Pono ‘ukuleles are somewhat of a duplicate or clone to our Ko‘olau models. We don’t claim that our Pono models are the same level of perfection and finesse, but they are as close to Ko‘olau as anything else on the market, and the same professional construction methods we use for our Ko‘olau models...
We do not stain or dye our mahogany. What you see on Pono instruments is the natural color of mahogany. For many years, most makers have stained Mahogany dark, we prefer it natural. True mahogany in its natural state has a beautiful silky grain, and pretty light red brown colors...
All of our fingerboards and bridges for many years have been Ebony."
The darker spot near the soundhole is just a variation, not damage.