I just got this sweet concert sized uke yesterday. I was shopping on eBay for a 2nd concert sized uke and while I kept bidding and losing on others that were listed,this one kept popping up in my sights. Seller offered a BIN or best offer,so after losing my 3rd or so auction I made an offer,which led to a few counteroffers,and we agreed on $40 with free shipping. Needless to say I was stoked!
The Kohala Tiki uke comes in both soprano and concert sizes,and is available in different colors. The concert I have retails from $64.99 all the way to $89.99. So if you wind up wanting one of these,take your time and shop-and do consider buying used.
Mine arrived in mint condition. It features metal geared tuners,which work to my satisfaction. The one for the 4th string is somewhat stiff,and the others move freely. A little bit of lubricating and the stiff tuner will be fine. The workmanship is very good inside and out. No rough edges on the frets,the inside is very professionally done and clean,it has fret position markers on the fretboard and on the side of the fingerboard.
The bridge is a hoot- done with a laughing tiki on it,it also hides the knots on the string ends,giving a very nice pro look. It sports a satin finish,which makes it easier to hold without slipping out of your grip. I will confess it would have more of a finished look if a design around the sound hole would've been used. While the finish is of good quality,it does somehow have the look of a very inexpensive kids toy ukulele. My Dad wondered why I got such a "cheesy" looking uke when he saw it. (he's not a uke player,BTW)
Most importantly is the action and sound. The action is superb-making moveable chord forms a breeze. The intonation is just slightly off past the 10th fret on,according to my Snark tuner,but I don't feel it would even be noticed. The sound is wonderful. It has good tone,and I get the feeling it would be louder with new strings. (I have no idea as to how old the strings are on it but seem to have a lot of life left in them.)
The instruction book wasn't included in my purchase,so I can't comment on that. A gig bag of some sort would've been nice tho....and it doesn't come with one.
Overall,I'd give this uke 4 1/2 stars. It's a great instrument,and the only negative points are the stiff tuner and the lack of a gig bag. (if you pay the full $89.99 you should get a gig bag,IMO) I'm sure not all the Tiki models have a stiff tuner,but be sure to check for that whether shopping in person or ask your online seller-especially important if you're buying one for a small child. It has a fun vibe and look about it that keeps me picking it up and playing it!