For 2024, Maōri cultural artist Sam Mangakahia created two unique new pieces of art for Kala's Voyage Collection. The soft ivory color of this duo’s artwork stands out in contrast to their mahogany ukulele canvas. With the themes of ‘Resilient’ (Gardenia) and ‘Resourceful’ (Hibiscus), these two floral designs are the embodiment of enduring beauty. Each Voyage Collection ukulele comes with a Voyage Collection gig bag, and story card hang tag telling the unique message of each piece of art.

Gardenia brighamii

The Nā’ū has been a resource to express creativity and art. Its resilient nature can remind us to never give up on our passions despite the many challenges we will face.

This design is inspired by the endemic and endangered plant of Hawaii, commonly know as Nā’ū in Hawaiian with only ten wild gardenia brighamii left. The species can be found on Maui, Moloka’i, Lana’i, Hawai’i, and O’ahu. This flower holds a rich history, with its flowers traditionally used for crafting flower leis, its stems used to create Kapa cloth, and its fruits utilized as natural dyes. This remarkable flower not only provides precious resources and adornment but has also survived through the decades. Despite its endangered status, dedicated conservation efforts have been made to revive the resilient species.