Pilgrimage of aloha to 'ukulele makers on O'ahu
Recently I was in Honolulu for my first time in almost 5 years. The highlight was visiting KoAloha, and meeting Alan Okami, who made the concert low-G 'ukuleles (in 2003 and 2004) I love and play the most. It was a thrill to meet Papa KoAloha too. A big mahalo to them and to the rest of the Okami family and extended KoAloha 'ohana...I'll be your ambassador in China or wherever!
I didn't get to see my friend Joseph Souza this time, who made my beautiful Kawaonahele 8-string tenor in 2001, but I happened upon a store where his Kanile'a and Nalo ukes are sold, and had fun playing them, as seen above.
p.s. I just discovered a good Honolulu Star-Bulletin article on the Okami family story:
http://starbulletin.com/2005/10/09/travel/tsutsumi.html
posted by Eric at 12:12 AM
2 Comments:
Eric,
The shop looks like a great little place, but you look like you're going to go for the photographer's neck!
What an incredible trip!
How many ukes are you bringing back Stateside?
Keep in touch!
Mark @ Bowed
12:26 PM
The photographer is one of my closest friends, Ralph Forsland (Raft Wilder). He's egging me on to act silly, as I croon in ukulele heaven.
I didn't buy any on that visit, though I own one uke by the maker represented there, and 6 others are in my collection, in total.
12:58 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home