Ka-Lai was a collaboration between Sam Sr. and Johnny Lai to meet the demand for ukuleles in the 30's. POWERED BY The Ukulele Site Assign a Menu Construction is one-piece koa -- top, back and sides. It was a great honor for me to meet both of them. Then, in 1976, he came up with the modern 8 string tenor Lili'u, in celebration of America's Bicentennial. All sizes are made, including soprano, concert, tenor and baritone. This is an all koa instrument with two bold lines around the sound hole. Since 1916, Kamaka Hawaii, Inc. has prided itself on producing only ukuleles of the finest quality -- durable, exquisite instruments that improve with age. In 1928 Samuel Kamaka patented the Pineapple shaped ukulele. I took the opportunity to photograph them along with others borrowed from friends. They sell "seconds", which are perfectly fine ukuleles with slight flaws, such as a small knot in the wood or some other blemish. Other details are plastic tortoise shell bindings with black and white purfling and rosette. The instrument is built face down and the fingerboard is flush with the soundboard. When the 70s came around, Kamaka was the only company still manufacturing ukuleles. Who knows what new design he'll come up with for the millenium! Today, Kamaka Hawaii, Inc. manufactures about 3,000 instruments per year and they have a backlog of over 12 months. This opens in a new window. It has a gold Kamaka Ukulele label in the sound hole, and the patented double k decal on the headstock. In the mid-20s, Sam Kamaka laid out a pattern for a new oval-shaped ukulele body. In the 40s, 50s, and 60s the demand for ukuleles started to slow down. The Spanish style means a neck with an integrated heel that the sides lock into. Appointments include rope binding around the top, fingerboard, and soundhole, a large pineapple … In 1959, the same year Hawaii became a state, Kamaka Hawaii moved to their present location at 550 South Street in Honolulu where Sam Kamaka's sons, Sam Jr. and and Fred, are managing operations. Vintage Kamaka Pineapple Ukulele. The best place to buy Kamakas are right at the factory, at 550 South Street in Honolulu. In 1910 Sam Kamaka apprenticed with Manuel Nunes, one of the three Portuguese luthiers who brought the the ukulele’s ancestors, the … Ka-Lai pineapple built in the late 30's. The pineapple was a hit from the beginning, and 80 some years later the Kamaka brothers continue to consistently give us great Pineapples with sweet tones! If you are on Oahu, don't miss the Kamaka Factory tour, It is well with your time! | Beautiful Ukes | Uke History It has one-piece top and back construction with a raised fingerboard. It was in 1916 that a young apprentice to Manuel Nunes decided to start his own ukulele business in the basement of his house in Kaimuki. He was well known as a maker of ukuleles and guitars in Hawaii. It feature solid koa construction... more … Fred and his brother, Sam Jr., learned how to make ukulele at a very young age, helping their father since its early days of operation, creating and continuing a long multi-generation legacy for their family while becoming major contributors to Hawaii’s music history. Here is the current line of Kamaka ukuleles (except the baritone and 4 string tenor), courtesy of Mandolin Brothers... Back row: 6 string Lili'u tenor, 8 string Lili'u tenor, Ohta-San concert model. It was built in the Spanish style with one-piece construction of the top and back. In 1921, Kamaka Ukulele established a shop at 1814 South King Street. Sometime in the 1940′s the patent ran out but they were the only company out of 20 ukulele manufacturers to survive the 1930′s economy. Most orders are eligible for free shipping! To add the importance of Kamaka within the history of the Ukulele, his son Sam Kamaka jnr. From raw materials to finished ukuleles, Kamaka ukes are made in Hawaii by Hawaiian craftsmen. It was in the 1920s that he developed the idea for this particular style of ukulele. In Hawaii in the 1920s, at the height of the ukulele boom, there were several ukulele manufacturers, including Kumalae, Nunes, and Kamaka. This young man was Samuel Kamauela Kamaka and he started out making a dozen ukuleles per week and selling them for $5 apiece. Sometime in the 1940′s the patent ran out but they were the only company out of 20 ukulele manufacturers to survive the 1930′s economy. Shipped with USPS Priority Mail. Value (2019) | $1,200 Retail Watch . World renowned for their outstanding tona Starting in 1999, the company implemented a serial number system. This pineapple model is from the 60's. Let's talk story!After 14 long months, I finally received my 1960's Kamaka Standard Pineapple Ukulele that I had Kamaka Hawaii in Oahu repair for me. 2013 — Kamaka Hawaii Inc. adds the Standard Pineapple Deluxe, Concert Deluxe, Tenor 4-, 6-, and 8-String Deluxe, and Baritone 4-, 6-, and 8-String Deluxe to its family of ukulele. The purpose of this system was to allow the company to immediately determine the instrument model, the year it was built, the retailer, and the original purchaser of the item. Copyright © 2006 - 2019 Kamaka Hawaii Inc., all rights reserved. Front row: concert, pineapple, soprano. They started it and they are still making a killer pineapple. Rope binding also borders the mother of pearl on the body and fingerboard. If you’re in … The coat of arms Kamaka decal is on the headstock, and the yellow label is inside the sound hole. This piece has a rosewood bridge and fingerboard. As it turns out, this is not a handicap in the making of fine musical instruments. Some time ago, I had quite a number of Hawaiian ukuleles from the teens, ’20’s and ’30s. Aaron from Hawaii Music Supply shows us the Kamaka Pineapple ukulele. Sold as is.