Ordering a Kanileʻa is simple, whether you’re choosing an instrument that’s ready now or creating something uniquely your own.

• Explore our full lineup
  Visit our World of Kanileʻa page to view all models, sizes, and series.
  
• Shop instruments that are built and ready
  Our Available Gallery features in-stock instruments with photos of the exact ukulele you’ll receive, including its serial number.
  
• Build to order
  If you’d like a specific size or series, you can order directly from any model page using the available dropdown options. View all models at Model Range
  
• Design a custom instrument
  For a one-of-a-kind Kanileʻa, please call or email us to request a custom quote. You can view past customs and explore design options on our Design Your ʻUkulele page.
  

If you prefer personal assistance, our office team is happy to help:

• Phone: 808-234-2868
  
• Email (general & custom inquiries): info@kanileaukulele.com
  

At Kanileʻa, our singular focus is to deliver an exceptionally high-value experience—from the moment a customer begins their purchase, through the build process, and ultimately into years of playing and ownership.

We approach instrument building with the mindset of a precision manufacturer. Every process is designed around quality, consistency, and repeatability, combining modern acoustic engineering—such as refined bracing systems and tightly controlled thickness tolerances—with time-tested drying and seasoning practices. This disciplined approach allows each instrument to meet exacting standards while still expressing its own natural voice.

Our commitment to quality extends beyond construction. Final setup, playability, and tonal balance are treated as critical value-adding steps, not afterthoughts. The result is an instrument that feels responsive, balanced, and inspiring to play, with clarity, sustain, and comfort that support players at every level.

By continuously evaluating and refining our processes, we focus on removing variables that do not serve the instrument or the player. This philosophy allows us to deliver consistent results while honoring the organic nature of wood and craftsmanship.

In short, everything we do is guided by one principle: maximize value for the player—without compromise—at every stage of the journey.

Once your design details are finalized and required materials are confirmed, estimated build timelines are as follows:

• Standard models: approximately 5–8 weeks
  
• Custom instruments with in-house inlay work: approximately 10–12 weeks
  
• Custom instruments with outsourced inlay work: approximately 5–7 months
  

Build times may extend during peak periods, such as the holiday season, due to increased order volume.

The primary factors affecting timeline are the complexity of features and the type of inlay work selected. Elements such as binding, rosettes, and custom inlays require additional hand labor and coordination. We review all details during the ordering process so timelines are clearly understood before your build begins.

We accept all payment methods supported through our Shopify payment processor at checkout. Available options may include major credit and debit cards as well as supported digital wallets.

In addition, we accept the following payment methods when working directly with our team:

• Check (drawn on a U.S. bank)
  
• Bank transfer / wire transfer (please email us for banking details)
  

Please note: Production does not begin and orders are not confirmed until all funds have fully cleared.

Cash payments are accepted in person only. For security and legal reasons, cash should never be sent by mail or courier.

If you have questions about payment options, our team is happy to assist.

When working directly with our customer service team, a minimum non-refundable deposit of 50% is required once your design has been approved. This deposit secures your instrument’s place in the build schedule.

You may make additional payments while your instrument is in production or pay the remaining balance upon completion—whichever works best for you. Once your instrument is finished, we will contact you to confirm delivery details and collect any remaining balance prior to shipment.

For orders placed directly through our website, payment in full is required at the time of purchase.

Instruments and amplifiers are shipped exclusively via FedEx, both within the United States and internationally. Shipping options and costs are calculated and presented at checkout.

Because instruments and amplifiers ship via FedEx only, we cannot deliver these items to P.O. Boxes. A valid street address, contact phone number, and email address are required for all instrument and amplifier shipments. Tracking information will be sent via email once your order leaves our shop.

An adult signature is required for instrument and amplifier deliveries. If you need a different signature option, please include your request in the order notes at checkout.

Accessory orders may be shipped via USPS or FedEx, depending on the item and destination.

We have a long-standing working relationship with the FedEx team and trust them to handle our instruments with care. While we will do everything possible to assist if an issue arises during transit, once a shipment has been picked up by the carrier, delivery operations and routing are under the carrier’s control, and only the recipient may request changes.

