Artists
Here are some musicisans that have supported us and played our instruments over the years
Abe Lagrimas Jr
Abe is a multi-talented musician, composer, educator and author from Hawai'i. He is a multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award recipient and won in 2022 for Ukulele Album of the Year.
Anuhea
Performer, recording artist and song writer. Winner of several Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards, including Female Vocalist of the Year in 2019.
Aaron Mahi
Hawaii’s most notable Bandleader. Former leader of the Royal Hawaiian Band. Aaron was a recording artist, composer and Nā Hōkū Hanohano Lifetime Achievement Award recipient in 2021.
Benny Chong
One of the original living jazz Ukulele players. Played with the Don Ho Band for 25 years.
Paul Hemmings
Jazz ukulele player and recording artist. Resides, plays and teaches in NYC
Ledward Kaapana
Multi talented slack key master. Led earned 4 Grammy nominations and won 2 slack key compilations. He plays Ko'olau and Pono guitars & ukuleles.
Imua Garza
Imua has been playing ukulele all his life. His styles with Opihi Picker’s influenced a generation of local ukulele players
Mika Kane
Professional ukulele player Mika has a prolific background in Classical techniques and interpretation, musical awareness, and music theory with Jazz harmonies. He mostly specializes in fingerstyle playing, adding relevant music theory concepts from his university studies to create a clean, one-of-a-kind sound.
Makua Rothman
Makua is a professional surfer, big wave rider and musician. Check out his custom Ko’olau
Trey Terada
Founder of Four Strings Studio in Kaneohe, the inspiration and introduction of many of today’s ukulele masters
Ernie Cruz Jr.
Singer and guitarist. Ernie was part of the Ka’au Crater Boys and also had a successful solo career. Earned three Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards. He comes from a musical family -his father, Ernie Cruz, was a singer and guitarist.
Bruno Mars
Hawaii grown, singer, songwriter and record producer. Multiple Grammy award winner!
Kelly Slater
A 11 time World Champion surfer. Kelly is also a musician and plays a custom made Ko’olau ukulele
Kimo Hussey
Ukulele Teacher, performer, and founder of the Pacific Music Foundation.
Lyle Ritz
Lyle was a jazz ukulele player. In 2007 he was received into the Ukulele Hall of Fame Museum and the Musicians Hall of Fame Museum.
Mike Keale
Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award nominee. Performer and Recording Artist. His Uncle Moe Keale, a hawaiian musician, was one of his early influences in music. Mike grew up playing music with his cousins, Israel and Skippy Kamakawiwo’ole. Cocreators of Makaha Sons of Ni’ihau. With 4 albums releases, he continues his family’s musical legacy.
Marc Gallagher
Marc is a professional ukulele player based in Manchester, England. He plays his Pono ukulele at regular gigs, weddings, and has played at every ukulele festival throughout Europe, including Galway, Grand Northern, Scotland, Berlin, Munich, and Vienna. His current tour to begin this year includes the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, and Czech Republic
Amos Lee
-Singer/Songwriter. Folk, soul, rhythm & blues
Jimmy Buffett
-Legendary Singer/songwriter.
Craig Sharmat
-Composer and Songwriter for TV and Movies.
Chino Montero
-Performer and Recording Artist. Now a legend, Chino will always be known as one of Hawaii’s finest guitar and ukulele masters.
Greg Hawkes
-co-founder of the band The Cars (now a devoted ukulele enthusiast).
Henry Kapono Ka’aihue
-More popularly known as Henry Kapono, or simply “Kapono”. Solo Singer/songwriter and part of Hawaii’s most famous and largest recording duo C & K (Cecileo and Kapono).
Jin Takuma
-Professional recording artist, performer, and teacher in Japan. Performs and records on a Ko'olau Tenor Ukulele with his wife Keiko on guitar and vocals.
Jeff “Skunk” Baxter
-Guitarist for Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, and even a member of an early Jimi Hendrix band. One of the old “rockers” who discovered the ‘ukulele.
Jesse Colin Young
-Singer/songwriter, founding member of the famous 60’s/70’s band “Youngbloods” with their signature song “Get Together”.
Joe Craven
-The “Uke of Hazzard” Violinist and percussionist for the David Grisman Quintet
John Valentine
-John is a Singer, Guitarist, and Ukulele player and whatever else you put in his hands. He is an incredible talent from the islands. John helped his nephew Bruno Mars in his early years.
Jon Prown
-Performer and Recording Artist
Kalei Gamiao
-Performer and recording artist. When not touring, Kalei assists Hawaii Music Supply in sales and instrument demo’s.
Larry Spalding
-Master harmonica player, famous locally for his Hapa recording “Ka Uluwehi O Ke Kai” and pictured in concert with his Ko’olau Solidbody 8-String Baritone.
Michael Kaplan
-Leads The Ukulele Cowboy Society
Nico’o
-Ukulele performer and recording artist from France.
A Pono ukulele signed by Eddie Vedder, the lead singer of Pearl Jam. This ukulele was part of a fundraising effort to support wildfire relief efforts in Maui.
*Eddie Vedder is not endorsed or sponsored by Pono..
A Pono ukulele signed by Eddie Vedder, the lead singer of Pearl Jam. This ukulele was part of a fundraising effort to support wildfire relief efforts in Maui.
*Jack Johnson is not endorsed or sponsored by Pono.
