No. 1 in innovative small stringed instruments.

Their Mission statement: Provide excellent travel, practicing and stage instruments, accessories and services for reasonable prices.

Acoustic and Electric Ukuleles, the Uke-Stick. And "Guitarlele" tuned "ADGCEA" or "BEADF#B".

From the RISA FAQ web page.

Which strings are used for the Uke-Electrics?

For the default tuning ADF#B we use the first 4 strings of an electric guitar string set 0.010". If you use GCEA-tunging, you might prefer the first 4 strings of a 0.011" set. For other tunings please refer to the specifications on www.risa-music.de

More information can be found on their site.

Additional Links

• YouTube - Rigk Sauer's Ukulele report 2007 NAMM show
• YouTube - Rigk Sauer's Ukulele Blues Workshop