What Is Koa Wood Used For

Not only is this amazing wood native to hawaii but it is known for the deep rich colors and varied grain pattern.

What is koa wood used for. Koa is indigenous to hawaii and unfortunately koa forests have depleted drastically over the years. What makes this wood so unique. There is also a market for the wood in japan. Koa lumber is available in 4 4 and 8 4 thicknesses but rarely in slab form.

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. Koa is a high quality wood often used for making instruments koa wood is rare and sought after by many ukulele makers. Believe it or not the koa tree only grows on the larger islands of hawaii koa trees actually grow in soil from hawaiian lava. 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.

The color spectrum and swirling grain pattern is as wide as it is breathtaking from varying reds to cinnamon browns and bold charcoal streaks. Currently the wood we use at hawaiian accessories is from honakaa which has a dark red look. The best koa acacia koa can be found specifically on higher elevations of the big island and take 50 to 70 years to mature. As koa is a tonewood it is also used to make musical instruments such as ukuleles acoustic guitars and steel guitars.

The reddish wood is very similar in strength and weight to that of black walnut juglans nigra with a. Koa has honored heritage in hawaii and is highly revered and sacred. The word koa means warrior in hawaiian. As a result the price of koa wood has soared to upwards of 500 a set meaning that for the most part it simply isn t viable for mass market production.

In hawaii koa is used to make canoes surfboards and bodyboards. The koa s trunk was used by ancient hawaiians to build waʻa dugout outrigger canoes and papa heʻe nalu only paipo kikoʻo and alaia surfboards were made from koa however. The koa has minerals in it that make it abrasive when you try to work with it hearne notes. Wood from acacia trees is also used medicinally and is pressed to release the essential oils for use in perfumes.

It is native to hawaii and can only be harvested from the islands which is why it is very expensive. So the sound quality and the look makes koa guitars highly sought after instruments. Koa wood is diverse and complex with an incomparable appearance. Koa wood is legendary in hawaii.

If you want to purchase koa wood be sure to look for a reputable dealer or supplier to get the best value. Besides fine furniture and musical instruments koa is used for small crafts turnings carvings and decorative veneer. Different parts of the island yields a distinctive hue to the color of the wood. That s why koa instruments are usually limited editions.