Holualoa Ukulele Gallery

The Big Kahuna

The Big Kahuna

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Managed to find it yesterday morning. Spent a very pleasant 30 minutes chatting to Sam Rosen. Great guy, and a shame I didn't have time to stay longer.

http://www.konaweb.com/ukegallery/

Woke up 2 hours ago on Kauai...I can still taste Gin.
 
Thanks for the heads-up, Kahuna! I'll be on the Big Island in a couple of weeks and I'm planning a trip to nearby Captain Cook (I've been told the snorkeling there is really good) and I'll try to swing by the gallery. If you can, while you're on the Big Island, check out the Big Island Ukulele Guild Ukulele Exhibit at the Wailoa Center in Hilo from Friday October 5 through Thursday October 25. http://www.bigislandukuleleguild.org/bigislandukuleleguild.org/Welcome.html
 
Cool, I will be on the Big Island for a few days next week and hope to check it out.
 
mds725 said:
Thanks for the heads-up, Kahuna! I'll be on the Big Island in a couple of weeks and I'm planning a trip to nearby Captain Cook (I've been told the snorkeling there is really good) and I'll try to swing by the gallery. If you can, while you're on the Big Island, check out the Big Island Ukulele Guild Ukulele Exhibit at the Wailoa Center in Hilo from Friday October 5 through Thursday October 25. http://www.bigislandukuleleguild.org/bigislandukuleleguild.org/Welcome.html
Click to expand...

Please be aware that Holualoa and Captain Cook are not very close to each other. You're talking about probably 30 to 45 minutes driving time depending upon traffic going through Kainaliu and possibly Honalo. Also, Captain Cook is up mauka (mountain side). The snorkeling you've heard about is probably at Honaunau, near the City of Refuge, a place they call Two Step. You go out over the lava rocks and off the rocks to the water. But it's true, the snorkeling is fantastic there. Watched a sea turtle sneak up on my partner and nearly snorted sea water through my snorkel when I heard her scream when she looked back into the face of the turtle expecting to see me behind her. Enjoy your trip.
 
patfia said:
Please be aware that Holualoa and Captain Cook are not very close to each other. You're talking about probably 30 to 45 minutes driving time depending upon traffic going through Kainaliu and possibly Honalo. Also, Captain Cook is up mauka (mountain side). The snorkeling you've heard about is probably at Honaunau, near the City of Refuge, a place they call Two Step. You go out over the lava rocks and off the rocks to the water. But it's true, the snorkeling is fantastic there. Watched a sea turtle sneak up on my partner and nearly snorted sea water through my snorkel when I heard her scream when she looked back into the face of the turtle expecting to see me behind her. Enjoy your trip.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the additional information. Everything looks close together on maps of an island, I guess. I'll be staying in Hilo, so a trip to the Kona side of the island is going to have to start early and end late. :)
 
mds725 said:
Thanks for the additional information. Everything looks close together on maps of an island, I guess. I'll be staying in Hilo, so a trip to the Kona side of the island is going to have to start early and end late. :)
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No problem. Time between Hilo and Kona is about 2 hours, maybe a little longer if you go south through Volcano and Ka'u, assuming no stops. You have to remember that you're traveling on 2 lane roads, no freeways on the Big Island. And in the Kona district, those roads go through towns and speeds drop from 50 MPH on average to maybe 30 to 40 MPH on average. That's assuming that you don't get behind a WWII military jeep struggling to go uphill. Although that probably happens less now than it did in the 60's. So a trip to Kona is definitely a long, long day depending upon what you want to do. Don't want to dissuade you from doing it. I think it's well worth the trek but just be prepared.
 
patfia said:
No problem. Time between Hilo and Kona is about 2 hours, maybe a little longer if you go south through Volcano and Ka'u, assuming no stops. You have to remember that you're traveling on 2 lane roads, no freeways on the Big Island. And in the Kona district, those roads go through towns and speeds drop from 50 MPH on average to maybe 30 to 40 MPH on average. That's assuming that you don't get behind a WWII military jeep struggling to go uphill. Although that probably happens less now than it did in the 60's. So a trip to Kona is definitely a long, long day depending upon what you want to do. Don't want to dissuade you from doing it. I think it's well worth the trek but just be prepared.
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Or, if you don't drive like a girl, you can take pretty much the entire length of Saddle Rd at 80 - 90 mph. ;)

Short trip. Just be careful of the rollercoaster section at the Kona end, unless you want to get your hire car airborne.
 
