Meet the Maker

A Kailua-based luthier focused on creating great-sounding guitars with beautiful design elements.
Born into a military family, Rob Kurosu spent his early years traveling around the world.  After graduating from the University of Colorado in Boulder, he was commissioned and served as a pilot in the US Navy before retiring and settling in Hawaii.  Still itching for travel and adventure, Rob and his family next sailed the South Pacific on a catamaran and explored New Zealand for a year before finally returning to Kailua.   

Rob is a 2015 graduate of the Galloup School of Guitar Building and Repair Masters Program in Big Rapids, Michigan.  He started Kotaro Guitars and Ukuleles that year and focuses on building fine instruments of predominantly native Hawaiian woods.
In 2018, Rob's curly Koa K-3 model won first place in the Musical Instrument division of the Hawai'i Woodshow.

Let's Get Started

Rob has worked with a variety of tone woods including spruce, mahogany, maple, and koa.  He is open to utilizing more exotic species of tropical hardwoods locally sourced in Hawaii  as well as reclaimed woods.  

Rob creates his bridges and fretboards from ebony or rosewood with bone nuts and saddles.  He  intonates every string on the saddle for perfect tuning.