Maintenance
Strings significantly alter the sound and feel of your ukulele. Over the years we have tried numerous brands of strings on our ukes. We highly recommend our own strings for your Kamaka ukulele. Kamaka ukulele strings are available through our authorized dealers or via the Kamaka online store.
All new Kamaka ukuleles come with a custom Kamaka branded hard case that is designed for your specific ukulele model. We recommend two types of ukulele cases; hardshell and Protec. The hardshell cases offer greater protection for ukuleles and are a higher-grade case. The Protec cases are sturdy, light, water-resistant and perfect for traveling. Protec cases are utilized by many of our customers who are professional musicians.
Kamaka ukuleles have a lacquer finish and can be cleaned with a damp cloth, not wet. We recommend buffing your Kamaka with a dry, soft, clean cloth such as 100% cloth baby diapers. You can also use a commercial instrument cleaner like Martin Guitar Polish or GHS Guitar Gloss. We do not recommend that you use a cleaning product that has wax in it. Oil should only be used on the fingerboard and not on the lacquer finish of your ukulele.
Kamaka ukuleles are built with solid wood, which is directly affected by temperature and humidity. Gradual changes in temperature and humidity will generally not be harmful to our instruments. However, rapid changes in temperature should be guarded against. Keep your ukulele in a good case when not in use. Avoid storing it near heaters.
Repair
We’re happy to assist you with repairs on your Kamaka ukulele. For repairs that are outside of the one-year original owner limited warranty, we provide repair estimates on a case-by-case basis. You may bring your Kamaka ukulele to our Honolulu factory (no appointment necessary), where our staff will assess your ukulele and provide you with a repair estimate. If you agree to this estimate, you’ll be given an estimated time range for the repair and contacted when your ukulele is ready for pick-up.
If you reside outside of Oahu, we’re happy to work with you to determine your ukulele repair estimate and options for repair services that may include working with a local area dealer.
Please complete the repair form and email the form along with photos of your ukulele to info@kamakahawaii.com.
We suggest taking the following photos of your ukulele.
- Entire Front
- Entire Back
- Side angle
- Close-up of label inside sound hole
- Close-up shot of the repair area(s) if applicable
The average time it takes to complete repairs is two to three months (depending on extent of repair) due to the personalized craftsmanship and care we take when repairing your treasured Kamaka ukulele. For more information, contact us at (808) 531-3165.
No, unfortunately Kamaka Hawaii currently does not have any authorized persons on the mainland to do repairs on your Kamaka.
Our dealers provide Kamaka customers with the highest quality service and are there to assist you with any questions you may have about your Kamaka. Under our Limited Warranty, owners are required to work directly with the retail store where the ukulele originated from, unless the ukulele was purchased at the factory.
Unfortunately, no. You may bring your ukulele in for repair, and if necessary, we will replace the “KK” decal for you. The famous “double K” design has been a registered mark with the U.S. Copyright and Trademark office since 1958 and is owned exclusively by Kamaka Hawaii. It is not offered for sale. Any sale of replacement “KK” decals by third parties is unauthorized.
Purchasing a Kamaka Ukulele
You can purchase a new Kamaka ukulele from any of our authorized dealers or order one directly from the factory. As a Kamaka customer, you are entitled to the highest quality customer service. Our dealers are happy to assist you with any questions you may have about our instruments, including our Limited Warranty and serial number registration.
The demand for our instruments greatly exceeds the supply. Our authorized dealers report challenges with keeping our ukuleles on their shelves, however we are working hard at the factory to keep up with demand while at the same time ensuring the high quality craftsmanship that is synonymous with the Kamaka name. Find a Kamaka dealer near you
No matter what anyone tells you, the best ukulele for you is the ukulele you enjoy playing the most. We invite you to visit our dealers’ showrooms and try out the many different ukuleles that are available in the market today. Whatever ukulele you choose, be sure it makes you smile!
Purchasing a new Kamaka ukulele allows you to begin your own tradition. Because the instrument will be played only by you and perhaps those close to you, it will be more personal to you than a vintage Kamaka with an unknown owner/owners. New Kamakas will normally not require repairs for some time, whereas vintage ukes may need significant repairs. Also, new ukes are covered by our Limited Warranty while vintage ukes are not.
Over the years, we have continuously made improvements in our design and processes that give lasting value to our ukuleles. In recent years, we have upgraded the shape, neck and finish, and replaced the headstock decal with a pearl inlaid logo. As it ages, a well-made instrument will improve and “open up” as long as it is well cared for, and this is certainly true of Kamaka ukuleles.
Many ukulele players prefer the sound of our vintage instruments. A vintage Kamaka that has been passed down in families is a very unique instrument because of the connection to the people who originally played it. If you are considering purchasing a vintage Kamaka, you should verify whether it is in its original condition, play it to see whether you like its sound, and compare it to the sound of other ukuleles you are considering. If you find a vintage Kamaka you like, have fun with it! Kamaka ukuleles never go out of style.
Kamaka Hawaii no longer sells factory seconds.
Kamaka “Specials” are semi-custom ukuleles with certain features that are added based on your specifications. The features available for “specials” include curly koa wood (Premium 3A and Premium Full Curl 4A), spruce top, rosette (maple, rosewood, koa, or shell), ebony fingerboard and bridge, inlaid fingerboard, “long neck”, and pickups (passive or active). To learn more, see Our Instruments for descriptions of the Deluxe and Deluxe Premium upgrade packages.
