UKE Republic Ukuleles

At UKE Republic , we’re proud to offer instruments with more than just good looks and great tone  -  we seek out ukes that tell a story. And KoAloha Ukuleles? Oh, they sing one. From humble beginnings in Honolulu to global recognition, this family-owned company has carved a name into ukulele history - one lovingly crafted koa uke at a time. Born From Reinvention (and a Whole Lotta Heart) In the mid-1990s, Alvin “Pops” Okami, a creative soul with roots in invention and music, shifted gears after his plastics business folded. Armed with ingenuity and aloha, he built a tiny ukulele that actually played. That spark led to the founding of KoAloha  - a name blending “koa,” the prized Hawaiian tonewood, and “aloha,” the spirit behind everything they do. Soon, the whole Okami family joined in. Pops is now senior VP, Pat “Moms” Okami keeps the books, while sons Alan and Paul handle the helm - one as president, the other as KoAloha’s master luthier. From day one, their family-fi...

It was January 2016 at the winter NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) show when I found out about the new KoAloha Opio. I was very excited to find out KoAloha was using solid acacia and were implementing a satin semi-gloss finish on these. Surely this would be a winner. Well fast forward into spring 2016 and we received our first shipments of these new KoAloha Opios and I must say we are very impressed. The first look and play on these ukuleles said it all! KoAloha Opio All Solid Acacia Concert Ukulele The fit and finish are top notch. KoAloha is making these in Thailand but with trained luthiers building the KoAloha way with KoAloha's molds and jigs. The tonewood is solid acacia which looks and sounds very close to its Hawaiian koa relative but priced at a fraction of the cost. The KoAloha Opio Series Features: Signature Musubi Soundhole, Signature Orange Etched Friction Tuners, Etched Headstock Logo, and Signature KoAloha Embossed Rosewood Bridge. Th...