We carefully select our strings to complement the tone, responsiveness, and playability Kanileʻa instruments are known for.

ʻUkulele strings

Our standard ʻukulele setup features an exclusive, curated fluorocarbon string set by Worth Strings (Japan). Fluorocarbon strings are denser than traditional nylon, producing greater clarity, brightness, and sustain—well suited for both fingerstyle and strumming.

For wound string options, including Low G, 6-string, and 8-string configurations, we use high-quality wound strings from GHS to ensure balanced tension and consistent tone.

We understand that every player has a unique tonal preference. If you have a specific string set you love, we’re happy to install strings you provide during final setup.

Guitar strings

Our guitars ship with Earthwood Bell Bronze strings by Ernie Ball, developed in collaboration with John Mayer. We use the Medium Light (12–54) set as our standard, chosen for its balance of warmth, clarity, and dynamic response.

Our goal with every instrument is the same: a setup that feels inspiring to play and allows the instrument’s natural voice to shine.

Intonation refers to how accurately an instrument plays in tune as you move up the fingerboard. On a properly set up instrument, a fretted note should closely match its corresponding harmonic and octave reference (for example, an open string and its 12th-fret octave).

At Kanileʻa, intonation is one of the most critical aspects of our build process, alongside playability. Rather than relying on simple scale-length formulas, each instrument is built using compensated scale calculations matched to our setup specifications. Fingerboard slots are cut using precision-controlled tooling to ensure consistent placement and repeatability from instrument to instrument.

That said, it’s important to understand that intonation is not static. Wood is a living material—it moves, expands, and contracts. To minimize this, our instruments are built in a controlled environment using properly seasoned tonewoods, allowing us to achieve stable, accurate results at the time of final setup.

Several factors outside of a builder’s control can influence intonation over time:

• Humidity changes, which affect wood movement
  
• String condition and age
  
• Playing style, including heavy fretting pressure or string bending
  

To help maintain optimal intonation, we strongly recommend keeping your instrument at approximately 50% relative humidity (±5%) and changing strings regularly, especially if you play aggressively or perform frequently.

Our goal is to deliver an instrument that plays as accurately and consistently as possible, while also educating players on how proper care and technique help preserve that performance long after it leaves our shop.

Our factory tours can be booked here

Reminder that our factory tours are not done at our windward mall location, please review your tour booking confirmation for the tour address.

Windward Mall Store Address:

46-506 Kamehameha Hwy., Kāneʻohe, Hawaiʻi 96744
2nd level

Kanileʻa ʻUkulele and Guitars have been designed, built, and assembled in Kāneʻohe, Hawaiʻi since 1998.

At our Hawaiʻi facility, we work exclusively with solid wood materials—never veneers or plywood—and operate with a high level of vertical integration. Hawaiian endemic woods are milled, dried, and prepared in-house, while select exotic tonewoods such as mahogany, ebony, rosewood, cedar, and spruce are responsibly sourced from trusted global suppliers and further conditioned in our climate-controlled environment.

All core manufacturing processes for Kanileʻa instruments—including precision cutting, sanding, assembly, binding, inlay work, finishing, and final setup—are performed in Hawaiʻi. Inlays are designed and executed in-house using responsibly sourced materials such as white mother-of-pearl and New Zealand pāua abalone. Final setup includes premium components such as Kanileʻa-exclusive or Gotoh Stealth geared tuning machines, along with carefully selected nuts, saddles, bridge pins, and strings from trusted partners.

Every Kanileʻa instrument is proudly and truthfully MADE IN HAWAIʻI.

About Our Other Brands

To support players at different stages of their musical journey, we also offer additional brands built with the same design intent and quality oversight:

• Islander and ʻOha ukuleles and guitars are manufactured in China at a highly respected facility responsible for producing instruments for many globally recognized brands. We work closely with this factory and maintain dedicated production lines specifically for Islander and ʻOha, ensuring consistency, specification control, and quality standards aligned with Kanileʻa values.
  
• Products sold under brand names not owned by Kanileʻa may be manufactured in various regions around the world. Manufacturing details for those items are best confirmed directly with the respective brand or manufacturer.

