Hilo Guitars & Ukuleles

The guy who runs the place is sometimes super mean and judgemental. It is bad enough that we spent $ 600 on a guitar here once. I wish I could take back the purchase after my recent experience. All he does is sell ukeleles to tourists while making people who don’t know as much as him about guitars feel really, really, really bad. There is no reason to nearly make your customers cry — I was just trying to get my guitar fixed.

Excellent service from Brian. Looking for a metronome? He’s got a selection. Looking for a Ukulele? Best quality and selection in town. Mike’s Piano Lessons sends all his students there.

I’ll keep it simple
–went for a new string and peg
–figured why not let them put it on come pick it up tomorrow
— prices for pieces was fair but was charged 25 $ for labor for popping one peg out, pushing another one in, and changing strings. So to change my strings and get a new peg it costed me about 40 $. Not to mention, the peg that was removed is still rattling around in my guitar.
— every time I tell someone the price of labor, it’s met universally with laughter and the subsequent «you should have gone to (a local purveyor of instruments I don’t want to explicitly promote in a negative review)»
–first person I met with was helpful, the second older gentleman was significantly less welcoming, and when I went to play the guitars I got one of those «oh be careful don’t knock the guitars» You know I’m 21 I’m not an idiot I’m not gonna go barreling into a room full of guitars. I felt like I was at the house of the strict grandfather you don’t really like but go because your mom says you have to, which is not the feeling I want when I’m shopping for guitars.
–at the time I was seriously considering buying one of their low end Taylor’s for my dads birthday (why I was looking at the guitars) but I really didn’t like the older gentleman and will be taking my business elsewhere.
— Final Impression: decent for ukuleles but not ideal for guitars I’ll give you the same advice everyone has given me go elsewhere, you’ll find similar prices with better customer service, and more reasonable «labor» charges.
— there is a however a decent selection of guitars and if after exhausting other avenues you are still at a loss, it’s worth a look. Also I do enjoy the aesthetic of the shop (2.5 stars)

Do not buy your ukulele at Hilo Hattie or ABC. Rather buy it here if you are on the Big Island. Helpful staff that knows about musical instruments and accessories. Mahalo Hilo Guitars and Ukuleles.

After reading all the positive reviews and visiting his website, I drove to Hilo from the other side of the island specifically to purchase a KOA Wood Ukulele from this store. When I walked into the store the owner, and only attendant, was shining a guitar behind the counter. I asked him about a KOA Wood Ukulele. He pointed to a couple on the wall and went back to polishing the guitar. He did not offer to show me one. I tried to engage him in conversation and he appeared totally uninterested. I asked him a couple of specific questions. He failed to make eye contact with me. He gave me one word answers. I will be buying a KOA Wood Ukulele before I leave the island, but it won’t be from him.

This shop was recommended by some folks on a cruise ship I was on. I was looking to pick up an ukulele, as a beginning instrument. I shopped a couple of other stores, one in Waikiki and the other in Maui. Came to port on Thanksgiving Day and the owner was kind enough to open the shop for a few hours in the morning to accommodate us ship folks. I was looking for something in the $ 150 price range. Based on their recommendation I picked up the Kanile’a Islander Tenor for $ 149. The instrument feels great and has a real nice tone and quality.
The shop itself is real nice. They have a wide variety of ukuleles and guitars that will satisfy all customers, from beginners to masters. I found their prices to be real competitive, based on the other shops I visited and some online inquires.
A few weeks after returning home, I began getting a little fret buzz on one of my strings. I contacted the shop and they put me in touch with the manufacturer. The manufacturer sent me a replacement instrument. Was happy with the response. I have been plucking away for a few months now and really enjoy the instrument. My future as an ukulele superstar is looking very bright.

Brian
you rock!
thanks for the Kamaka Tenor!
hey everyone these guys are laid back and accommodating.

If you make it over to Hilo, be sure not to miss this wonderful shop. Beautiful ukes, fair prices, very helpful staff. Mahalo, Brian

I’m not sure why there aren’t more reviews of this place. This is a wonderful shop for Guitar and Ukulele fans. Is was recommended to me by a teacher before a trip to Hawaii and it definitely lived up to the reputation. Very easygoing vibe and friendly service. You can try out as many instruments as you like and never feel pressured. Brian was incredibly helpful and even suggested lower priced instruments than the ones I was looking at here and there. In the end I ended up with a concert Islander Ukulele that I like very much. This was a great experience and I look forward to going back the next time I’m in Hawaii.

