Mele

Mele
Mele was founded by luthier Michael Rock on Maui, Hawaii, in 1992. Prior to this he was making Ukuleles under his Hawaiian Instrument Designs Maui brand.

Mele Ukuleles were originally completely made in Hawaii but for quite a few years now the standard Mele range now gets a lot of the production work done in the Philippines, with a "finish" still done in Hawaii and the custom Mele range is still entirely made in Maui.

Mele have all of the scales except Mini in their catalogue, including Soprano and Concert Pineapples, Guitaleles, Taropatchs and Lili'us as well. Though it has never featured in the standard catalogue Mele have produced at least one custom Ukulele Bass.

Mele Ukuleles are predominantly made from koa, mango or mahogany and the double epaulette sound hole which they call "Double Puka", is one of their signature themes on the better models.

For a while Mele branded their mahogany Ukuleles Braddah, but now they call all of them Mele, (I have read the change came about in 2003?)

Mele had a range of predominantly Mexican rosewood and spruce top Ukuleles made in Mexico, (and finished in Hawaii, in the same way as the Philippine ones are), that also carried the label Kalia as well as Mele but this production has finished now.

Mele started in 2005 with a more budget line of Ukuleles they brand as Hula Ukes, (a take on a commonly used name, but here the Ukes is always included as part of the logo), these are produced in China. I know some of them are made by QTE Music, (in the same factory as Ohana), but I'm not sure all of them are? There are Sopranos, Concerts and Tenors, plus Lili'us and Taropatchs in this range. Oddly Pineapples are not included in this branding but a Bell shaped Soprano is?

Mele have started marketing another kind of budget line of Ukuleles, also made in China and branded Maui Ukulele Co. This has the same range of scales as the Hula Ukes brand but also includes a Soprano Pineapple, Tenor scale Banjolele and a plastic Soprano made buy the same Chinese company that make Woodi.