Ko'Aloha

Ko'Aloha
KoAloha was founded in 1995 by Alvin Okami, (who use to make and play Oboe's).

KoAloha is now a family run business as his son's play a prominent role, and is one of the premium Hawaiian Ukulele producers.

All KoAloha Ukuleles were originally made of Koa, but a Koa becomes harder to find they have expanded the wood range to include Mango and Acacia (from Asia).

KoAloha Ukuleles come in Soprano, Concert and Tenor scale plus longer neck Supersoprano and Superconcert designs, plus they have made Minis too. Beyond this, in the standard catalogue they have Soprano and Concert Pineapples, there is a Guitalele, (they call the D VI), and a Tenor Lili'u. Then there are also signature models called the Pineapple Sunday and the Sceptre that are always in production and some signature "specials" like the Juke-a-lele or the Gambalele, (made specially for sale in Thailand).

In 2014 they also introduced a solid body nylon strung electric Tenor to their range and some pied, (using different woods), models in all standard scales they called Naupuka.

KoAloha also have custom workshop where Ukuleles are made to order, and in 2014 they introduced a special Back Label to signify them and a semi custom Red Label range where the junior staff produce individual journeyman pieces in order to learn the skill to progress to the Black label level.

There was a budget range called KoAlana that looked very similar to the standard models but the KoAlana range didn't include the signature models. The big difference is these were originally made in China, but production moved to Thailand, (and made by Ukoustic), plus there is a Mahogany option. Anecdotally, though it has improved now, the early Chinese ones have a poor reputation for such a prestigious company. This range was discontinued in 2013 for a while to be replaced by a new branding KoAloha Opio, (they are still made in Thailand though, and apparently Opio means “junior” in Hawaiian). KoAlana as a branding has now been restarted as the budget brand using laminate trembesi, but now it is made in Indonesia with the Opio range being promoted to the mid range

All KoAlohas even the subsidiary brands feature the slightly triangular patented "Musubi" Sound Hole and the KoAloha 5-pointed crown headstock.