Creating Instruments of Hope
Alvin and Pat Okami
www.koaloha.com
Earl Nightingale once said, “Creativity is a natural extension of our enthusiasm.” Once in a great while you meet someone and you realize, this is much more than an introduction. It is an experience. That’s how I felt when I first Alvin and Pat Okami. You’ll know why when you hear them. Entusiasm, focus, creative genius and love. They are a gift from God to you and me. You’ll even hear a live studio performance.
Alvin Okami has been called by many a modern day “Renaissance Man.” He is an inventor, an innovator, a composer/arranger, a singer, an accomplished oboist, an industrial designer, graphic designer, and overall brilliant conceptual and spontaneous idea man. He is the founder of KoAloha Ukulele along with his wife, Pat. KoAloha is one of the premier ukulele builders. For them sound and quality are the result of the continuous pursuit of perfection. Each ukulele is meticulously and lovingly crafted by hand. Alvin started his musical career as a singer garnishing praise for his vocal talent from national luminaries like Doc Severenson (The Tonight Show). He was the Royal Hawaiian Band’s oboe soloist and even accompanied Herbert “Ohta San” Ohta. He crafted the world’s first playable and tuneable miniature ukulele measuring less than 5 1/2 inches, exact in every detail, painstakingly done by hand. Due to the high demand for good quality ukuleles, Alvin began a quest to craft full sized instruments. With the unfailing support of Roy and Kathy Sakuma, the production of the regular sized instruments began. KoAloha was born in 1995. Alvin and Pat have two sons Alan and Paul, who are leaders the business.
“And he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs,…” Exodus 35:31-32