KOA

Koa Wood Categories

Very large Koa trees can grow up to a few hundred feet with diameters of over ten feet with a lifespan of 50 – 80 years. Koa wood has been categorized into three grades by the wood market according to its unique characteristics:

1.Select Grade Koa – straight grain with a rich color

2.Curly Grade Koa – variable grain with a wavy texture and rich colors with 3d highlights

3.Premium Grade Curly Koa (or Tiger Koa) – extreme color with translucent tones and 3d highlights

Koa wood has become extremely coveted for its unsurpassed quality and beauty of its unique grain. The curly grade wood has become tremendously popular for use as inlays and guitar tops as they display variable texture in the grain and amazing 3d color. My Koa tops are one-of-a-kind as they reflect the unique characteristics of the particular tree and the environment it was harvested from.

The legendary Koa wood, native to the islands of Hawaii, has honored heritage, is highly revered and considered sacred. The beautiful grain of the wood is renowned for its deep, rich colors and varied patterns. The prized Koa wood is an ancient symbol of wisdom and strength with rich history surrounding the origin of this mighty breed of tree. Although no-one actually knows exactly where the Koa tree comes from, it is most conceivable that it could have sprouted from the lava of erupting volcanoes on the islands. It is amazing to think that a lone Koa seed erupted into a forest of trees that canopied the islands, becoming a lifeline for human inhabitants and the ecosystem and providing sophisticated culture and prosperity to the native settlers. A fact that is known is that the Koa tree does not grow naturally anywhere else on the earth outside Hawaii.