Top Ukulele Brands You Should Know About

The ukulele world is filled with brand names — some legendary, some emerging, some you have never heard of. If you are trying to sort the ukulele brands worth knowing from the ones worth skipping, this guide is for you.

We will cover top ukulele brands across every tier — from decent ukulele brands that will not break the bank to good brands for ukulele players who want quality, all the way to hawaiian made ukuleles that are handcrafted works of art. Whether you are searching for the top brand ukulele for a beginner or a nice ukulele brand for your tenth instrument, you will find it here.

Ukutune — Quality Without the Markup

Ukutune is our own brand, and we designed it to solve a problem: too many beginners overpay for brand names when they could get a better instrument for less. Our UKM2 Mahogany Concert ($59.98) delivers the warm, full tone of a $100+ ukulele in a comfortable concert size — it is our Editor's Choice and the best ukulele brand for value-conscious beginners.

The Ukutune lineup spans from the UKS1 Sapele Soprano ($49.98) for kids and travelers, through the UKE1 Solid Spruce Concert ($79.98) with its upgraded solid top, to the UKD90 Solid Flamed Koa Tenor ($399.98) — a handcrafted heirloom instrument. Every Ukutune ukulele is built to our specifications and backed by our quality guarantee. When people ask us which ukulele brands we recommend first, we point to our own — because we stand behind every instrument we sell.

The 4 K's — Hawaiian Made Ukulele Royalty

When people search for hawaiian made ukulele maui, they are usually looking for the legendary "4 K's" — Kamaka, KoAloha, Kanile'a, and Ko'olau. These brands handcraft their instruments in Hawaii from solid koa wood, and each has a distinct voice.

Kamaka (Est. 1916, Honolulu)

Kamaka is the oldest and most revered of the Hawaiian ukulele brands. Every instrument is made by hand on South Street in Honolulu, where the Kamaka family has been building ukuleles for over a century. The tone is warm, bell-like, and unmistakably Hawaiian. Prices start around $800 for a soprano and climb past $3,000 for custom tenors. The waitlist for a custom order is typically 6-12 months.

KoAloha (Est. 1995, Oahu)

KoAloha is known for innovation: their patented "Musubi" soundhole, unibrace construction, and brighter, more projecting tone than traditional Kamakas. Made from solid koa, KoAloha ukuleles have a loyal following among professional performers. They also make the more affordable KoAloha Opio series from solid acacia.

Kanile'a (Est. 1998, Oahu)

Kanile'a builds with a unique TRU-R bracing system and UV-cured satin finish. The result is exceptional sustain and projection — Kanile'a ukuleles sing. All solid koa, handcrafted on Oahu. Prices start around $1,200.

Ko'olau (Oahu)

Ko'olau is the boutique option among Hawaiian builders. They produce roughly 100 instruments per year — each one is essentially a custom build. If you want a truly one-of-a-kind Hawaiian ukulele, Ko'olau belongs on your radar.

Mainland USA & International Top Ukulele Brands

Martin (Nazareth, Pennsylvania)

Martin has been making ukuleles since 1907. Their USA-built models from solid mahogany or koa are lifetime instruments. The Mexican-made X Series offers solid koa tops at more accessible prices ($300-$500).

Kala (Petaluma, California)

Kala is the most visible of all ukulele brands. With instruments from $60 to $900+, Kala covers every price point. Their entry-level models dominate the beginner market, while the Elite USA series competes with Hawaiian builders on quality. Kala's Makala sub-brand handles the sub-$70 segment.

Cordoba (Santa Monica, California)

Designed in California, built in dedicated workshops, Cordoba brings classical guitar heritage to ukulele building. Their instruments feature hand-inlaid rosettes and satin finishes that feel more expensive than their price tags.

Decent Ukulele Brands & Nice Ukulele Brands for Every Budget

Not every player needs a $1,500 Kamaka. There are plenty of decent ukulele brands and good brands for ukulele players that deliver excellent quality at friendly prices.

