Leolani

by Paul Lau
(Kuala Lumpu, Malaysia)

I bought a Leolani rosewood with mother of pearl binding concert ukulele for USD$110 with hard case while on a visit for a short course in Drum Circle Facilitation, held at Camp Mokuleia, Oahu in August 2006.
We stayed in Honolulu a few days before and after the course. On our first day of arrival we were taken by a friend living in Honolulu to the Pier to see some famous local bands play. Bands like Makaha Sons of Niihau, Ophihi Pickers and many more good Hawaiian bands that I fail to remember. It was a fantastic night with some good music, dancing, beautiful singing and lovely warm people. This was also the place where we were inspired to buy ukuleles. By the way, I play hand drums and guitar. My friend is a drummmer. I would return to Hawaii at the drop of a hat If I had the funds for it. It is really a beautiful place.
My friend and I went on a little shopping trip to the International Market and came across a stall selling these ukulele's. We had also visited the Ukulele Store at the pier and were not impressed with the Ukuleles they had for sale around the USD$100 price range. According to the stall owner, the neck and fretboard for this instrument was made in the USA and the body made in China, then the two were assembled in Hawaii.
I like the Kamaka Koa wood ukulele's but they were right out of my budget retailing at USD$500. The tone, the action, the balance, the feel and sound projection is great from the Kamaka Ukuleles. They feel good like being part of one's body when held against it.
The Leolani concert ukuleles we bought, both rosewood with mother of pearl binding have good tone, nice action and nice bright sound projection. The Ukuleles look good and, in my humble opinion(being a beginner and not an expert) sound good for the price. The thing that I do not really like about it is the balance. It feels top heavy, that is, the headstock feels heavy and the body light. It makes the instrument always feel like the headstock with machine heads wants to tip down all the time. Making one hold up the ukulele with the left hand more. I think if the manufacturer used a good qulity and lighter weight machine heads, this might help resolve the problem.
I would like to ask any one out there their opinion of this Ukulele and how they rate it amongst all othe ukuleles.