EVENTS/SHOPS

Tahitian ukes are a pretty rare instrument so its hard to find places(outside the pacific) where you can buy or listen to them. Below are a few websites where you can purchase ukes and uke music online. You can pick up strings at your local fishing shop. Anything from 10kg-30kg guage line will do the damage, depending on what kind of uke, sound and playing you're into. The best place to see live ukes in action are at traditional arts and culture festivals (see links). Local street markets around the pacific are also good places to find uke instruments, CDs and DVDs for sale (along with plenty of cheap local food, clothes, arts and crafts and free entertainment). Heres just a few - Cook Islands: Punanga Nui markets in Avarua(Rarotonga). Aotearoa(NZ): Avondale, Otara, Mangere and Porirua markets. Tahiti: Papeete market.
(If you know of any other shops/markets/festivals please leave a message and I'll gladly add it to the list).

Festivals

• Pasifika Festival The biggest pacific islands cultural festival in the world! Auckland, NZ. March 8-13.
• Te Maeva Nui Traditional arts and culture festival, Cook Islands. July 30 - August 7
• Heiva i Tahiti Biggest cultural festival in Tahiti. July 8-23
• Hitia'a ukulele festival Tahiti, June 20 
• Kia Orana Festival Cook Islands arts festival, Auckland NZ. October 7-9
• Festival of Pacific Arts Held every 4 years in different locations around the pacific. Celebration of Pacific island art and culture.
• Te Maeva nui(Sydney)  Australia, July 31
• Club Raro Live Cook Islands music. Auckland, NZ
• NZ ukulele festival
• Heiva i Kauai Tahitian music/dance festival in Hawaii
• Kauai Polynesian Festival Hawaii
• Aloha Festival (SF) USA
• Tahiti Fete Festivals in California and Hawaii
• Polynesian Culture Centre Hawaii

Instruments/Luthiers

• Kanua Auckland(NZ) purchase online or at the Otara markets every Saturday
• Tribaldesignz
• Nuku Hiva: Marquesan ukulele
• Blackpearldesigns
• Tikiri polynesian instruments
• Asonu

CD's / MP3's

• Heimana Music Cook Island artists