Looking for reviews/comments on this. I ordered this, and is pretty sturdily built, but so far I can't go to the highest note in the second octave (and beyond).

I came across posts on the interwebz about quenas being good for 3 octaves, so wondering if it's the quena or me

Try leaving the lowest hole covered ooooox. That can stabilize the highest note. It might be tricky because of the large bore of a quena. And I guess you have a fingering chart? The fingerings for the 3rd octave are quite different. This might help:
https://www.wfg.woodwind.org/tinwhistle/tw_bas_3.html

Thanks for the link, very helpful!

Here is another one, since the one above is for fifes and tin whistles and lacks the thumb hole.
https://www.thepanflutestore.com/single ... Digitation

EVen better, thanks again!

And, are you coming to grips with the quena?

That top note of the second octave, as well as the third octave root can be tricky on good quenas and practically impossible on some of the mediocre versions. I introduced tapered bores in my own quena to try to make these notes more accessible (as well as to keep them from being so flat, which they tend to be on traditional quena). Even with such design features, which greatly improve access, it still takes a very strong and focused embouchure to hit these notes. Out of all the flutes I've played, I think the quena is the most unusual in that it's quite accessible to play in the first octave (making it a good "gateway" flute for folks who have never tried to play a woodwind that needs the player to use their embouchure), but exceedingly difficult to play high in the second octave or into the third. In that sense it is more difficult than most others. Weird combination. The Easy-Difficult flute.

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Geoffrey Ellis Flutes