As a longtime professional musician and music teacher I cannot give enough praise to this store. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly and will never try to pressure you into something you didn’t want. The selection, (particularly the ukuleles) is outstanding and it is the one store I feel 100% confident sending students to. On a side note, as a Hilo resident I appreciate the enthusiasm and dedication the store has to the local musicians and music. Whether you are just passing through, a resident or even shopping online, you can’t go wrong with Hilo Guitars and Ukulele!

As a musician and guitar enthusiast I feel this store is the most impressive shop in town if you are in the market for Ukuleles or Guitars. Every guitar I own has been purchased here. I have always felt confident and reassured with every piece of equipment i have purchased here.
The store is clean and comfortable. Much care has been taken in moderating the inside climate as to keep the instruments they have in stock in pristine condition. I have never worried about warping or damage as the instruments have a good home while they are on display. The store is always well stocked with the newest gear and instruments but it is not cramped or cluttered like other music stores. Everything is easy to find and well displayed.
The staff and owner are friendly and helpful. I have never felt pressured to buy. I have gone in more times to just browse then anything else and I still feel I am a welcome face in the store. Every guitar ukulele or piece of equipment may be tried in store without any hassle. The first day I walked in i was handed a $ 4000 dollar koa Taylor and told «here, try this one out»
Their selection is good. They are a Taylor dealer so they do not stock Takamine or Martin guitars. I have no complaint with this as I prefer the feel and sound of Taylor guitars over the other two. Many musicians prefer Takamines or Martins when looking for higher end guitars and this could be a detractor for many musicians. The store carries a wide variety of other brands of guitar and ukuleles such as Cordoba, Alvarez, CA, Kamaka and much more
The prices are probably the most impressive thing to me about the store. I have no idea how they get away with offering the prices they do. Many musicians have resorted to ordering guitars ukuleles and equipment from online sources as you can usually find the best value this way. I have bought guitars from Hilo guitars and ukuleles cheaper than what was offered by Musicians Friend (music distributor catalog).
The store also provides repair and maintenance services on certain days which i have found to be both timely and of good quality.
I have not made use of the music lessons they offer so i will offer no comment.

Do not buy a Uke until you talk to Ken… I made this mistake and was fortunate enough to return the one I had purchased at a known Uke shop and get straightened out by Ken.
Grand ideas of what I wanted flowed from my lips as Ken processed it. Then… I got an education. Ken clearly understand and loves his craft. He is not only a wealth of knowledge regarding the various «ends» of quality and local crafted ukes, but forever changed my mind about quality and craftsmanship.
Instead of the Koa Uke I had wanted, he placed an amplified cutaway Tenor Kala into my hands. Nothing I had touched in my quest had the voice. Closer inspection showed me a character saying EU (like ya stepped in somethin’) on the back in mineral lines… Ken, if you read this. I am eternally grateful for you care and patience in picking out this loving instrument. Friends already are tripping on how fast I am picking it up, and I’m convinced that I will sell my other 5 guitars, keeping the Rainsong and move to the Uke as my primary…
Mahalo,
Duke from Wasilla Alaska
PS. Ken has famous in his past… You just have to be in his presence to know he is genuine and has paid his dues. My Uke UE and I thank you.

My boyfriend (who plays guitar) wanted to invest in a decent ukelele while in Hawaii (versus a piece of crap at a gift shop). Researching online before we traveled, I found out about this shop in downtown Hilo. So glad!
This place has a huge range of ukeleles (at a huge range of prices, the cheapest being somewhere near $ 50 – 60 that I saw and going up, and up, from there). There were some specialized ones: steel resonators, some with mother-​of-​pearl inlay and other design features, a few comical flying Vs, but most in a variety of woods and sizes.
Ken, the owner, was there and was very informative and helpful, even as he worked industriously on other projects at the desk. He let my boyfriend try out various models but helped him find something in a reasonable, while not totally low-​end, price range, without being pushy (the way some music shop owners can be).
They also had steel guitars, regular guitars, a few mandolins and various string-​instrument-​related accoutrement.
This is definitely a one-​of-​a-​kind store in Hilo. If you even think about buying a cheapo uke at a gift shop (and you are any kind of musician), you are clearly missing out on the quality, craftsmanship and service that is offered here.