Aloha from Hilo, Hawaii

hilo_kawika · Post by **hilo_kawika** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 10:48 am

Aloha,

I'm hoping that Hawaii is sufficiently Pacific for me to have a chat with you folks now and then. I've been making ukuleles in all four sizes for the past 16-18 years and have probably made nearly 700 of them at this point.

I like sharing information and have a website, http://www.ukuleles.com where I try to combine both halves of my brain for ukulele and guitar making.

Rod Vervest has invited me and a musician friend, Doug Tolentino, to give a couple of talks at the upcoming Playmakers Festival in Albany, WA this coming February. I've been corresponding with Alan Warburton of Great Southern Luthiers and am looking forward to the event.

I hardly claim to know all there is about ukulele making, but if folks have questions about different sizes and building approaches, I'd be happy to share what I think I know about the process or just chime in occasionally in your discussions if that's all right.

aloha,

Dave Hurd, Ukuleles by Kawika

Bob Connor · Post by **Bob Connor** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 11:39 am

Hi Dave and welcome to the forum.

I know we've got a few people who are building Ukeleles here, myself included so we'll be happy to have you on board.

hilo_kawika · Post by **hilo_kawika** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 1:30 pm

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the welcome. I'll try not to be too much of a pest...

Dave

Kim · Post by **Kim** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 1:46 pm

Welcome to the ANZLF Dave,

I am thrilled to have you join us and I look forward to your input. I have enjoyed visiting your website on many occasions over the last couple of years and have never failed to find it well and truly worth while.

I must confess however that whilst I have been very, very tempted to buy a copy of your intriguing publication "Left Brain Lutherie", somehow, like so many in our craft, I always seem to end up buying wood with any spare cash I have

It is great news that you will be attending this years "Playmakers Festival" in Albany WA, it really is shaping up to be a fantastic couple of days for anyone with an interest in stringed instruments and I do hope to catch up with you whilst there.

Cheers

Kim

hilo_kawika · Post by **hilo_kawika** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 4:05 pm

Hi Kim,

Thanks very much for the compliments on the website. They're very much appreciated!

I do hope that we'll get together in Albany. The event really sounds like good fun.

No worries about buying wood instead of the book - I'm sure that I'd do the same in your place. That or buy fishing gear!

Perhaps I can bring some copies along and have a Playmaker's special...at least buyers wouldn't have to pay postage --

aloha,

Dave

sebastiaan56 · Post by **sebastiaan56** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 4:30 pm

Hi Dave and welcome,

Im actually a bit of a Jake Shimbukaro fan, and the British Ukelele orchestra. But, that said I prefer Tassie Blackwood to Koa..... (Aussie nationalistic shitstirring).

your instruments look terrific, I look forward to your input,

Sebastiaan

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 6:15 pm

Welcome to the forum Dave. I would think that most of us have trolled through your website on many occasions. Good to have you on board.

Arnt · Post by **Arnt** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 7:57 pm

Hi David,
as you can see some of the members on this forum aren't even close to any part of Pacific ocean, but the good folks here still made us feel welcome, so you shouldn't have anything to worry about as far as geographical location! I am thrilled to have a builder of your caliber among us, and even though I don't know the first thing about ukuleles I still found your book enlightening (not sure I'd pass if there was a quiz, though

)

Welcome!

hilo_kawika · Post by **hilo_kawika** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 1:27 am

Hi Sebastiaan, Arnt and Allen,

Thanks very much to all for the welcome.

I must admit from the beginning that it was Australian luthier Graham Caldersmith who had the most influence on how I think about instrument making. He is a true hero to me with regards to his sharing of knowledge and (to me) is also one of the nicest folks I've ever met.

For those of you who struggle now and then with instrument making, I should say that nearly every instrument I've ever made has been a breech birth. I'm not a natural craftsman like many in the community whose skills with hand tools and inlay I can only admire from a distance. Like several others in this group have written, when disaster strikes I stop and do something else non-injurious to instruments like cleaning the shop or mowing the lawn. The next day, things always have some sort of solution.

At this point, my building has nearly ground to a halt because of a cumulative allergy to koa dust. I did wear filter masks as much as possible but apparently not quite enough. So please use good judgement when working with blackwood and other wood species and wear your masks when working.

aloha,

Dave

John Maddison · Post by **John Maddison** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 6:57 pm

Hi Dave
And welcome to the Forum; I tried to reply to your email to Alan W and self about payment for the the koa shipment but it bounced back (timed out?) so will try again soon. I'm very much looking forward to meeting and working with you in Albany in February during Playmakers!
Regards
John Maddison

Hippety Hop · Post by **Hippety Hop** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 10:05 pm

G'day Dave. I've stumbled into your website and discovered your left brained ideas many times in my searches for all things uke. Pleased to meet you.

A trip to Hawaii has been on my agenda for ages, but I keep blowing the money on something else. The last trip was squandered on a bandsaw and an electric bicycle.

If I ever make it, I'll look you up, and we can have a good old sing-song together.

Hip.

hilo_kawika · Post by **hilo_kawika** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 12:19 pm

Hullo John and Hippety Hop,

Thanks for the welcomes. Regarding visits, I'll be here for the forseeable future and always have time for the odd beer and a song or two - although many regarded my putting two finger tips in the way of a table saw blade as a blessing in disguise...

My playing has been described as enthusiastic but unskilled. o well.

aloha,

David

Kim · Post by **Kim** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 12:33 pm

hilo_kawika wrote: My playing has been described as enthusiastic but unskilled. o well.

aloha,

David

Wow Dave, we must have had the same music teacher

Everybody's a critic

I once had someone say to me that some of us are touched at birth by the curse stick of musical ability and are just not made to excel.

He then went on to tell me that I must have been at the very top of that curse stick tree when I fell and hit every freakin branch on the way down

Oh well

Cheers

Kim

hilo_kawika · Post by **hilo_kawika** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 2:43 pm

Ah, Kim,

I suppose that I do maintain a secret envy of the musical chops of those who play effortlessly. And had I not decided to change from luthier hobbiest to wage earner in the instrument business that feeling would have remained unblemished.

Having so said, I think my greatest challenges with customers were trying to educate them regarding the implications of string and action changes, not to mention humidity and temperature issues and the deletorious effects of beer, urine and lighted cigarettes on instrument finishes.

"You can always tell a musician, but you can't tell them much"

aloha,

David

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Aloha from Hilo, Hawaii

Aloha from Hilo, Hawaii

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