Complaint Review: Cabanilla Makau - Vince Cabanilla - Laguna Beach California

I ws recently reminded of the nonsense reported about me on this horrible website. The formerly anonymous person who posted this report (George Lilibridge, (((REDACTED))) is unfortunately a disgruntled customer from years back who wasnt happy with the time allowed for delivery of a custom work of art. At the time I was in the midst of closing my forner business, a large move (and divorce) and needed more time to complete the custom piece. Prior to this occurence, (George Lilibridge (((REDACTED))) had been a previous customer who I supplied with custom work with their supplied materials. Our previous interactions prior to this report were friendly and trusting (he had sent me some valuable items for reworking, which I finished and sent back asap). Unfortunately he became impatient and began to bully and harass at which popint I decided to ignore his visceral calls and incessant harassment. I also went as far as to send him the custom item he wanted and a full refund of costs just to get him to leave me alone (Items sent to George Lilibridge (((REDACTED))). Delievery confirmation was made and proof of delivery was noted with the USPS. I was also contacted by the Attorney General of Rhode Island and after showing proof of delivery, the case that was against me was dismissed in full. For any info you can contact the attorney general of Rhode island regarding this issue here: http://www.riag.ri.gov/home/ContactUs.php

I was also accused of postal fraud and the investigation was deemed frivalous and dismissed. For info you can contact the office of the U.S. postal inpection service here: https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/contactUs/phoneus.aspx

So if George Lilibridge (((REDACTED))) is reading this or anyone else, Im sorry you havent been satisfied with my service from years back and you or anyone else interested in discussing this matter or learning more can contact me in person or by appointment or via email or phone (8am to 8pm pacific time) at [email protected] or (949)-204-6769

     I am sorry for anyone who had problems purchasing from Vince. I am not a friend, only a consumer. I purchased my first Makau from Vince 3 years ago and had no problem. I purchased another one last year and again had no problems. Both were beautifully carved and arrived in a normal amount of time, considering they are hand carved. While awaiting my purchases, he always updated me as to the progress, even sedding my pictures of each process it took to carve. There was a discrepancy as to the size of my first purchase, which as a bit too short. He sent me an extension at no cost. I would recommend him to anyone who wishes to purchase hand carved Hawaiian jewelry.

The 1st one i ordered in 2004 on ebay.  It was a half koa half bone piece lashed together with a mother of pearl keystone.  The lashing snapped after being repeatedly caught up in my sweater while s****.;

I purchased a tiki necklace from this guy and after payment through papal he stop responding to emails or answering his phone, he didn't not return calls, was screening his calls, wouldn't reply to emails,, avoiding me after payment,,,once payment went through,,poof,,Vince was gone.......he is a scum bag rip off artist who should be put behind bars....this was to a birthday present to my 8 yr old son and the jerk knew this and still had the nerve to rip off a Childs birthday gift.. If I had the money I would fly to Hawaii and beat him senseless for what he did...he ripped off my family for almost 200 dollars. Vince Cabanilla if you're reading this, I would love to kick the crap out if you, you know you're making a lot of enemies out there ripping people off like you do. I hope all this catches up with you and you find yourself behind bars. All you people that vouch for Vince, either the jerk is your friend and you are covering for him or your lucky he sent your itemI can tell you for a fact he did not send mine after payment. Vince if I am ever lucky enough in my life to get my hands on you I'll get back my 200 dollars with interest, you scum bag. here is his new website,,DO NOT PURCHASE FROM THIS JERK. http://www.cabanillamakau.com/

Dear Fellow Hawaiian Ivory Hook Lovers: I ordered a large hook from Vince. I informed him that I was not in a hurry and wanted something special. It took six (6) months, but I am now the owner of a very special hook! It should be noted that a hook will last a lifetime and that the materials Vince is working with are becoming harder and harder to find. I am very happy with my hook!

Cabanilla Makau operator Vince Cabanilla is an exceptional artist and businessman. His customer service was amazing. No matter how many questions I had, he was quick to answer them. I placed an order for a custom piece and was breathtaken by the final product. I will have no problem ordering from him again.

I have only made one purchase through Vince but the experience was exceptional. I found his website through an internet search and contacted him by email. He responded in a timely manner and accomodated ALL of my special requests (throughout the process and prior to payment) without hesitation - including sending photos and sketches. The custom piece arrived safely and on time as promised. The makau was a gift for the newest addition to our family and everyone was pleased with Vince's work.

