Pono is a production model version of the custom shop Ko’olau, but when you look at the build quality, and attention to detail, you can tell that only very skilled and experienced craftsmen could have such a critical “artist eye” for this precision and beauty.John Kitakis, owner of Ko’olau, didn’t want to just “move boxes” with a cheap import line. He wanted to make the quality and depth of a Ko’olau instrument available to you at a price. And even though their is an unsurpassed refinement to the Ko’olau custom models, Pono is built the same quality, design, woods, and most importantly, there is meticulous oversite by the builders at Ko’olau, and it shows!