The Big Kahuna said:
Or, if you don't drive like a girl, you can take pretty much the entire length of Saddle Rd at 80 - 90 mph. ;)

Short trip. Just be careful of the rollercoaster section at the Kona end, unless you want to get your hire car airborne.
Click to expand...

There are stretches on the Saddle Road near the military base (mile marker 33, 40 MPH zone) where if you go that fast they will escort you even faster to federal prison on Oahu. No questions asked. The days of traveling at high speeds on Saddle Road is over. It is constantly and thoroughly patrolled by unmarked patrol cars. A lot of revenue is generated on Saddle Road. That's why they fixed it up so nicely. It's a money maker. Count on 2 1/2 hours from Hilo to Kealakekua. But honestly, I prefer to take the south route when going to Captain Cook/Kealakekua. But again, watch your speed when going through the Volcanos National Park. The speed limit drops suddenly and again, you're in federal territory. Relax, take your time, enjoy the scenery and have respect.
 
Mahalo Chuck for clearing the air about breaking the law in Hawaii Nei.
Kahuna, they don't have Autobahns in Hawaii. Respect the LAW where ever you are is always the best policy.
Drive sensibly and enjoy the scenery while in Hawaii.
 
Thanks to all for the insight into driving on the Big Island. I'm planning to spend one of my days there in Volcanoes National Park. Chuck, I can't wait to see what you're going to exhibit at the Wailoa Center.
 
mds725 said:
Thanks to all for the insight into driving on the Big Island. I'm planning to spend one of my days there in Volcanoes National Park. Chuck, I can't wait to see what you're going to exhibit at the Wailoa Center.
Click to expand...

Do plan to spend the whole day -- we were there just for and afternoon and didn't feel like it was enough time.
 
To be fair, I wouldn't normally drive that way in an unfamiliar setting. I was, however, stuck firmly in the middle of a 6 car train, surrounded by locals who were setting the pace. With 3 cars in front, and 3 cars behind, it seemed bad manners to hold anyone up.

It certainly made for an interesting journey.
 
MGM said:
Yes Definetly Sam 's is the place to go if on the big island...He normally has a few ukes from all the custom builders on the Big Island....
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Yeah, really nice guy. So far I've only been to Larry's (or "The Kamoa Store" as they should name it) on Kauai, planning on a trip to Scotty's later and whatever the store in Koloa is called (Sam's ?).
 
Called in at the Uke & Wool shop in Hanalei today, and tried one of the Kauai built Ukes from Raymond Rapozo. Not impressed with the quality for $ 1500 and $ 1800 for the tenor Ukes they had.

In other news, a big shout out for Tiki Taco in Kapa'a. Awesome vegetarian tacos. And I'm now the proud owner of a curly Koa wallet, courtesy of www.calabashcollection.com
 
808boy said:
Mahalo Chuck for clearing the air about breaking the law in Hawaii Nei.
Kahuna, they don't have Autobahns in Hawaii. Respect the LAW where ever you are is always the best policy.
Drive sensibly and enjoy the scenery while in Hawaii.
Click to expand...

As ever, you're absolutely right dude. Another tip for haole tourists like myself: the people trying to pull out of a junction or cross a one lane bridge are probably locals who have a job that they need to get to. Give way to locals, we're guests in their state. On occasion I've incurred the wrath of other tourists when I've let a harassed looking guy with a pickup full of drywall into traffic ahead of me, but I honestly don't care. Coming from an area of England where we get a lot of tourists, I've been in their position too.
 
The Big Kahuna said:
Yeah, really nice guy. So far I've only been to Larry's (or "The Kamoa Store" as they should name it) on Kauai, planning on a trip to Scotty's later and whatever the store in Koloa is called (Sam's ?).
Click to expand...

It's called "The Ukulele Shop," I think. When I was there in April 2011, Sam's parents were running the Koloa store and Sam's dad actually opened the shop for me on a Sunday evening to let me test drive the ukes there, and I ended up picking out a Kamaka tenor. I think the Koloa shop still has brands other than Kamoa. Thanks for the ongoing reports!
 
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