UKULELE MOVEMENT

The 'Ohai (pronounced oh-high) Series is Pono's new model. Ohai wood (Samanea Saman) is a beautiful South Polynesian wood, very much like Koa in appearance and tonal properties. However, Ohai wood is plentiful and not endangered like Koa. Another name for Ohai is Rain Tree or Monkeypod–probably named in other islands that have wild monkeys who love eating the sweet seed pods.

The Ohai Series is priced less than other Pono models not because the wood is cheap–Ohai lumber is not cheap–but due to less adornment, and the wood is more readily available. From an environmental standpoint, using wood that is not endangered is a good change.

An interesting note on the recent popularity of Ohai in guitarmaking is that in last year's "blind" soudn test of guitar woods at the Guild of American Luthiers, a guitar made of Ohai won first place.

Future Ohai models will feature Rosewood or Ebony fingerboard and bridge, gloss finish and a hardshell case. There will also be one select modelmade from curly Ohai with fancy inlay.

All tenor models in this series come with an adjustable truss rod built into the neck.