Design Your Custom Kanileʻa ʻUkulele
Our visual product configurator is currently undergoing a major update, which will take some time to complete. This page serves as a guide to inspire your custom ʻukulele design, showcasing a variety of options to spark ideas. Keep in mind that the selections shown here are not exhaustive; we offer even more choices that can be discussed with our custom designer.
Pricing varies depending on the size of the ʻukulele and the specific options you choose. We invite you to explore the available features and reach out to us via phone or email to begin collaborating on your one-of-a-kind instrument. Our team will guide you through the design process, provide detailed pricing, and ensure your vision comes to life. Enjoy browsing, and let your creativity lead the way!
808-234-2868 ext. 1 | info@kanileaukulele.com
Previous Custom Shop ʻUkulele
Kāneʻohe Bay
A super tenor with Maple back and sides stained bay blue with a master grade Koa top stained bay green. This features Abalone inlays throughout and depicts a scene of 3 honu (sea turtle) grazing the bay floor.
Ka Uʻi o Ka Lua
The Beauty of The Crater; Featuring a tenor body with quilted Maple back and sides and a master grade Koa top stained lava red. This features TRU-Relief, TRU-Reduction, D-Shaped Soundhole and inlays done depicting Pele and her lava flow.
Bodhi Leaf
A tenor featuring Tasmanian Myrtle back and sides with a highly figured Port Orford Cedar top. We used Curly Koa for the armrest, binding, and D-Shaped soundhole trim. There are green poplar inlays of the Bodhi Lead symbolizing inner peace.
Dragon
Made for Year of the Wooden Dragon, we see breathtaking Koa used for the body and red Poplar purflings accenting black bindings throughout. Finished off with stunning inlays of a dragon.
Mai Nā Kūpuna Mai
A Super Tenor with master grade Koa and green Poplar trims with Ebony inlays and a story being depicted of a call to our Hawaiian ancestors for knowledge. We also have Koa buttons on the tuners.
Phoenix
A tenor made in conjunction with Dragon to represent Yin and Yang. This tenor features a lot of similar attributes as Dragon with some added features like TRU-Relief and TRU-Reduction. But the story depicts the rebirth of a Phoenix.
The Foundational Steps for Designing a Custom Kanileʻa
Size and String Count
Selecting the body size and scale length and string is the first step because that could determine what options become available following this choice. We build in the following body sizes:
Soprano
Concert
Tenor
Super Tenor
Baritone
Guitarlele
We offer long neck options and they can be categorized as follows:
Super Soprano - Soprano Body, 15" Concert Scale
Super Concert - Concert Body, 17" Tenor Scale
Tenor and Super Tenor 19" - Super Tenor is a body shape, standard scale length for tenor and super tenor is 17"
We offer the following String amount options only on Super Concert, Tenor, Super Tenor, and 19" options:
4-String
5-String - Octave G, Standard C, E, and A
6-string - Octave C and A with Standard G and E
8-String - Octave G and C, Unison E and A
Once this has been decided it paves the way for the features to follow since not everything is possible in all styles and sizing.
Neck Material
For neck material in the custom realm we can stick with our standard South American Mahogany which is included in the price. For upgrades we offer laminated Koa neck options and laminated Maple neck options.
Fretboard and Bridge Material
In the custom realm we offer the standard African Ebony option, but can also craft fretboard from most hardwoods. We stock Indian Rosewood, African Ebony, Pale Moon Ebony, and Curly Koa for fretboard and bridge material. Other options can be sourced but will alter timeline and pricing significantly.
Fretboard Radius
Standard fretboards do not come with a radius on them but a 16" radius can be added to any model or custom build.
Choose Your Wood
We have a gallery below of wood choices that can be chosen as full body options, top only options, or back and side only options. Take a look through the wood options and be mindful that most of these wood options could also be used for binding, fretboard, bridge, and head-plate options as well.
