Kala Gardenia concert ukulele

Māori cultural artist Sam Mangakahia has created two unique new artworks for The Voyage Collection. The soft ivory color of this duo's artwork contrasts sharply with their mahogany ukulele wraps. With the themes of "Resilient" (Gardenia) and "Resourceful" (Hibiscus), these two floral motifs embody enduring beauty. Each Voyage Collection ukulele comes with a Voyage Collection gig bag and a story card hang tag that tells the unique story of each artwork.

Resilient • Nā'ū (Na-hoo)

Gardenia brighamii

The Nā'ū is a source of inspiration for creativity and art. Its resilient nature reminds us never to give up on our passions, despite the many challenges we face.

This design is inspired by the endemic and endangered Hawaiian plant, known in Hawaiian as Nā'ū, of which only ten wild Gardenia brighamii remain. The species is found on Maui, Moloka'i, Lana'i, Hawaii, and O'ahu. This flower has a rich history: its flowers are traditionally used to make flower leis, its stems are used to produce kapa cloth, and its fruits are used as natural dyes. This remarkable flower not only provides valuable raw materials and ornaments but has also survived through the decades. Despite its endangered status, targeted conservation efforts have been made to revive this resilient species.