Kanile'a Ilikai-C Solid Flamed Maple Concert Ukulele

25 years ago, when Joe Souza sat in his workshop building the earliest incarnation of a Kanile'a Ukulele; I doubt he could truly predict what amazing forward strides his baby would take in the years to come. The Ilikai ukulele is a thrilling innovation from Kanile'a. 

Kanile'a have quietly (and loudly) innovated the ukulele time and time again, more often than not becoming trend setters and even influencing the guitar world. Whether it's the lightweight tru-relief bracing, ultra slim line weight slotted headstocks and now even TRU-reduction body contouring and shaping on the top shelf production models... the influence Kanile'a have on what we play and what coming generations will play is too overwhelming to adequately put across in a paragraph. This stunning concert ukulele is no exception.

In 2024, Kanile'a will offer a production model made of a different wood to Hawaiian koa for the first time. The Ilikai model is one of two new gorgeous stained flamed maple ukes. The Ilikai meaning 'horizon' in Hawaiian. The gorgeous multi layered colour stain on this ukulele is an almost pastel toned stone washed effect showing the quilting in the wood below perfectly. As you have probably guessed, the light wash between the different colours makes for a beautiful sunset image playing into the Horizon theme of the Ilikai name.

The choice of maple as well is interesting given that it has a more complex tone than Hawaiian koa. Hawaiian koa is the perfect tonewood for a ukulele given it has a harp like sound and natural compression when you play hard. Maple sounds less dreamy and with more sparkle and shimmer when you play complex fingerstyle pieces. The lower mid frequencies (those dark and sexy notes that you commonly make you tingle) have a wooly, almost throaty sound making for a completely different sound to a traditional Hawaiian ukulele. This sound is much more nuanced but still has bags of volume, sustain and most importantly that unmistakable Kanile'a Ukulele feel. 

The stained teal polar markers are something Kanile'a began playing with way back in 2020. We were delighted to be guinea pigs for this with our popular limited Manako series ukes. We worked on these with Joes eldest son Kaimana who has a real eye for detail and artistic flair and these early special run instruments helped set the tone in many ways as Kanile'a developed the custom shop during COVID.

Listing shows a typical example of an Ilikai concert ukulele. The one pictured; Kanile'a have made in the first year of production

Specification:
High grade flamed maple top, back and sides
Ebony fingerboard and bridge
Coloured poplar position markers and 
Ebony rosette and front binding
Black TUSQ nut and saddle
Ebony bridge pins
TRU-R bracing
Khaya mahogany neck
38mm nut width with 30mm string spacing at nut
Side sound port
Kanile'a geared tuners with black buttons
Fluorocarbon strings with bronze wound basses
Kanile'a deluxe gigbag included