Music Exchange The

The store is small and could use a good cleaning but that is all to be overlooked when you meet the owners daughter. She is very knowledgable about their merchandise. The best part is, she is able to entertain you with her own talents by demonstrating the use of every instrument in her shop. Very Cool!

This is the best place for ukulele purchase. The worker was helpful and not trying to sell like another nearby shop. She helped us with hinter on the instrument. Definitely the best music place around. Highly recommended. They’ve other instruments for sale also.

I’m the owner of Mike’s Piano Lessons and I send ALL my students here to purchase books, music and keyboards. Best service for music books.

Loved meeting and talking stories with the local owners/​staff when on shore from a cruise. Picked up a couple of tee shirts to remember them by. Musicians seem the same across cultural lines. I know a store in Southern California much like this one.

Music Exchange carries a wide variety of Instruments for muscians of all types. This is store Undoubtedly, has the best selection of equipment in Hilo.
The staff are knowledgeable and friendly. They do not pressure sales and will gladly let you test any equipment (except for maybe the drums because they are stacked up in a loft area). Unlike Hilo Guitars and ukuleles most of the really fun stuff is tucked behind counters so it doesn’t have as much of that grab and play charm.
The selection is great. They have keyboards, Ukuleles, Guitars, and many other random wind and precussion instruments. They complete the circle carrying the Martins and Takamines Hilo Guitars and Ukuleles does not. They also carry a few other brands Hilo Guitars and Ukuleles don’t like Crafters Fenders and Ibanez. They are a Koaloha dealer as well and I believe they are the only dealer on the Hilo side but I could be wrong about that. Their assortment of gadgetry and electronics are also impressive and they have all your music needs covered.
The store could definitely benefit by having a larger location. There is so much things in this store and it would be nice to have more display space. Perhaps drums or keyboards on display. The amp assortment is a gnarly pile in the center of the store. This can be cumbersome if more than one customer is in the store.
Their display cases seem overfilled and sometimes i find it hard (especial because my sight is not great) to find what i need inside. The parking lot is small but ive never had trouble parking there. All in all its a bit tight squeezed but its not so far as to say unpleasant.
Ive never had lessons here but I believe one of the instructors is Westly Matsuda. He is an excellent musician and from what I hear an equally excellent teacher.

This is a family owned and run business that has been in both Hilo and Waimea (Big Island) for many years. They sell a large variety of instruments and accesories, mostly string instruments. The people there are an excellent source of information when it comes to any questions you might have about music, whether it be about a specific instrument or any kind of musical advice. They also offer music lessons and provide East Hawaii with a place for musicians to network and find out about local events and concerts. It is actually one of the only music shops on the island, despite the fact that the entire chain of Hawaiian islands is packed with musicians and artists! Fortunately, it’s a really cool place and the prices are pretty reasonable. If you are a tourist and you want to buy a quality ukelele (not one of the cheap, crappy ones they sell at all the tourist traps) I suggest you check out The Music Exchange because they have some really nice ones.