Bulletin Board: Big Island Luthiers / Uke Shops

Original Post By: Guest_sgt Date: 8/2/2005 I will be on the Big Island for a week in Sept and was hoping someone on this board could recommend a local luthier / uke shop for Big Island-made ukes. I am currently working on my own disorder, which has a working title of "HULA" (Hawaiian Ukes Locally Acquired). So far I have a Kamaka, a Keli'i and a Kanile'a. What's next? Stay tuned.... Posted By: Guest_B-ISLE Date: 8/2/2005 Pegasus - Kurtistown, Hilo side. Posted By: Guest_Tonya Date: 8/2/2005 I *love* that named disorder--it's just the disease I'd most enjoy suffering from (with no hope of recuperation). Local luthiers include Andy & Bruce Berard, in Kona (sadly, Andy died earlier this summer). For info go to: http://www.ukulelesofkona.com There's also Robbie Poznansky (808/325-5575) and Pegasus Guitars & Ukuleles in Hilo (808/966-6323). Of course no mention of Big Island ukulele makers would be complete without Hilo's David Hurd (aka Kawika) he's not taking orders, that I know of; for Kawika info go to: http://www.ukuleles.com And, of course, there are other great Big Island luthiers, the ones I've posted are just those I had info about at hand this morning. Not a single luthier, but a local source for ukuleles is the Holualoa Ukulele Gallery. It features lessons, lots of lots of ukuleles by local makers and a great feel. For more info, go to: http://www.konaweb.com/ukegallery Also, there's a store, Just Ukes, which has a small outlet in Kona and a bigger one up the hill (towards South Point). I've never been fortunate enough to catch either one open, but have heard good things about him. For a slightly more commercial look at ukuleles on the Big Island, there's the . In Waikoloa (near the Hilton), at the Kings Shops, there is the Ukulele House; they have a fair range of instruments but they're marketed mainly to tourists with lots of money and aren't necessarily the "finest" ukuleles on the island. But they're very friendly and a haole guy who works there, Dagan, offers ukulele lessons, either in Waimea where he lives or at your condo/hotel--ask if he's around when you're there. Kings Shops also has a weekly ukulele "lesson" and usually a great ukulele performer scheduled; call the mall office to get the current times/dates. Also, check with KonaBob who is a musician with a local band and runs the KonaWeb.com site--I think he's a member of the Ukulele Guild of Hawaii (he exhibited his WalkingStick Bass at the Ukulele/Slack Key Guitar Festival in Waimea last November. He knows all the local luthiers, I think. Go here to get hold of KonaBob or catch his group's schedule (and, yes, everyone actually does call him "KonaBob"): http://www.konaweb.com You didn't ask about *playing* ukulele with others while there, but here's some info on that, too: On Friday mornings, at 10 am there's a weekly gathering of ukulele players at the Keahou Shopping Center. The group that meets at 10 am are nice folks and, if you already know how to play, will encourage you to join them. An hour-long free lesson follows at 11 am with teacher Willie Perriera (a good time to get a family member playing for the first time). Tell them Tonya says "hi." Posted By: Guest_Pete Date: 8/2/2005 Music Exchange in Hilo is run by Collier Thelen - probably the most knowledgable guy in the business. Say hi tohim from Pete in the UK. He'll know who you are talking about... Posted By: Guest_Bruce E Date: 8/2/2005 Can anybody tell that Tonya makes her living with words? ;-) You're a treasure, babe. Bruce & Karol Posted By: Guest_??? Date: 8/2/2005 Babe?? Posted By: Guest_Tonya Date: 8/2/2005 ...but obviously the proofreading job hat was off as I entered that last one. 'Sorry, folks, for the jumbled sentences and odd parenthetical punctuation. Posted By: Guest_KAIKANE Date: 8/2/2005 ALOHA! CHECK OUT PO MAHINA.DENNIS LAKE MADE ME A BEAUTIFUL 'ISLAND UKE'.'PO MAHINA' IS HIS WEB SITE AND HIS SHOP IS IN NA'ALEHU. GO TO 'THE UKULELE MUSEUM' HOLUALOA AND SEE SAM.THEY HAVE GROUP LESSONS ON SAT.'JUST UKES' HAS A SESSION I THINK ON TUES NITES. BIG ISLAND IS BEST ! Posted By: Guest_ukefreak Date: 8/2/2005 Try Dave Gomes ukulele and guitar, just do a name search. Posted By: Guest_Robbie Date: 8/3/2005 Also check out: Ron Baniaga: 328-8092, 328-0025, baniagaa001@hawaii.rr.com Richard Godin, 328-0262, herewebe@juno.com Ken Joesting, 328-9038, kjinkona@yahoo.com Calvin Okahara, 322-2086, okaharac001@hawaii.rr.com Rance Pinao, 322-6669, princeofkona@msn.com Sam Rosen, 324-1688, koaukulele37@yahoo.com Miles Stephens, 325-3488, stephensm003@HAWAII.R.COM Guy Sasaki (sory, I've no current phone or email} Laurie Tupasi, 327-1888, 12pawcee@yahoo.com Mike Smith, 965-0135, msmith1949@yahoo.com Posted By: Guest_Konabob Date: 8/3/2005 I would love to meet any visitors to the Big Island. Bring your ukulele to Keauhou Shopping Center on any Friday morning (10:00 to 11:00) and look for us. I am the one playing the Kona Walking Stick Bass. (Google that!) Aloha, -Konabob Posted By: Guest_Rhonda Date: 8/5/2005 Aloha... Just returned from a vacation on the Big Island. Had a chance to enjoy a wonderful music festival in Hilo. Also really enjoyed Ken Cameron's Hilo Guitar and Ukulele Shop in old downtown Hilo. Ken carries a number of ukulele brands, so I got to try out ukes I had only dreamed of. Jenny's. G Strings. Kamakas. Ken also has a wealth of knowledge about the local uke scene. I feel as though I made a friend. Posted By: Guest_uncle Dave Date: 8/9/2005 If you are sticking with your HULA disorder then you need to pick up an O Kona if you can find one. Pegasus is great and local made but hard to convince any Hawaiian uke player that Pegasus is a "local" brand because it sounds, you know, mainlandish.....But then again, what the heck diference does it make when you get "Lanikai" from China...LOL. Visit the two Hilo stores mentioned in above posting, Music Exchange and the one on Ponahawaii Street run by a great Scotsman, Cameron.

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