Kanileʻa instruments are covered by a Limited Lifetime Warranty for the original purchaser.

This warranty covers manufacturer defects in materials and workmanship, as determined by Kanileʻa following inspection of the instrument. Proof of purchase is required, and the warranty is non-transferable.

If your instrument was purchased through an authorized dealer, please contact the dealer directly for assistance with any warranty-related claims. They will guide you through the next steps.

For full details—including terms, limitations, and claim procedures—please visit our warranty page here.

We use an environmentally responsible UV-cured polyester finish developed for high-performance acoustic instruments.

The finish is applied in our spray facility and cured using controlled ultraviolet light, allowing each coat to harden rapidly and consistently. This process enables precise leveling, sanding, and buffing between coats, resulting in a durable, acoustically transparent finish that protects the instrument while allowing it to resonate freely.

By controlling the entire finishing process in-house, we achieve a consistent look, feel, and long-term stability across every Kanileʻa instrument.

Yes. Kanileʻa instruments are available through a network of authorized dealers worldwide. Each dealer is selected to provide knowledgeable support and a consistent buying experience.

A current list of authorized dealers can be found on our Kanileʻa Dealer page. We encourage you to contact your local dealer directly for availability and assistance.

Your Kanileʻa ʻUkulele is built from solid, carefully dried and seasoned tonewoods. Because solid wood naturally responds to its environment, changes in humidity can affect the instrument over time.

In dry climates—including desert, high-altitude, or cold winter regions—moisture loss can occur, particularly when indoor heating is in use. If humidity is not properly managed, this can lead to issues such as cracking, which is not covered under the Limited Lifetime Warranty.

Proper care is simple and highly effective. We strongly recommend:

• Storing your instrument in its case when not in use
  
• Using a properly maintained soundhole or case humidifier
  

Consistent humidity control helps preserve the structural integrity, playability, and long-term performance of your instrument.

We recognize that there are many excellent pickup systems available. Our focus is selecting options that best preserve the natural Kanileʻa voice when amplified, while minimizing impact on the instrument’s acoustic performance.

ʻUkulele pickup options

For ʻukuleles, we offer Kanileʻa-exclusive undersaddle pickup systems, designed to deliver clarity, balance, and strong string-to-string definition:

• Kanileʻa Exclusive Passive Pickup
  Undersaddle piezo system with one sensing element per string. This system requires no onboard battery and is minimally intrusive. Volume and tone control are handled through an external preamp.
  
• Kanileʻa Exclusive Active Pickup
  Undersaddle piezo system with one sensing element per string and an internal 9V battery. This system provides higher output and headroom, with no onboard controls.
  
• Kanileʻa Exclusive Active Pickup with Volume Control
  The same active system, featuring a discreet internal volume control mounted at the soundhole for quick adjustment.
  

These systems are optimized specifically for ʻukulele scale length, tension, and response.

Guitar pickup option

For Kanileʻa guitars, we offer the LR Baggs HiFi pickup system, selected for its ability to capture the guitar’s full tonal range, dynamic response, and natural character with minimal weight and footprint.

Pickup systems can be added to most Kanileʻa models—whether you’re selecting an in-stock instrument, ordering from our model range, or commissioning a custom build. All pickups are installed and tested by our Final Assembly team to ensure proper fit, clean integration, and reliable performance before delivery.

Start by registering your instrument online here

Registration activates your Limited Lifetime Warranty and gives you access to important ownership information, including care guidelines and warranty terms.

Next, begin playing—and learning.

As a new Kanileʻa owner, you’ll receive one month of unlimited access to Ukulele Underground, one of the world’s leading ʻukulele learning communities. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, you can sharpen your skills with Aldrine Guerrero and the Ukulele Underground teaching team.

And most importantly—play your instrument.

Strum, jam, fingerpick, and write music. Your Kanileʻa is built to be played. As time goes on, the instrument will naturally “open up,” with tones becoming warmer, richer, and more responsive—one of the many characteristics of koa and other fine tonewoods. Simply put, the more you play, the better it will sound.