My Visit to KoAloha

Skottoman · May 17, 2009

I was on vacation this last week in Oahu. I contacted Brian at KoAloha to get a tour. Boy was I in for a treat!

Brian gave my wife and I a personal tour of the inner workings of KoAloha. Then I was able to choose from the excellent wall of "Factory Seconds". With the help of my wife and Brian, I found a Concert that I knew should be mine...

Thank you Brian and the entire KoAloha crew! you made my vacation, and I am very, very, very happy with my new KoAloha Concert Ukulele!!!!

Some pix from my visit...

Mahalo,
Skottoman

Skottoman · May 17, 2009

More pix!

Skottoman · May 17, 2009

And the money shot pix of the new Concert KoAloha at my hotel in Ko Olina.
Mahalo,
Skottoman

bt93 · May 17, 2009

this is a factory second (blemished)?

that is sooooo purdy

Gcow55 · May 17, 2009

Very cool pictures. I am extremely jealous.

Skottoman · May 17, 2009

Yes, it is a factory second. There is a small blemish in the coating that is less about 1/8 inch. You'd never see it unless it was pointed out. It is a very nice Uke. I would say most of the "factory seconds" I saw were just fine to me. The cost savings was a bonus as well.

It's a very nice looking uke. Sounds awesome and looks even better in real life.

Mahalo,
Skottoman

bt93 · May 17, 2009

if you dont mind me asking, how much was that beautiful ukulele? i want to go to the factory to get a blemished one, and am interested in the pricing of these ukes

koalohapaul · May 17, 2009

Glad you enjoyed the your! I see you've got Kaneohe till the end in some of the pictures (Dustin). Come back and visit, next time you're in town.

psesinkclee · May 17, 2009

The grain looks fantastic on it!! I'd love to go out there and get one straight from them one day.

How much of a discount is it for the 'factory seconds'?

bt93 · May 17, 2009

ya im curious about that too

Moore Bettah Ukuleles · May 17, 2009

Yeah but are you happy? LOL.

And did you take at least ONE picture of a Hawaiian sunset?

Skottoman · May 17, 2009

Yah, I watched Dustin working on gluing some bodies together, and later making bookmatched panels for front and rear. Some precise work!

As far as "seconds" pricing, I got my Concert for less than $500 out the door. I hope that isn't a secret...

But then again, if you live on the mainland, you have to pay for your flight and such, so It's really a bargain if you happen to be on the island. That said, I cannot think of a better way to buy a ukulele, seconds or not. Meeting the people, and seeing the facility made it worth it to me.

I will totally visit again on my next trip to Oahu. I recommend it to anyone, the KoAloha crew is top notch, and I felt very welome to be there.

Oh, and I have many pix of a Hawaiian sunset from my last trip.

Mahalo,
Skottoman

haole · May 17, 2009

Awesome pictures! Thanks for sharing!

And what a sweet uke. I love the stripe down the middle!

I wonder how often Papa KoAloha makes a blemished Pineapple Sunday. Gotta make sure to visit then.

Uncle-Taco · May 17, 2009

You've lived two of my dreams, my friend! You toured KoAloha and you picked up a strikingly beautiful, personal, one-of-a-kind instrument! Great of you to post and share! :shaka:
(Stay away from the dream where I do a back flip over my house, though; that one is MINE!)

generem · May 17, 2009

Whoa.. Congrats on the new Uke and glad you enjoyed your tour. Im actually starting to plan a Hawaii trip around the koaloha tour in the near future also.. Hope I get the same treatment!!!

:shaka:

Honu · May 17, 2009

Congratulations on the purchase. I'm scheduled to visit Oahu at the end of June and I was interested in visiting KoAloha too. My one question is, how long in advance did you contact Brian?

Skottoman · May 17, 2009

Thanks for all the great comments on my pix!

I sent Brian an email the week before we went. It seems though they list "impromptu" 15 minute tours every Mon-Fri at 10am and 1pm.

We showed up on Monday at 10am (mainly because I didn't want to spend a week in Hawaii without a uke!), and waited for the tour to start.
No one else showed up, and so we got a personal tour.

Brian is a really great guy, and the tour was fun, even for my wife, who doesn't play uke.

Mahalo,
Skottoman

sukie · May 17, 2009

Congrats on the new uke. I have a KoAloha concert and I love it. Now if I could only go to Honolulu for a tour.

Skottoman · May 17, 2009

I also have to add that the *smell* of the fresh Koa wood was really nice! Having not known the smell of Koa (everyone knows the smell of pine) it was a nice new scent! All I have to do now is smell the inside of my new uke, and it reminds me of my visit to the factory! :shaka:

Mahalo,
Skottoman

Lanark · May 17, 2009

That's a sweet one. Brooks, who's one of us TCUO folks, just picked up a concert and it's got that same stripey grain on the sides. Very beautiful stuff. Play the hell out of it.

I look forward to taking the tour one day.

My Visit to KoAloha

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Aloha

Well-known member

Well-known member

Similar threads