Geni Swing Guitars

Hawaiian Koa

The Little Instrument That Strokes Our Hearts

We have all seen or heard this little instrument – and really the ukulele is an instrument that you possibly can't hate. It is an instrument based on another instrument, but one that has its own unique sound and following.

The ukulele's origins come from Hawaii, and the name when translated means 'jumping flea'. The name might be due to the fact the way you play it, with the action of your finger jumping of the strings. Queen Lili'uokalani was the last monarch of Hawaii said that the word actually means 'the gift that came here', derived from the fact in Hawaiian the word 'uku' means 'gift' or 'reward' and 'lele' means 'to come'.

The ukulele was made in the late 19th century, and is an instrument that is derived from two small guitar like instruments of Portuguese origin. They are the cavaquinho and the rajão, and these were introduced to the Hawaiians by Portuguese immigrants from Madeira. This is credited to three immigrants in particular who were Madeiran cabinet makers Manuel Nunes, José do Espírito Santo, and Augusto Dias. It is said they were the first makers of the instrument and that two weeks after they had arrived from the Ravenscrag in August 1879, the local newspaper the Hawaiian Gazette reported of their arrival and talents.

Ukuleles are mainly made from wood, but there are other versions that are made from other materials such as plastic. The cheap variation of Ukuleles are usually made with ply or laminate wood but the most special - and some would say most authentic - ukulele one made from Koa, a Hawaiian wood. The shape is usually the same as a normal small acoustic guitar in the same mould as a figure eight body shape; but there are some that are made into special shapes, such as ones that are made in an oval shaped like a pineapple. The instrument has only four strings, but there are ones where the strings are paired which gives the instrument eight strings. There are four sizes of the ukulele in total - the larger the size the lower the pitch of sound you will get. The normal sized ukulele is the Soprano ukulele.

Japan is considered the second home of the ukulele, not only because of their close ties with Hawaii but due to to Yukihiko Haida, a Hawaiian born ukulele player who returned to Japan for his father's death. He and his brother formed a club which became very popular thanks to Hawaiian music and Jazz. After the world war, and despite bans to western music, he kept on playing and in 1959 he founded the Nihon ukulele Association.

It is often been used in the media due to the popular image it has and its associated with Hawaii, but to truly experience some of the best ukulele music you have to go to the country where it was born or even better you can find them pretty cheap so you could get one and learn to get decent in the sun at one of the relaxing Hawaii rentals there is to offer.

About the Author

Vacation rentals from around the world, direct from the owner at vacationrentalpeople.com.

Try one of the relaxing Hawaii rentals available at VacationRentalPeople.com.

Hawaiian Koa Wood hawaiian time style Art Wall Clock by CafePress $15 This a beautiful Hawaiian Koa woodprint clock, Get the beauty of koa wood for your home or office and enjoy the hours going by. Art Wall Clock Decorate any room in your home or office with our 10 inch wall clock. Black plastic case. Requires 1 AA battery included.

Koa, the Hawaiian Poodle $12.67 No Synopsis Available

Pure Hawaiian Koa Music Sweatshirt dark by CafePress $39.5 Pure Hawaiian Koa. The ukulele player's wood of choice. See more fun uke designs at www.ukecompany.com Music Sweatshirt dark Tee, TShirt, Shirt Comfort? Without sacrificing style? No sweat. This soft-fleece sweatshirt from Hanes looks great, wears well, and keeps you cozy-warm. 10 oz. fleece blend 90% cotton/10% polyester. Double-needle coverseaming along neck, armholes wai

Mitchell MU100 Koa Concert Ukulele Natural 886830183416 $143.99 The Mitchell MU100 Koa Concert Ukulele has top, back, and sides made of laminated Hawaiian koa wood. The MU100 is gorgeously appointed with abalone rosette and purfling. This instrument sounds as sweet as it looks.

Mitchell MU100 Koa Concert Ukulele Natural $179.99 The Mitchell MU100 Koa Concert Ukulele has top, back, and sides made of laminated Hawaiian koa wood. The MU100 is gorgeously appointed with abalone rosette and purfling. This instrument sounds as sweet as it looks.

