Kamaka Ukulele Custom Shop Collection

　Kamaka Ukulele traces its origins to 1916, when founder Samuel Kaialiilii Kamaka established the independently operated “Kamaka Ukulele & Guitar Works” in the basement of his home in Kaimuki, Hawaii.Originating with the pineapple ukulele, for which a U.S. patent was granted in 1928, the brand has remained at the forefront of the ukulele scene—from the “Gold Label” era of the 1940s through the 1960s, to the “White Label” era beginning in the 1970s, and continuing from 2001 to the present, featuring a headstock logo in mother-of-pearl inlay and modern label designs.The Kamaka ukulele tradition continues to evolve under the leadership of Samuel Jr. and Frederick—the sons who succeeded Sam Kamaka after his passing in December 1953—and their sons Chris, Casey, and Fred Jr., guided by Sam’s words: “If you’re going to make an instrument and put your family’s name on it, don’t make junk.”

　Today, Chris serves as Production Manager, Casey as Head of Custom/Artist Relations, and Fred Jr. as Business Manager—together forming the cornerstones of Kamaka. Among them, Casey, who heads the Custom Division and oversees Artist Relations, enjoys the deep trust of renowned artists such as Jake Shimabukuro and Brian Trentino, and is the driving force behind the Kamaka sound.
　
　Casey, who had been helping out at Kamaka since around age 13—spending summer vacations and days off at the factory applying headstock logos and stringing guitars—officially took on the Custom role immediately after graduating from high school. Working under George Morita, who headed the Custom division from the ’70s through the early ’80s, he would gradually begin crafting guitars himself whenever a customer requested a special model, asking, “Let me handle this.”Since bracing and other processes share some similarities with the basic principles of classical guitar making, he referred to books and articles by guitar makers and participated in workshops hosted by various guitar manufacturers. He incorporated these insights into his own work to develop his unique style. In particular, when crafting custom models for artists, he applies highly precise adjustments to every detail to maximize the instrument’s potential. He customizes the wood and materials, shaping the top wood to be thin while maintaining consistent precision.While standard production lines typically build instruments to standard dimensions and then make fine adjustments, he takes the meticulous approach of adjusting the custom models from the very beginning. Requiring a tremendous amount of time and cost, and crafted by a renowned luthier like Casey—who continues to innovate while upholding tradition—Kamaka’s custom models are masterpieces that boast the quality and sound worthy of being called “high-end ukuleles.”

Kamaka HF-3 Jake Shimabukuro Model 00s

　A Jake Shimabukuro signature model produced in a limited run of 100 pieces around 2007.This premium, rare item was available only to winners of a lottery held from July 15 to August 15, 2006. Designed by Casey Kamaka to meet Jake’s various detailed specifications, this exquisite four-string tenor ukulele was inspected by Jake himself, one by one, and hand-numbered and signed by him.Crafted from high-quality curly koa, it features Akoya mother-of-pearl body purfling with red trim and an ebony fingerboard inlaid with Jake’s new logo—a combination of “J” and “S” made of abalone shell… a masterpiece created with meticulous attention to every detail. It is securely stored in a sturdy, genuine hard case and is New.

[Model Specifications]

Kamaka HF-2 SK '05

　A fully custom-ordered special concert model featuring AAA-grade premium Hawaiian koa.The koa body features exquisite grain reminiscent of Hawaii’s gentle waves; abalone inlays—with a green base that shimmers in various hues depending on the angle—adorn the fingerboard perimeter, body purfling, and rosette; slotted square position marks made of swan shell; and luxurious maple body and fingerboard binding…Truly a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. This is a piece crafted with Casey’s heart and soul, with a custom order price exceeding $4,000 (480,000 yen at the time). Near-mint condition.

[Model Specifications]

Kamaka HF-1 S '05

　A completely custom-ordered special soprano model lavishly crafted from AAA-grade premium Hawaiian koa. Made from carefully selected, top-quality koa wood, this ultimate soprano ukulele features exquisite abalone inlays—which radiate a stunning luster—not only around the fingerboard, on the body purfling, and on the rosette, but also on the position marks and headstock logo.The tone is impeccable, delivering a superb response and a light, airy koa sound. Don’t miss this opportunity to own the world’s only one-of-a-kind special item. Like the HF-2 SK, this is a masterpiece crafted with Casey’s passion, priced at over $4,000 (480,000 yen at the time) as a custom-order instrument. Near-mint condition.

[Model Specifications]

Kamaka HB-2D Concert Ukulele Ohta-san Model '07

　The Herb Ohta Model, often referred to as the "God of the Ukulele." This is a semi-custom order item that the previous owner had made using wood of their own choosing.Although it is a concert-sized instrument, the body shape is similar to that of a Martin Dreadnought, featuring a squared-off shoulder design. It has 18 frets with a joint at the 14th fret, and a distinctive feature is the fourth string, which is tuned to a “low G”—one octave lower than standard. The maple rope binding on the top lends this masterpiece an elegant atmosphere. It is in near-mint condition, having been used very little.

[Model Specifications]