Musicians and ukulele enthusiasts now have more options with the recent opening of Hawaiian Ukulele and Guitar at the Kings’ Shops at the Waikoloa Beach Resort.
Local musician Robert Yates, known as “Uncle Uke,” launched the store in April to better serve his growing clientele.
It’s the second Hawaiian Ukulele and Guitar location on the island. In 2012, Yates opened the store’s original location at Ali‘i Gardens Marketplace in Kailua-Kona.
Opening the Waikoloa store, which has a 400-square-foot showroom, is like “living a dream come true,” Yates said in a statement.
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Yates, who grew up studying guitar and ukulele on Oahu, created the new store as a ukulele and guitar shop for everyone from the most seasoned musician to the youngest beginner.
The store offers high-quality handcrafted ukuleles and guitars priced to be affordable for the average enthusiast, as well as moderately priced ukuleles.
The store also offers ukuleles custom made by Yates.
Local musician Robert Yates, known as Uncle “Uke,” offers handcrafted ukuleles at his new store. Photo courtesy of the Kings’ Shops.
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In addition to being a musician, Yates is a luthier— someone who makes and repairs stringed instruments.
Yates teamed up with fellow luthier Sam Li to create custom handcrafted instruments using high-quality solid tone woods.
Hawaiian Ukulele and Guitar is also the Big Island authorized distributor for Cordoba guitars, Kamoa Ukuleles, Aquila strings, and Oasis instrument humidifiers.
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The store is open seven days a week, from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
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