Koa is the Hawaiian word for "strength" or "warrior". Koa is one of the lesser-known treasures of the Hawaiian Islands on the mainland, but it has a rich history and is very much appreciated by those living in Hawaii. Koa is in the Acacia family, but this particular species only grows in the Hawaiian Islands. Acacia Koa - Hawaii's most valued native tree and the largest endemic tree in Hawaii – exists naturally nowhere else in the world. It was historically the material of choice for carved ocean-going canoes. Koa wood is highly valued by furniture and crafts people throughout Hawaii and consumers the world over, for its unique grain, varied color and workability. Highly figured Koa is sought after for use in fine furniture, musical instruments, crafts, gunstocks and knife handles. While the wood grows quickly and plentifully, the demand for Koa has been high; therefore making it an expensive solid wood.

WHERE IT COMES FROM

Koa wood grows in selected spots on the Big Island of Hawaii. The Acacia Koa is a stately tree that can grow in areas that once were fields of hot molten lava. Perhaps this molten lava is where the Koa wood gets its beautiful fiery hues. This majestic tree is found growing at its best along the slopes of the mountains from 3,000' to approx. 6,000' in elevation. It is the fastest growing of Hawaii’s valuable hardwoods. It can grow as much as an inch in diameter per year, reaching 100 feet in height and attaining a trunk diameter of 5 feet or more.

WHY IT IS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER WOODS

Koa is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful tropical hardwoods. The color and grain pattern of Koa varies greatly from tree to tree, but is always beautiful, with the grain patterns identified by darker color bands. The color of the wood may be anywhere from blonde, light brown to deep chocolate brown, with deep reddish brown the most common color. Curly-grained wood, the result of both stress and genetics, is preferred over straight-grained wood and is especially dramatic with an almost three-dimensional quality to the surface. It is a moderately heavy wood, stable, works well and takes an exceptionally rich, deeply reflective glow when finished with oils, varnish or lacquer.

Koa has the same density as black walnut, a wood that it compares to most closely in technical properties. Both are a little too soft for flooring, but more than adequate for scratch-resistant furniture. Because of its nearly equal radial and tangential shrinkage in drying, Koa can be worked into bowls while green and subsequently dried with only slight degradation.

(Portions of About Koa Wood Courtesy of Hawaii Forest Industry Association (HFIA) and Karl Dalla Rosa of Hawaii State Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife A Publication of the Forest, Farm and Community Tree Network)

KOA VENEER:

KOA VENEER PROCESS

Beautiful, Environmentally Friendly and Affordable

Pictures Plus was the first company to make solid Koa frames affordable to Hawaii’s consumers. While we have been careful to use only dying or fallen trees, it has become increasingly apparent to us that, without careful conservation farming techniques, this precious resource is in danger.

At the same time, the trend in the fine furniture industry is to use veneered wood because of its flexibility, the fact that it is less likely to expand and contract due to climate changes and because the most beautiful part of the wood grain can be made available at a more reasonable cost.

We have spent several years researching the technique for developing and finishing the finest veneer. As it happens, the world’s best veneer craftsmen are in Italy. In keeping with our promise to deliver the best products to our customers, we have been sending our finest Koa cuts to Italy so that these craftsmen can work their magic on Hawaii’s precious wood. As is our custom, we had to do this in large volume to make it economical, so we have plenty in stock.

We are proud to carry Koa Veneer frames in all of our Pictures Plus stores. They are beautiful, environmentally sound and affordable. We know that you love Hawaii as much as we do. We hope that you will agree that our veneer frames bring the pleasure and beauty of Koa, with preservation of the resource in mind. If you have any questions about our Koa Veneer frames, please ask us!