I have many pieces created by Vince and have had great customer service experiences with him. If there was ever a question or concern he was quick to get back with me so that I was happy with his product. Vince has been great answering any questions I have about carvings and designing personal creations. I wear one of his pieces daily and it always brings me mana. I have no reservations about doing business with Vince in the future. He's been a stand up business man with me and I know I can trust him when it comes to the quality of his products. Aloha a hui hou e Vinny, e malama pono i kou kino.

While I am sorry to hear of the reporter's issue with Vince Cabanilla's; I can only speak from my own experience: I have had nothing but positive experiences while doing business with Vince. He has always been professional in our interactions; he was always prompt with communications, and made efforts to ensure I would be satisfied with my purchase. My purchases always arrived when he said they would; they arrived packaged with an obvious care that speaks to the pride that he puts into his work. He even sent me an email to ensure that the package arrived--and that I was happy with it. In this day and age--it's nice. As I said before, I'm sorry the reporter of this post had an issue with Vince. It would not, however, stop--or even slow--me from doing business with Vince in the future. In my opinion, fueled by my numerous business interactions with him, Vince is good as gold.

I have a comment on Vince Cabanilla. I have purchased several items for my husband and had them made for me. I believe the gentleman had one bad experiece and wishes to take it out on Mr. Cabanilla. I will still use him to make the items I have in mind for my husband for the future. I found him trustworthy and very informative and gave me idea on my designs. I think it would be a shame for one person to destroy this mans work. I believe theres more to this than we will ever know. Keep up the good work.

I have a comment on Vince Cabanilla. I have purchased several items for my husband and had them made for me. I believe the gentleman had one bad experiece and wishes to take it out on Mr. Cabanilla. I will still use him to make the items I have in mind for my husband for the future. I found him trustworthy and very informative and gave me idea on my designs. I think it would be a shame for one person to destroy this mans work. I believe theres more to this than we will ever know. Keep up the good work.

I have a comment on Vince Cabanilla. I have purchased several items for my husband and had them made for me. I believe the gentleman had one bad experiece and wishes to take it out on Mr. Cabanilla. I will still use him to make the items I have in mind for my husband for the future. I found him trustworthy and very informative and gave me idea on my designs. I think it would be a shame for one person to destroy this mans work. I believe theres more to this than we will ever know. Keep up the good work.

I have a comment on Vince Cabanilla. I have purchased several items for my husband and had them made for me. I believe the gentleman had one bad experiece and wishes to take it out on Mr. Cabanilla. I will still use him to make the items I have in mind for my husband for the future. I found him trustworthy and very informative and gave me idea on my designs. I think it would be a shame for one person to destroy this mans work. I believe theres more to this than we will ever know. Keep up the good work.

I was and continue to be thoroughly pleased with my transaction with Vince. The custom makau he made for me as a gift to my husband is beautiful. Right from the start I appreciated Vince's open and friendly demeanor and responsiveness to my inquiries. He was pleasant to speak with on the phone as well. He was very helpful and patient as I figured out what I wanted to get for my husband. He was very quick in sending me the makau and it was as beautiful as I'd hoped. My husband loved it. I mis-measured, though, and the cord/necklace portion was too small. Vince was more than happy to braid a new, longer cord, in a different color no less, and did it all free of charge. It took a little while for this re-cording to be done, but the makau was received back to me in good enough time. My husband loves it and proudly wears it every day. I would not hesitate ordering another makau from Vince. His craftsmanship is excellent and while he may not always be the quickest, he follows through on what he pledges and does so in a most pleasant manner.

I was and continue to be thoroughly pleased with my transaction with Vince. The custom makau he made for me as a gift to my husband is beautiful. Right from the start I appreciated Vince's open and friendly demeanor and responsiveness to my inquiries. He was pleasant to speak with on the phone as well. He was very helpful and patient as I figured out what I wanted to get for my husband. He was very quick in sending me the makau and it was as beautiful as I'd hoped. My husband loved it. I mis-measured, though, and the cord/necklace portion was too small. Vince was more than happy to braid a new, longer cord, in a different color no less, and did it all free of charge. It took a little while for this re-cording to be done, but the makau was received back to me in good enough time. My husband loves it and proudly wears it every day. I would not hesitate ordering another makau from Vince. His craftsmanship is excellent and while he may not always be the quickest, he follows through on what he pledges and does so in a most pleasant manner.

I was and continue to be thoroughly pleased with my transaction with Vince. The custom makau he made for me as a gift to my husband is beautiful. Right from the start I appreciated Vince's open and friendly demeanor and responsiveness to my inquiries. He was pleasant to speak with on the phone as well. He was very helpful and patient as I figured out what I wanted to get for my husband. He was very quick in sending me the makau and it was as beautiful as I'd hoped. My husband loved it. I mis-measured, though, and the cord/necklace portion was too small. Vince was more than happy to braid a new, longer cord, in a different color no less, and did it all free of charge. It took a little while for this re-cording to be done, but the makau was received back to me in good enough time. My husband loves it and proudly wears it every day. I would not hesitate ordering another makau from Vince. His craftsmanship is excellent and while he may not always be the quickest, he follows through on what he pledges and does so in a most pleasant manner.

