Ko'olau makes ukuleles under their own name in Wahiawa, Hawaii and manufactures Pono ukuleles on the island of Java in Indonesia. Their sopranos, concerts, tenors, and baritones are made in a variety of all solid woods from spruce and rosewood combinations to mahogany and acacia. Both lines are well appointed, excellent players.
For many years Ko’olau Guitar and Ukulele has been building some of the finest quality ukes money can buy, allowing the customer to pick from many woods and decorative options. The company was founded and is still run by John Kitakis, whose career began as a furniture maker. He moved from the mainland US to Hawaii forty years ago, then for a period of time went back to the mainland doing warranty repair work for Martin,Taylor, Gibson, Guild and other guitar manufacturers, and in between built custom guitars and mandolins. Eventually he, his wife and children returned to Oahu to begin Ko’olau Guitar & Ukulele Company.
