21st c. Luthiers from Hawaii click for more
In being on the look out for nice Ukuleles I see the work of a number of full and part time luthiers. The instruments they make look very nice and worthy of note.
Hana Lima 'Ia (apparently means made by hand) is both an Hawaiian luthiers company and a school for teaching the art of Ukulele making. It was founded in 1994 by Mike Chock (who also founded the Ukulele Guild of Hawaii) and his son Asa who joined him in 2002. On top of the school they also run a shop for Ukulele Kits and parts and of course make and sell their own Ukuleles, (as far as I can see its all their work they don't sell the students work as Hana Lima 'Ia) They are very fond of epaulette or side sound holes and though they do make Soprano, Concert and Baritone sizes they mostly seem to make on Tenors
Tangi Tully
Tangi were an interesting Hawaiian / Vietnamese outfit founded in 1993 by Tangi Tully and his father Jim. Some of the Ukuleles were made in Hawaii by luthier Tully, others came via his Father from a factory in Vietnam, though the Vietnamese connection stopped before 2009. In 2009 after the death of Jim Tully and with other setbacks, the whole enterprise has been reduced to just Tangi Tullys output. I believe he does still make some Ukuleles though? The Ukuleles themselves came in Sopranino, Soprano, Concert, Tenor and novelty sizes in a number of woods and string setups, including a Guitalele.
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