Kanile'a Pōhaku-ST Trans Black Quilted Maple Super Tenor Ukulele #28541

In 2024, Kanile'a began offering production ukulele models made of a different wood to Hawaiian koa for the first time. The Pōhaku meaning 'stone' in Hawaiian was a brand new tenor that was saw for the first time earlier in the year. The gorgeous smokey grey and black visual tone to this super tenor ukulele showcases the quilting in the wood perfectly. As you have probably guessed, the colouring resembles the look of Hawaii's lava rocks.

It's fantastic to see that the success of this shift to new and exciting wood horizons has resulted in the issuing of a super tenor version of the Pōhaku.

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 you get from the low G and C string) 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. With the extra girth of the bigger body this super tenor ukulele has just bundles of depth and extra character and although the body shape won't suit some players; those that want the ultimate experience will be blown away by the sound the bigger body produces.

The ukulele is evolving - companies like Flight, aNueNue and Kanile'a have been working to move the ukulele into its next chapter. The use of maple on top end ukuleles is not new and as a fan of Kanile'a myself now for over 16 years; I really feel like the company is switching up to a new gear with the Ilikai and Pōhaku models.

Listing shows actual instrument. Please contact us if you have any questions.

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