KĀNE`OHE, HAWAI`I – Kanile`a `Ukulele is proud to announce Kaimana Souza as the new Director of Sales & Marketing. This change in leadership is effective now.
As the eldest child of company owners Joe and Kristen Souza, Kaimana has literally grown up with Kanile`a, from its humble beginnings in the Souza’s garage to the current 7,000 square foot facility on Kahuhipa Street. Because of this, Kaimana has learned all aspects of the family business including, but not limited to, the acquisition of wood, production, inventory, sales and marketing.
In 2016, Kaimana graduated with a degree in Business Administration with a minor in Psychology. Immediately after graduation, he took lead of the Islander by Kanile`a `Ukulele Distribution Center in Irvine, California.
In 2018, Kaimana returned to Hawai`i to manage production of the Kanile`a `Ukulele factory while heading the Marketing team in successful projects. Such projects include sponsorship of the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival, the revamp of the website kanileaukulele.com, increasing social media connections exponentially and, recently, a 12-page spread in Hawaiian Airlines’ Hana Hou magazine.
Kaimana Souza can be reached at (808) 234-2868 or Kaimana@kanileaukulele.com.
About Kanile`a `Ukulele:
Joe and Kristen Souza are the dynamic husband-wife team who founded Kanile`a `Ukulele in July of 1998. Joe apprenticed under master luthier Peter Bermodez in 1990 and still continues to collaborate with “uncle Pete” to integrate traditional Hawaiian building techniques with today’s 21st century technologies. This mash up of old and new has proven effective in creating a full-bodied, rich sound that is distinctive of these playable masterpieces. All Kanile`a instruments are handcrafted in the Souzas’ hometown of Kāne`ohe, Hawai`i. Kristen oversees administrative operations, retail sales and dealer support. Together, the Souzas employ a team of expert artisans, retail salespeople and admin staff members.
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