erios999
Active member
Well folks, where do I start? For a good part of the year my girlfriend and I had been planning a trip to Oahu. Her first time and my third. Ever since my first visit to the islands in 2010 I've never shut up about it. For lack of a better word, it moved my soul and I was convinced it would move hers. It did by the way 
. We landed December 7th at around 11:30am. We picked up the rental and headed to Waikiki for lunch. I took her to Pua Pua Ukulele to show here where I first strummed an uke during a free lesson for the tourists. After that it was straight to Waiawa to Ko'olau/Pono to visit the shop.
We pulled into a pretty nondescript, little industrial park where you could hear roosters crowing in the background. This is where it all goes down. Really not much to look at from the outside and not set up to take customers. We walked up and told the first person who noticed us that we heard we could buy ukes there. Braddah's name was Danny and he was an awesomely nice person. He took us upstairs past, a guy setting up some clamps and some other guys maybe doing finishing work. He probably spent an hour or more with us. Not the slightest hint of impatience. He helped us discover what would be the best instruments for us as we were really overwhelmed. He went through all the differences of the ukes, would tune everything and then hand it right over. It was too much for us amateurs to take! This room full of ukes is also where a lot of the Hawaii Music Supply videos are done. You'll be able to tell in the pictures. In the end my girlfriend picked up an MT and I got the MTD8. John Kitakis who was also very friendly, told me that the 8 string is the uke he brings home every day. He said he loves the harmonics.
I've probably rambled more than you care to read. I have to say big, big mahalos to Danny for his patience and kindness! We wanted to take a picture with him and John but we were trying not to creep them out. Still wish we did though. Hawaii is a beautiful place but it's the people that make it special.
-Rick
P.S.: We visited Hawaii Music Supply in Haleiwa too and they were just as awesome. Maybe I'll share that visit in this post too.
. We landed December 7th at around 11:30am. We picked up the rental and headed to Waikiki for lunch. I took her to Pua Pua Ukulele to show here where I first strummed an uke during a free lesson for the tourists. After that it was straight to Waiawa to Ko'olau/Pono to visit the shop.We pulled into a pretty nondescript, little industrial park where you could hear roosters crowing in the background. This is where it all goes down. Really not much to look at from the outside and not set up to take customers. We walked up and told the first person who noticed us that we heard we could buy ukes there. Braddah's name was Danny and he was an awesomely nice person. He took us upstairs past, a guy setting up some clamps and some other guys maybe doing finishing work. He probably spent an hour or more with us. Not the slightest hint of impatience. He helped us discover what would be the best instruments for us as we were really overwhelmed. He went through all the differences of the ukes, would tune everything and then hand it right over. It was too much for us amateurs to take! This room full of ukes is also where a lot of the Hawaii Music Supply videos are done. You'll be able to tell in the pictures. In the end my girlfriend picked up an MT and I got the MTD8. John Kitakis who was also very friendly, told me that the 8 string is the uke he brings home every day. He said he loves the harmonics.
I've probably rambled more than you care to read. I have to say big, big mahalos to Danny for his patience and kindness! We wanted to take a picture with him and John but we were trying not to creep them out. Still wish we did though. Hawaii is a beautiful place but it's the people that make it special.
-Rick
P.S.: We visited Hawaii Music Supply in Haleiwa too and they were just as awesome. Maybe I'll share that visit in this post too.
