What is the rarest wood in Hawaii?
What is the rarest wood in Hawaii?
Koa
Koa is an endemic tree found in Hawaii and is a rare commodity. Not only is it rare, but due to the rarity of Koa it is a prized wood that is sought after for furniture and Koa wood art. Koa is a tree that is a part of the pea family and is the second most common tree found in the Hawaiian Islands.
What is so special about Koa wood?
Koa Wood is legendary in Hawaii. Not only is this amazing wood native to Hawaii but it is known for the deep rich colors and varied grain pattern. Koa has honored heritage in Hawaii and is highly revered and sacred.
What tree is called Hawaiian gold?
Acacia koa
Acacia koa is a species of flowering tree in the family Fabaceae.
What is koa tree used for?
The wood is still very much prized in wood craft and is high in demand, being one of the most expensive woods in the world. Koa is also a tonewood and used in modern musical instruments such as ʻukulele, acoustic guitars, some electric guitars, and Weissenborn-style Hawaiian steel or lap guitars.
Is Koa wood scarce?
Concerned people sometimes ask, “Is Koa wood endangered, or even extinct?” The answer is a resounding “NO.” Koa wood is not and has never been on any endangered species list. There is more Koa growing in the Hawaiian Islands today compared to ten years ago. Koa wood is endemic to Hawaii.
How much is a koa tree worth?
The price of koa varies as much as any species in the world. Plain koa, without a variance in color or figure can be bought for as little as $15 to $20/bf and, if quartersawn, $20 to $50/bf. Lumber with the premium full curl usually ranges between $80 and $120/bf. Musical-grade koa runs up to $150/bf.
Why are koa trees so expensive?
Koa’s high price results from several factors. First, it is endemic to Hawaii; it doesn’t grow anywhere else in the world. Secondly, the only koa that can be harvested are the dead or decaying trees on public lands. Plantation koa is in its early stages of development and isn’t much of a factor at this time.
Can you cut down koa trees?
Koa Wood is native to Hawaii and found only in the Hawaiian Islands. Because of the beauty these trees have in their wood they are illegal to cut down now that they have been over harvested. Koa wood can be procured from trees that have fallen on their own but they cannot be harvested.
Is Koa wood illegal?
And cutting live koa trees on private lands is looked upon as a sin. Illegal cutting occurs sporadically, but anyone found buying or dealing with the “koa black market” faces serious legal issues if they are caught.
What is the most expensive wood in Hawaii?
Koa wood
Koa wood is precious Koa wood is highly regarded and it is so precious because it can only be found in Hawaii. Its beauty and rarity make koa among the most expensive woods in the world. Koa wood starts at around $40 per board feet and can go up to $200 board feet for rare large slabs.
How tall is the koa tree in Hawaii?
Koa is the largest native tree in the Hawaiian Islands reaching heights of about 115 feet (33 m)! Commercially, koa is one of the most expensive woods in the world. It is used to make furniture, veneer, and crafts. Most koa is harvested from remnant individuals or stands in pasture lands.
Where does the Hawaiian koa wood come from?
Owners of the Oahu-based company regularly go to the Big Island to hand-select the koa wood used for their gracious furniture. All the wood comes from previously dead and fallen trees. In fact, Martin & MacArthur is the leader in reforesting Koa for future generations.
What can you do with a koa tree?
Today, koa is propagated and planted in forest restoration projects and/or used as shade trees in home gardens. The wood is still very much prized in wood craft and is high in demand, being one of the most expensive woods in the world.
What does the word koa mean in Hawaiian?
Koa in battle. The word “koa” means “warrior” in Hawaiian. The warriors of King Kamehameha the Great, created canoes and weapons from a wood plentiful on the Big Island of Hawaii.