Oscar Schmidt OU5 Concert Koa Ukulele $309.9 The Oscar Schmidt OU5 Concert Koa Ukulele is a beauty. Made of gorgeous Hawaiian koa with a rosewood fingerboard and bridge. The Oscar Schmidt OU5 features abalone top inlays and is fitted with high-quality Grover tuners.Hawaiian koa Abalone top inlays Rosewood fingerboard and bridge Grover tuners

Oscar Schmidt Ou5 Concert Koa Ukulele $309.9 The Oscar Schmidt OU5 Concert Koa Ukulele is a beauty. Made of gorgeous Hawaiian koa with a rosewood fingerboard and bridge. The Oscar Schmidt OU5 features abalone top inlays and is fitted with high-quality Grover tuners.Hawaiian koa Abalone top inlays Rosewood fingerboard and bridge Grover tuners

Hawaiian Style, Vol. 2 $14.99 Track Listing: 1. Sweet Lady of Waiahole - Bruddah Waltah, 2. Koa Tree - Ho'onu'a, 3. Perfect Day - Keoki V. (previously unreleased), 4. Only My Island Girl - Junior Maile, 5. I'm a Woman - Lehua (previously unreleased), 6. Be Mine - Vaihi, 7. Never Forget Where I'm From - Justin, 8. Ku'u Home O Kahalu'u - Florent Atem/Carole Atem/Carole & Florent Atem, 9. Greatest Gift, The - Heart And Soul (previously unreleased), 10. Bakyard Kanikapila - Ka'ala Boys, 11. Rock Me - Mana'o Company, 12. Another Day in Paradise - Marty Dread, 13. Island Surfer Girl - Pipeline Band/B.E.T., 14. Shaka Brother - Local Jamin, 15. Rubber Slipper - Tony Solis/Norm, 16. Tears on My Pillow - Pi'ilani Arias (previously unreleased), 17. Do You Remember - Ponchoman, 18. Typical Hawaiian Day - Kulana

Gibson 50Th Anniversary Custom Koa Hummingbird Koa $7499 The Gibson 50th Anniversary Custom Koa Hummingbird is an extremely limited re-edition of Gibson's classic square shoulder dreadnought guitar. The original Hummingbird set a new standard for balanced tone and superb playability and the special 50th anniversary model exceeds that benchmark. Made to original specifications with the addition of a 50th anniversary 18 karat gold headstock inlay, gold tone EVO frets, and beautiful koa body, this guitar celebrates its heritage in style.This is a unique opportunity to own a piece of history that will add pleasure to your musical world for decades to come.Body Type: Square Shoulder JumboBody Wood: Hawaiian KoaTop wood: Sitka Spruce, hide glue bracingScale Length: 24.75"Neck Joint: Glued DovetailNeck Wood: MahoganyFretboard: RosewoodNeck Shape: C# frets: 18Nut Width: 1.725"Fretboard Radius: 12"Bridge: Rosewood ReverseTuners: Gold KeystoneHardware color: GoldFinish: Honeyburst Nitrocellulose Lacquer

Hawaiian Rings $10 Hawaiian Rings

Hawaiian Pattern $10 Hawaiian Pattern

Hawaiian Sunset $10 Hawaiian Sunset

Hawaiian Disco $9.49 Hawaiian Disco

Hawaiian Treasures $14.99 Hawaiian Treasures

Lanikai NK-C Natural Koa Concert Ukulele Natural Gloss $349 Lanikai offers the NK Natural Koa Ukulele as a striking edition to the Lanikai Custom series. This concert ukulele is constructed from gorgeous woods with exotic figuring and highly contrasting tones due to special construction techniques and a meticulous process used for selection.The NK (Natural Koa) ukuleles display Lanikai's commitment to tradition by crafting these instruments with solid Hawaiian koa tops and Hawaiian koa back and sides. The concert-size NK-C ukulele features an ebony fretboard, die cast tuners, abalone binding, koa headstock overlay, and comes equipped with Aquila Nygut strings. "The long-established use of koa on ukuleles is no accident, the tones produced by this wood are synonymous with the ukulele itself," says Drew Lewis, Product Manager, adding "Nothing sounds or looks like koa."Concert ukuleleSolid Hawaiian koa top Hawaiian koa back and sidesFlamed maple neckEbony fretboard15" scale length19 fretsGold Grover die-cast tunersMultiple binding35mm width at nut

Lanikai Nk-C Natural Koa Concert Ukulele Natural Gloss $349 Lanikai offers the NK Natural Koa Ukulele as a striking edition to the Lanikai Custom series. This concert ukulele is constructed from gorgeous woods with exotic figuring and highly contrasting tones due to special construction techniques and a meticulous process used for selection.The NK (Natural Koa) ukuleles display Lanikai's commitment to tradition by crafting these instruments with solid Hawaiian koa tops and Hawaiian koa back and sides. The concert-size NK-C ukulele features an ebony fretboard, die cast tuners, abalone binding, koa headstock overlay, and comes equipped with Aquila Nygut strings. "The long-established use of koa on ukuleles is no accident, the tones produced by this wood are synonymous with the ukulele itself," says Drew Lewis, Product Manager, adding "Nothing sounds or looks like koa."Concert ukuleleSolid Hawaiian koa top Hawaiian koa back and sidesFlamed maple neckEbony fretboard15" scale length19 fretsGold Grover die-cast tunersMultiple binding35mm width at nut