• Ukutune ($50-$400) — Our own brand. Quality instruments without the brand markup. Editor's Choice UKM2 Concert at $59.98.
• Ohana ($80-$500) — Solid-top models that rival instruments twice their price. Traditional designs, warm tone. One of the best nice ukulele brands in the mid-range.
• Lanikai ($80-$400) — Long-standing brand with strong concert and tenor offerings. Their solid acacia models are particularly good value.
• Enya ($60-$300) — Innovators. The carbon fiber Nova U is waterproof and indestructible. Their wood ukes feature radius fretboards at price points where competitors do not.
• Donner ($50-$100) — The bundle specialist. Excellent value for beginners who want everything in one box.
• Hricane ($35-$70) — Ultra-budget option that is surprisingly playable. Best for kids and absolute first-timers.
• Pono ($300-$800) — Made by the Ko'olau team, Pono is the more affordable sibling brand. Solid wood construction with Hawaiian design DNA.

If you are shopping locally — for example, browsing ukulele brands at a music shop near Land O' Lakes, Florida — you will likely find Kala, Cordoba, and Lanikai on the wall. Many Florida music stores carry these mainstream ukulele brands, and some even host ukulele clubs and jam sessions. Whether you are in Land O' Lakes FL or anywhere else, the same rule applies: try before you buy whenever possible.

Hawaiian Koa Wood Ukulele — Why It Matters

Koa (Acacia koa) is Hawaii's native tonewood and the traditional material for ukuleles. A hawaiian koa wood ukulele has a distinctive sound: warm, sweet midrange, clear highs, and a natural compression that makes strumming feel effortless.

Koa is also visually stunning — the grain ranges from golden honey to deep chocolate brown, often with dramatic curl figure. Koa is a finite resource (koa trees only grow in Hawaii above 3,000 feet elevation), which is part of why solid-koa instruments cost more.

If a solid koa Hawaiian uke is out of budget, acacia (a related species grown in Asia) offers a similar look and tonal character. Many top ukulele brands including Kala and Ohana offer solid acacia models at $200-$400 — a fraction of the price of koa.

Which Instruments Inspired the Creation of the Ukulele?

The ukulele did not emerge from a vacuum. Which instruments inspired the creation of the ukulele? Two Portuguese stringed instruments, brought to Hawaii by immigrants in the late 1800s:

• The Machete (also called braguinha) — A small, four-string instrument from Madeira, Portugal. Its size and four-string configuration directly inspired the modern ukulele.
• The Rajão — A larger five-string instrument, also from Madeira, with a distinctive tuning that influenced early ukulele development.

In 1879, Portuguese immigrants arrived in Honolulu aboard the ship Ravenscrag. Among them were three cabinet makers — Manuel Nunes, Augusto Dias, and José do Espírito Santo — who began building smaller, Hawaiian-adapted versions of the machete. By 1885, the instrument was being called "ukulele" (meaning "jumping flea" in Hawaiian, describing the fast finger movements of players).

Hawaiians embraced the instrument and made it their own. Within a decade, the ukulele brands we know today were beginning to form, with Kamaka opening its doors in 1916 and Martin starting ukulele production even earlier, in 1907.

Hawaiian Songs for Ukulele — Play the Islands

Once you know your ukulele brands and have your instrument, explore the music. Hawaiian songs for ukulele are some of the most beautiful pieces to learn — and many are surprisingly accessible for beginners:

• "Aloha 'Oe" — Queen Lili'uokalani's farewell song. Uses C, F, G7. A piece of Hawaiian history.
• "Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World" — IZ's iconic medley. C, G, Am, F. The definitive hawaiian songs on the ukulele experience.
• "White Sandy Beach" — Another IZ classic. Am, Dm, G7, C. Gentle and beautiful.
• "Hanalei Moon" — Traditional Hawaiian waltz. Lovely fingerpicked or strummed.
• "Drop Baby Drop" — More contemporary but pure island vibe. Simple chords, infectious rhythm.

For more popular songs on ukulele with ukulele chords, including how to play I Don't Know My Name ukulele chords by Grace VanderWaal, check our complete song guides. The progression for I Know My Name ukulele chords is C - G - Am - F — four chords that appear in hundreds of popular songs on ukulele.

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