We have an upgrade option to pull aside 3 sets of the wood of your choice based on personal preferences. We will add isopropyl alcohol to the wood so you can get a visual of what it looks like after it has a finish applied and take photos of the full set for you to choose from.
Wood Options for Front, Back, or Sides
Select Koa
Deluxe Koa
Premium Koa
Master Grade Koa
Joeʻs Stash Koa
Curly Maple
Sinker Mahogany
Curly Mahogany
Wood Options for Soundboards Only
Bearclaw Sitka Spruce
Torrefied Sitka Spruce
Lutz Spruce
Adirondack Spruce
Bearclaw Engelmann Spruce
Western Red Cedar
Rainbow Cedar
Torrefied Rainbow Cedar
Port Orford Cedar
Curly Port Orford Cedar
Sequoia Redwood
Curly Sequoia Redwood
Sinker Redwood
Wood Options for Back and Sides Only
East Indian Rosewood
Guatemalan Rosewood
Cocobolo
Brazilian Rosewood
African Ebony
Pale Moon Ebony
Ziricote
Bog Oak
Granadillo
Quilted Maple
Tasmanian Myrtle
Oregon Myrtle
English Walnut
Claro Walnut
"The Tree" Mahogany
Headstock Shapes
Several headstock shape options are available. For Soprano, Concert, Baritone, and Guitarlele-sized instruments, the Kanileʻa Crown is the sole option. The other headstock shapes are exclusive to Super Concert, Tenor, Super Tenor, and 19" scale instruments. Multi-string builds require the use of the Cobra profile, which can be slotted or non-slotted.
You may also be asking "Why Slotted?" the short answer here is that other than looking awesome, you will get added string tension across the scale of the instrument. When the string breaks off the nut the angle is steeper meeting the tuner post at the middle point of the headstock, rather than the top of the headstock. This adds greater torque and tension on the string increasing string tension slightly which in turn increases volume and sustain.
Kanileʻa Crown
Cobra Non-Slotted / Multi String
Cobra Slot / Multi String Slot
Phoenix Non-Slotted
Phoenix Slotted
Traditional Slotted
Inlay Material
Below are examples of our Kanileʻa logo crafted in various materials. While these options are showcased, they are not the only choices available. You can select any wood option from the body section as an inlay material for position markers, logos, or even custom inlays.
White Mother of Pearl
Pāua Abalone
Koa
Maple
Teal Poplar
Red Poplar
Ebony
Pineapple
Kailua Beach Sand
Player Features and Body Specifications
We take pride in offering the most cutting edge designs and player features among any ʻukulele maker around the world. This section will show examples of the foundational options and from there we discuss materials and more to bring your perfect ʻukulele to reality.
Traditional Soundhole
D Shaped Soundhole
Ebony Bevel Cutaway
Rosewood Bevel Cutaway
Ebony Armrest
Rosewood Armrest
Oval Side Sound Port
Custom Side Port Example
Custom Side Port Example
TRU-Relief
TRU-Reduction
Black Binding
Tortoise Binding
Maple Binding
Purfling
Tail Strip
Back Strip
Rosettes and Inlays
The gallery below showcases the rosettes, body inlays, fretboard inlays, and headstock inlays featured in our current model lineup. This collection serves to inspire and illustrate the range of possible shapes and designs. We’ll collaborate with you to choose the material and style that best suits your vision. We offer custom artwork created in-house, billed by the hour, and can also accommodate pre-drawn, vectorized files. Additionally, unique, custom inlays by Craig Lavin are available for one-of-a-kind designs.
KPA Style
Ultra Thick
Necklace and Sand Name
Black Epoxy
Rosewood with Sand
Ultra Thin
90 Thou Thin
D-Shape Trim
Three Channel
Honus Body Inlay
Islands Body Inlay
Sand Scroll Markers
Sand Signature Inlay
Detailed Inlay
Ultra Detailed Inlay
Letʻs Start Designing
Give us a call or email at
808-234-2868 ext. 1 | info@kanileaukulele.com
Our offices are open Mon - Fri, 830am to 4pm HST