I was and continue to be thoroughly pleased with my transaction with Vince. The custom makau he made for me as a gift to my husband is beautiful. Right from the start I appreciated Vince's open and friendly demeanor and responsiveness to my inquiries. He was pleasant to speak with on the phone as well. He was very helpful and patient as I figured out what I wanted to get for my husband. He was very quick in sending me the makau and it was as beautiful as I'd hoped. My husband loved it. I mis-measured, though, and the cord/necklace portion was too small. Vince was more than happy to braid a new, longer cord, in a different color no less, and did it all free of charge. It took a little while for this re-cording to be done, but the makau was received back to me in good enough time. My husband loves it and proudly wears it every day. I would not hesitate ordering another makau from Vince. His craftsmanship is excellent and while he may not always be the quickest, he follows through on what he pledges and does so in a most pleasant manner.

I have been working with Vince Cabanilla upon my return from Hawaii regarding a few one of a kind Hawaiian jewelry carving pieces, and Authentic Hawaiian Weapons. It really has been a pleasure to work with an artist that knows his stuff. I have ordered a few pieces in the past, and let me tell you that the quality is of high end standards, and he is extremely knowledgeable about the background of the various pieces and materials that are used in his works of art. These pieces are not done hastily as in mass production, but with patience and care. Sometimes, to acquire the most authentic, high quality materials used in these works of art, patience from the client is also required. "Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet". I have had absolutely NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER working with Vince. He has always kept me posted about the status of my art piece. I have been extremely happy, and the recipients of these works of art that I have given to as gifts are amazed by the beauty and quality of each of these art pieces. As time goes on, I plan to request more one of a kind, hand made high quality art pieces and jewelry for myself and my loved ones. I highly recommend Vince Cabanilla if you are interested in Hawaiian Makaus, jewelry carvings, or other types of (Hawaiian/Polynesian) carvings. He is quick to respond, and is very friendly and easy to talk to. Vicky Kono Chino Hills, California

My name is Chris and I owner over 6 customs makau's made by Vince. I have never had a problem ONCE with ordering his work. He is very dedicated and takes great repletion in every one of his pieces. He also has great communication and describes everything with great detail. After I have ordered he will call and give me updates and also send me pictures of the "work in progress." Shipping is always cheap, fast and with delivery confirmation. So I dont know where you are comming from with this slander. YOU are misrepresenting him and his work! Here is my web site where you can see the amazing pieces I have purchased from vince. www.myspace.com/fish

I question the validity of this report. I recently did business with this artist and had nothing short of a positive experience. I used Mr. Cabanilla and was completely satisfied. He produced a lovely and authentic piece of bone for me. A true craftsman. Ada Mt. Washington

I question the validity of this report. I recently did business with this artist and had nothing short of a positive experience. I used Mr. Cabanilla and was completely satisfied. He produced a lovely and authentic piece of bone for me. A true craftsman. Ada Mt. Washington

I question the validity of this report. I recently did business with this artist and had nothing short of a positive experience. I used Mr. Cabanilla and was completely satisfied. He produced a lovely and authentic piece of bone for me. A true craftsman. Ada Mt. Washington

I question the validity of this report. I recently did business with this artist and had nothing short of a positive experience. I used Mr. Cabanilla and was completely satisfied. He produced a lovely and authentic piece of bone for me. A true craftsman. Ada Mt. Washington

My name is Raymond and I live in Jupiter Florida.When I first contacted Vince for my Tiki Makau I was impressed with his open sincerity.He spent alot of time and patience with me going over each piece and sent me several detailed e-mails of the pieces. When I finally picked out a piece he told me when it would be shipped and when I should expect it.Vince was right on and even sent me several e-mails to make sure I recieved the piece and if I was Happy. I was so impressed with his business acumen that I ordered another piece and had a repeat performance of A+++ service.I will be ordering other pieces for friends and family moving forward in the new year. Vince has a way of setting up a great feeling of trust and commitment when you talk to him ---- even though I have never met Vince I consider him a Friend. Bottom line : Do yourself a favor if you want the best in artistry and honesty buy a piece from Vince Cabanilla a stand up merchant.

I ordered a custom necklace and recieved it in a timely manner. Since I live locally, he even delivered it in person to my house. I was very satisfied with the neclace he made for me.