KoaFurniture is located on the Big Island of Hawaii which is very rich in exotic woods such as Koa, Mango and, Ohia.
Koa History:
The Koa (Acacia koa) is a species of flowering tree in the pea family, Fabaceae. It is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, where it is the second most common tree. The highest populations are on the Islands of Hawaii, Maui and Oahu. The Koa tree is a large tree, typically attaining a height of 49–82 ft and a spread of 20–39 ft. In deep volcanic ash, a koa tree can reach a height of 98 ft, a circumference of 20 ft, and a spread of 120 ft. It is one of the fastest-growing Hawaiian trees, capable of reaching 20–30 feet in five years at a good site.
Koa Facts:
- The reddish wood is very similar in strength and weight to that of black walnut.
- Koa is endemic to the islands of Hawaiʻi, Molokaʻi, Maui, Lānaʻi, Oʻahu, and Kauaʻi.
- Seeds have a hard seed coat, this allows them to remain dormant for up to 25 years.
- Used by Ancient Hawaiians to build a wa'a (canoes) and and papa heʻe nalu (surfboards).
- Koa Trees grow in Young, Volcanic Soil found in Hawaiian Islands.
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| Select Koa |
Curly Koa |
Curly Mango |
Hawaiian Koa is one of the most beautiful woods in the world. It has an iridescent quality that is second to none. Koa has a wide variety of color and grains. For the most part koa is a reddish brown wood. The grade of koa usually refers to the amount of curly grain found in the wood.
Koa Wood Styles:
My supplier refers to the grades in many different ways. All are beautiful and unique in it's own way.
- Bubble Curl
- Ribbon Curl
- Pressure Curl
- Fiddle Back Curl
- Quarter Sawn Curl
Curly koa is the most sought after as the wavy grain highlights Koa's iridescence. Select koa has the same iridescent quality and still has splashes of curly but not as much as my curly grade.
Mango Wood:
Mango has a lot of the same qualities as koa but is lighter in color and is not quite as dense. It does have a curly grain that sometimes rivals some of the nicest curly koa. Though an introduced species it is one of the nicest furniture woods grown locally, second only to koa.
Other Island Hardwoods:
From time to time I purchase small quantities of other hardwoods such as Ohia, Robusta, Keawe, and whatever catches my eye. You can contact me for availability. I make sure all my materials are purchased from legitimate sources and that these sources practice reforestation.
Other Information:
If you would like to have a piece made in a particular type of wood, please Contact Us to check our current board stock. We also are able to special order any type of wood you desire your project to be completed in. Many thanks for your interest in KoaFurniture.com
Please Contact Us if you have any questions or are interested in ordering an item which you see on this site.
