All-New TRG System

Kanileʻa has always been exploring new bracing techniques with a focus on allowing the soundboard the freedom and flexibility to resonate while retaining durability and stability that traditional bracing patterns offer.

The result of that focus, the TRU bracing system (for “Total Resonating ʻUkulele”), debuted in 2006 and utilized a traditional fan pattern with weight-reduced spruce braces that were attached strategically to allow for more soundboard movement. We revised the design with the aid of laser technology in 2017 with TRU-R bracing, reducing the weight of the bracing by 30% without sacrificing durability. 2021 saw the introduction of TRU-Relief, TRU-Reduction, and TRU-Support, allowing for a radical new contoured soundboard for unparalleled player comfort.

All of these TRU innovations form the backbone of our new “Total Resonating Guitar”, or TRG System, seen here for the first time in the KG-5. Developed alongside TRU-Relief, the TRG System is designed to take advantage of our TRU innovations for the ʻukulele, engineered to be durable enough to handle the force of steel strings.

The result is a full-size, 25″ scale, 19-fret guitar in the OOO/OM-14 layout which ends up feeling deceptively small to the player while retaining a full, sweet tone with clarity and balance.

Designed For Players

The KG-5 integrates other key innovations for player comfort, all of which have been derived from our ʻukulele designs. The bevel cutaway allows comfort and ease without sacrificing tone, as the bevel gives clear fret access all the way up the fretboard without reducing the soundbox as much as traditional cutaways.

The beautiful Komo ʻEkolu (Three Rings) side sound port allows the player to hear their true tone more clearly, another key player feature which also gives a unique look into the soundbox.

The soundhole is designed to integrate into the upper bout in order to maximize the amount of soundboard material resting directly underneath the strings, allowing for more resonance and presence with the full volume of a OOO-size guitar.

Premier Pair

Each year Kanileʻa introduces a Platinum ʻUkulele that represents the pinnacle of our innovation and serves as a platform to debut all-new designs and capabilities. With the launch of the KG-5 representing such a momentous step forward for our company, we wanted to celebrate 2024 with a beautiful Platinum Tenor which matches the KG-5 in every detail from the Master Grade Curly Koa contoured body to the Komo ʻEkolu side port and custom fretboard. The 2024 Platinum Tenor ʻUkulele is another gem in Master Grade Koa and will include all of the TRU innovations that the TRG System carries while showcasing the same look and layout as the KG-5.

This beautiful 2024 Platinum Tenor will be the perfect partner for the new KG-5, and as a special thank you to those who would like to order both instruments this year, Kanileʻa will include a commemorative custom solid koa tenor ʻukulele with the same fretboard silhouette and headstock as the KG-5 and 2024 Platinum Tenor.

The First Guitar From Kanileʻa

The Souza Family has been building instruments for 30 years, consistently learning and taking innovative approaches to build a better ʻukulele than the day before. These consistent improvements have led Kanileʻa to produce the best ʻukuleles we have ever built and have prepared us to build one of the best guitars we have ever played. The years of planning and designing the KG-5 were spent preparing our factory, our builders, and our processes to build both instruments better than ever before, and our M.U.S.I.C flows through the design and execution of both instruments.