Kanile'a Custom-ST Pro "Wawamalu" Master Grade Flamed Maple Super Tenor Ukulele #28961

The Ilikai and Pohaku Ukuleles launched by Kanile'a in 2024 divided opinion - On one hand, It seems that a colourful ukulele isn't for everyone. On the other hand, if you appreciate this kind of thing; it's love at first sight. It's incredibly rare to see a custom shop level instrument with elaborately stained Quilted or Flamed Maple, with Kanile'as pro spec features like TRU-REDUCTION top thinning and just tight, clear perfection in the quality of build.

We loved the Ilikai so much, Phil and Alex both ended 2024 proud owners of these instruments... Ahead of Alex's trip to Hawaii he decided to work with the folks at Kanile'a and the folks at Ukulele Site in Oahu to produce a limited edition model that borrows from the Ilikai. This Custom-ST known as the 'wawamalu' (va-va-maloo) is one of only two made. The Seafoam green colour was colour matched to the green ocean view of Sandy Beach (Wawamalu) in Oahu. This place is an important place to the Souza family and I thought the colour of the ocean there was just too good to not commemerate in some way. This collaboration is being shared by Southern Ukulele Store and Ukulele Site who will receive a standard Tenor version. We opted for the Super Tenor in a matching right and left handed pair and Alex has kept the left handed one himself after being blown away by how it played and performed on the Ukulele Site podcast (Watch below).

This Ukulele is made from Master Grade Flamed Maple, selected by Alex with Kaimana Souza from Kanile'a. The Ukulele has a UV gloss finish on the body with a silk neck, Kanile'as TRU-R bracing and has the Pro spec TRU Reduction top thinning, Black TUSQ nut and Saddle along with custom Dyed maple fret markers, headstock inlay and front black binding and soundhole rosette. The Uke has a side-port soundhole to give the player a true reflection of the acoustic tone and sound of the Ukulele... the best bit is getting to look inside the side port as you play to see all of Kanile'as hidden build technology and refinement. 

This Ukulele is a lovely starting point to show off everything Kanile'a is capable of in the new chapter of their company. 2025 is the Diamond anniversary of Kanile'as forward thinking platinum model and this ukulele features many of the innovations that Kanile'a have implicated in the last 5 years in search of the most responsive, lightest and resonant instrument. Whilst the Platinum models are out of the reach of the average player in terms of cost, this Custom-T offers a Ukulele many people want from Kanile'a but at a price that matches that of the KTR pro series.

CUSTOM-T Wawamalu Super Tenor
17'' Scale Super Tenor
Master Grade Flamed Maple with Custom Sea Foam Green Finish
Black TUSQ nut and saddle upgrade
38mm nut width w/30mm string spacing at nut
Ebony Fingerboard and Bridge
Ebony Bridge Pins
UV Gloss Body
TRU R Bracing
Black Binding and Soundhole Rosette
TRU Reduction top thinning
Custom Green Dyed Maple Inlays
Kanile'a Open Gear Machineheads
Side Sound Port
Strung Low G GCEA w/Kanile'a Fluorocarbon strings
Mahogany Neck w/Satin Feel
Deluxe Kanile'a Gigbag