wickedwahine11
Well-known member
I just got back from Hawaii last night (whew, a bumpy plane ride!) I had a great time in Oahu and Kauai, and the highlight of my trip was getting to spend some time at the KoAloha Ukulele Factory. I got a chance to talk story with Alvin "Papa KoAloha" Okami for almost an hour, and he performed some songs off his new CD ("Just Uke and Me") for us. He also explained the meaning behind the song "Softly," and while I loved it before, it has even more meaning now. Before we left, he grabbed some DVDs of the KoAloha Story, as well as two of his CDs (which he autographed) for us. I can't say enough about what a wonderful man he is. Not only is he a creative genuis -- who else could have thought up the wonders of the Pineapple Sunday, Sceptre and Jukulele, but he is also a warm and caring person, who took time out of his busy day to chat with two ladies from California. Poor Mom, she has now been dragged to the ukulele factory tours of Kanile'a, Kamaka and KoAloha. For her sake, I better not end up buying a Ko'olau.
To get to Kohou street from Waikiki, we took the #42 bus, and then walked a couple of blocks. I've now taken the bus to all three of the factories, and while Kamaka's is the easiest to get to, KoAloha's was simpler than Kanile'a (of course, if I had gotten off at the right bus stop for Kanile'a maybe it wouldn't have been so bad).
Here is a photo of me outside the KoAloha logo sign...
After posing under the sign, I took another picture standing outside their door. Unlike Kamaka, which is a pretty nondescript building, the KoAloha factory has adorable ukuleles and a sign outside letting you know that you are in ukulele heaven.
After posing for my photos (with Po'okela, my trusty KoAloha Pineapple Sunday), we rang the buzzer and waited to be let inside. We had made reservations with Brian for the tour that morning at 9am, and I was excited to get to make the keychains I had heard so much about...
Turns out we didn't get to do that, but we were privy to something far greater - a personal concert from Papa KoAloha. I also got a chance to see the very first KoAloha, the miniature that Mr. Okami created on advice from Ohta-san.
I also noticed how adorable the waiting room at KoAloha is...with everything from glass etched KoAloha designs to painted portraits of Alvin and Pat, aka Papa and Mama KoAloha.
More below...
To get to Kohou street from Waikiki, we took the #42 bus, and then walked a couple of blocks. I've now taken the bus to all three of the factories, and while Kamaka's is the easiest to get to, KoAloha's was simpler than Kanile'a (of course, if I had gotten off at the right bus stop for Kanile'a maybe it wouldn't have been so bad).
Here is a photo of me outside the KoAloha logo sign...
After posing under the sign, I took another picture standing outside their door. Unlike Kamaka, which is a pretty nondescript building, the KoAloha factory has adorable ukuleles and a sign outside letting you know that you are in ukulele heaven.
After posing for my photos (with Po'okela, my trusty KoAloha Pineapple Sunday), we rang the buzzer and waited to be let inside. We had made reservations with Brian for the tour that morning at 9am, and I was excited to get to make the keychains I had heard so much about...
Turns out we didn't get to do that, but we were privy to something far greater - a personal concert from Papa KoAloha. I also got a chance to see the very first KoAloha, the miniature that Mr. Okami created on advice from Ohta-san.
I also noticed how adorable the waiting room at KoAloha is...with everything from glass etched KoAloha designs to painted portraits of Alvin and Pat, aka Papa and Mama KoAloha.
More below...