Discover the Unique Beauty of Koa
Koa is a tree endemic (only found) to the Hawaiian Islands. Koa grows naturally all over the Hawaiian islands, but thrives at much higher elevations. Koa is arguably one of if not the nicest and most valuable woods in the world.
Koa is among the Acacia family and has relatives that produce fairly similar lumber, but not quite the same. Trees in the Acacia family are found all over the world, from Hawaii, Europe to Australia.
Koa trees can grow very large, up to 100 ft tall, and some of the old growth Koa trees can be 10-15 ft in diameter. Koa is a Hawaiian hardwood. Being a hardwood, it does not technically need to be stabilized, but does benefit significantly by being stabilized.
In the 1800’s native Hawaiians used this prized material from building canoes, furniture, weapons and decorative items. Koa quickly became popular throughout the Ali’i (royalty) and started becoming a lot more popular shortly after. Many started to quickly deforest natural Koa forests and the species quickly began to decline.
Koa became very popular due to its very unique grain, chatoyance and color. Koa is one of the few species that comes in many different shades from lighter brown, dark brown all the way to reds. Koa is one of if not the most chatoyant woods out there. Chatoyance refers to how the different grain patterns react to light and create a 3D effect to the wood.
If not for the very strict regulations created to protect the species, the extreme decline would have put the tree on the endangered species list. Some of the regulations in order to harvest Koa legally include special permits to cut the tree, and only being able to harvest dead and downed trees.
Due to the extreme demand and rarity of this material, many individuals started “poaching” Koa trees. Those individuals would illegally harvest living trees and not go through the proper permitting in order to do so. So much of the illegal harvesting has happened that Hawaii has made it a felony charge to illegally harvest Koa.
Koa is extremely well known amongst wood workers all over the world, and demand keeps skyrocketing. Due to this, the precious material is known as one of the most expensive woods in the world, ranging up to $1000 a board foot. Luckily, the strict regulations and massive attempts to replant this species has kept Koa off the endangered species list.
