About Us

History
In 1995 Zac Steimle traveled from his home in the Pacific North West to Ecuador, South America and worked part time with a luthier in Quito, beginning his fantastical journey into musical instrument building. Later he returned to Cuenca, Ecuador to live and work in a community health project and continue his luthier training.

 Zac discovered one particularly talented luthier that specialized in small stringed instruments. Working closely together they made their first ukulele.  This was during a time when the instrument market was being flooded with cheap Chinese knock offs. Thru this experience Zac immediately recognized the uniqueness and quality of an instrument that was made with the traditions and art  that had been passed down from generation to generation. A tradition of  building an instrument meticulously from start to finish with only hand tools, the way the Portugese did when they brought their instruments to Hawaii. This art takes both the skill and the well trained ear of the luthier, a quality that can not be extracted from the internet or reproduced with machines on a production line.
 
    Together with two Ecuadorian luthiers, we are proud to present to the world these excellent ukuleles. Each Oceana Ukulele is built with the finest tone woods and materials available, no corners are cut, no effort is too great. Quality of sound and workmanship is guaranteed! Our efforts are centered on the quality and sound of our instruments, as well as the economic conditions of the luthiers we work with.