We regularly supply both public and private schools in Hawaii with our ukuleles, and have done so for many years. With proper instruction, even young children can be taught to care for a Kamaka ukulele. When giving factory tours to children, we teach them about the appropriate care for the instruments and demonstrate the sound quality of the different ukulele sizes.
Because children are naturally musical, they are easily able to differentiate between our models. As our friend Jake Shimabukuro tells his fans, beginners should learn to play on the highest quality ukulele possible. Beginners tend to get easily frustrated if their ukuleles do not stay in tune, or if the intonation is off. If your child later decides she is not interested in the ukulele, there is a huge secondary market for our used instruments. Used Kamaka ukuleles are in high demand, especially if they are in original or mint condition.
The following ukuleles are available for purchase online directly from the Kamaka Hawaii factory:
- Concert 4-String Disney Aulani Mickey Mouse
- Tenor 4-String Disney Aulani Mickey Mouse
- Tenor 4-String Hokulea 50th Anniversary Limited Edition
To place an order, complete the Factory Direct Order Form.
Vintage Kamaka Ukuleles
We’re unable to provide appraisals or valuations for ukuleles, including vintage instruments, details or further information. For those inquiries, we recommend contacting a qualified independent appraiser or reputable vintage instrument dealer in your area.
We recommend that you contact an independent appraiser for the current value of your Kamaka. Many factors such as markings and the original condition of the instrument are considered. We do not appraise our ukuleles in the current secondary market.
Generally, yes. However, there are always exceptions, particularly since our company has continuously made many kinds of ukuleles since 1916. In order to accurately date your Kamaka, we need to see it.
We are frequently referred to eBay auctions for highly sought after vintage Pineapple ukuleles that contain the item description “Made in 1928.” A closer examination of the Kamaka label may reveal that the ukulele was not made in 1928, but rather was patented in 1928. Many of the Pineapples that have the 1928 label were produced long after Sam Kamaka Sr. obtained the original patent.
You can’t, unless you have someone who is a Kamaka expert look at it in person for you. Certain features such as the “KK” decal on the headstock, the label in the soundhole, the shape or tuners, may identify a uke as a Kamaka, but are by no means conclusive. You will not know for certain if the uke you bid on is authentic until you receive it in the mail. We have received countless inquiries at the factory about auctions on eBay for used Kamaka ukuleles. Our expert eyes cannot always identify in the pictures any flaws, repairs, modifications, or even counterfeits. Although we periodically scan eBay for irregular auctions for our ukes, copyright infringement, and counterfeits, we are unable to provide 100% reassurance to eBay buyers who choose to purchase ukuleles via photographs without the opportunity to hear the sound of the instrument.
We have seen some of our vintage ukuleles come in for repair with the same problem. The condition is most likely the result of dry climate and wood shrinkage, rather than a reflection of the craftsmanship. Drastic weather changes may affect your ukulele in this way. If you live in a dry climate, we suggest purchasing an instrument humidifier from a music store. If properly maintained, your Kamaka ukulele will provide you with many, many years of enjoyment. We have a proven track record for building lasting instruments.
Serial Numbers
In June 2000, Kamaka Hawaii implemented a serial number system for all of its new ukuleles. Serial numbers allow us to determine the model, year, originating retailer and original purchaser. This information is extremely valuable because we can automatically retrieve your information at the factory should we ever need to track your ukulele for you. Register your ukulele today.
Custom Orders
First and foremost, we aim to produce superior-sounding instruments made with only the highest-quality materials and craftsmanship. The bottom line is the sound, and to keep the sound quality consistently high, we instill pride of workmanship in our employees. Kamaka craftsmen are highly trained in performing specific tasks that are essential to the ukulele building process. From our assembly and parts line, to our sanders and sprayers at our factory in Honolulu, we could not ask for a better team. Our workforce has vast experience in ukulele building with many of our staff being employed with the company for more than 10 years. Our most senior employee has been with Kamaka for nearly 50 years.
In addition, multiple quality checks are performed daily by the floor supervisor to ensure adherence to Kamaka standards until the ukuleles are completed. Finally, prior to being delivered to our retailers and customers, every new instrument that leaves the factory is personally checked for quality assurance and played by Kamaka Hawaii President Chris Kamaka. Learn more about our craft.
Craft and Construction
A custom Kamaka ukulele is a ukulele made to your specifications by Luthier Casey Kamaka. Learn more about custom Kamaka ukuleles.
Kamaka Hawaii selects only the finest quality wood for its instruments. The primary wood used by Kamaka is Acacia koa, the largest endemic tree in Hawaii. Koa is one of the most desired woods for ukuleles because of its beautiful color, grain patterns and tonal quality. Koa wood is generally grown on the Big Island of Hawaii in areas that were once fields of molten lava.
After purchasing koa lumber, Kamaka Hawaii naturally ages the wood for at least five to six years at the factory. The natural aging of koa wood is a vital and time-consuming step of the ukulele making process at Kamaka Hawaii, and sets the highest standards in the ukulele industry. See the Our Craft and Sustainability pages to learn more.