Martin Tenor Ukulele Koa Natural $499 Martin has built the worlds finest ukuleles since 1916, and tenor ukes since 1929 that have long been prized for their full-bodied voice and great volume. The T1K tenor-sized model features top, back and sides crafted of solid Hawaiian koa, a wood native to Hawaii and a favorite of island players. Entire body is finished in high quality satin lacquer, and features an applied dovetail neck joint. The T1K Uke is a beautiful example of why Martin is still the name in superior quality ukuleles.Full tenor ukulele soundSolid Hawaiian koa back, sides and topDovetail neck jointSelect hardwood neck with solid morado fingerboard17" scale length with 20 fretsWhite Tusq nut and saddleSatin finishIncludes padded gig bag

Koa Wood Art Wall Clock by CafePress $15 Beautiful rich colors and patterns in the Hawaiian koa wood. This clock glows with warmth and energy Art Wall Clock Decorate any room in your home or office with our 10 inch wall clock. Black plastic case. Requires 1 AA battery included.

Various Artists - Hawaiian Style 2 $43.49 Track Listing:Sweet Lady Of Waiahole - Bruddah WaltahKoa Tree - Ho'Onu'aPerfect Day - Keoki V. (previously unreleased)Only My Island Girl - Junior MaileI'm A Woman - Lehua (previously unreleased)Be Mine - VaihiNever Forget Where I'm From - Justin/Shallow HalKu'u Home O Kahalu'u - Carole& Florent AtemGreatest Gift, The - Heart& Soul (previously unreleased)Backyard Kanikapila - Ka'ala BoysRock Me - The Mana'o CompanyAnother Day In Paradise - Marty DreadIsland Surfer Girl - Pipeline Band/B.E.T.Shaka Brother - Local JaminRubber Slipper - Tony Solis/NormTears On My Pillow - Pi'ilani Arias (previously unreleased)Do You Remember - PonchomanTypical Hawaiian Day - Kulana

Gibson 50th Anniversary Custom Koa Hummingbird Koa 889406992887 $4799.36 The Gibson 50th Anniversary Custom Koa Hummingbird is an extremely limited re-edition of Gibson's classic square shoulder dreadnought guitar. The original Hummingbird set a new standard for balanced tone and superb playability and the special 50th anniversary model exceeds that benchmark. Made to original specifications with the addition of a 50th anniversary 18 karat gold headstock inlay, gold tone EVO frets, and beautiful koa body, this guitar celebrates its heritage in style.This is a unique opportunity to own a piece of history that will add pleasure to your musical world for decades to come.Body Type: Square Shoulder JumboBody Wood: Hawaiian KoaTop wood: Sitka Spruce, hide glue bracingScale Length: 24.75"Neck Joint: Glued DovetailNeck Wood: MahoganyFretboard: RosewoodNeck Shape: C# frets: 18Nut Width: 1.725"Fretboard Radius: 12"Bridge: Rosewood ReverseTuners: Gold KeystoneHardware color: GoldFinish: Honeyburst Nitrocellulose Lacquer

Used Gibson 50Th Anniversary Custom Koa Hummingbird Koa 889406992887 $4799.36 The Gibson 50th Anniversary Custom Koa Hummingbird is an extremely limited re-edition of Gibson's classic square shoulder dreadnought guitar. The original Hummingbird set a new standard for balanced tone and superb playability and the special 50th anniversary model exceeds that benchmark. Made to original specifications with the addition of a 50th anniversary 18 karat gold headstock inlay, gold tone EVO frets, and beautiful koa body, this guitar celebrates its heritage in style.This is a unique opportunity to own a piece of history that will add pleasure to your musical world for decades to come.Body Type: Square Shoulder JumboBody Wood: Hawaiian KoaTop wood: Sitka Spruce, hide glue bracingScale Length: 24.75"Neck Joint: Glued DovetailNeck Wood: MahoganyFretboard: RosewoodNeck Shape: C# frets: 18Nut Width: 1.725"Fretboard Radius: 12"Bridge: Rosewood ReverseTuners: Gold KeystoneHardware color: GoldFinish: Honeyburst Nitrocellulose Lacquer

Hawaiian Punch $6 Hawaiian Punch - Stephen Jerzak

Hawaiian Night $99.99 Hawaiian Night - Wood Sign

Hawaiian Fisherman $49.99 Hawaiian Fisherman - Giclee Print

Hawaiian Island $19.99 Hawaiian Island - Tin Sign

Hawaiian Cocktails $19.99 Hawaiian Cocktails - Masterprint

Hawaiian Wahine $49.99 Hawaiian Wahine - Giclee Print

Hawaiian Man $34.99 Hawaiian Man - Stand Up

Hawaiian Eye $7.99 Hawaiian Eye - Photo

Hawaiian Maiden $49.99 Hawaiian Maiden - Giclee Print

Hawaiian Crab $49.99 Hawaiian Crab - Giclee Print