Ko’olau Guitar & Ukulele Company
John Kitakis bade adieu to mainland USA in the ’70s to settle in Hawaii (tough choice!), where he eventually met his wife, raised a family, then incorporated them into his stringed instrument business, Ko’olau Guitars and Ukuleles. He has been a Guild member nineteen of the last twenty-four years.
▪ bio current as of 2008
2001
AL#68 p.24 BRB6 p.280
John Kitakis
▪ Kitakis has a long history of jobs in wood finishing, so when he finally made the jump to water-based finish (in his case CrystaLac) he knew what he was doing. Working with CrystaLac isn’t quite the same as working with lacquer, but the author makes a good job of clearing the off-spray. With 5 photos.
2001
AL#67 p.46 BRB6 p.262
John Calkin John Kitakis
▪ Kitakis and his sons make high-end ukes in Hawaii.
2001
AL#67 p.48 BRB6 p.264
John Kitakis
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1991
AL#28 p.58 BRB3 p.479
John Kitakis
▪ Solving the issue of burrowing string balls which eat their way through bridge plates.
1991
AL#25 p.59 read this article
John Kitakis
▪ Unified repair price list including bridge reglue, bone nut or saddle, refret, dress frets, cracks, and refinishing.
1990
AL#24 p.57 BRB2 p.478
John Kitakis
▪ A simple lamp/heater system utilizing a cheap spring arm lamp.