the KoAloha ukulele factory is located right in Kakaako. it’s in this building where the make every single KoAloha ukulele by hand. 
they have a showroom which is very impressive. KoAloha is one of the top ukulele brands in Hawaii which are made with the highest quality materials and craftsmanship. when a business can offer a lifetime warranty on all their products, you know it’s good. 
this is Papa KoAloha. a second generation Japanese/American, Papa can sing, can play the ukulele, and can touch your heart. he was telling us his story on one of the songs he wrote for the 2011 Japan Tsunami survivors. as he sang it for us, it brought tears to my eyes. 
Papa took us in the factory and showed how his ukuleles are made. it’s a family business where his wife and kids work in the showroom, and his grandchildren are in the back making the ukuleles. i love businesses like this! 
so when i came home and looked at my KoAloha ukulele hanging in my living room, it now has much more meaning to me. i bought it around 20 years ago because i heard it was the best. now i know it’s not only the best, i know it was made from the heart. this treasure will stay in my family for the rest of our lives…
