Koa (Acacia koa)

Koa is the largest and second most common tree native to the Hawaiian Islands, and prized for its historic and cultural significance. The tree can reach 100ft height and a trunk diameter of 5', but that size is extremely rare these days.

The heartwood is golden reddish to dark brown with streaks of darker tones of brown and black.

The grain is interlocked, sometimes wavy and curly, producing fiddle back figure. The polished surface is lustrous, almost as a "hologram", especially in incandescent lighting.

The wood is durable and stable, resistant to insect and fungal attack.

The world-famous Hawaiian ukuleles are made of koa. It is also used for high-end cabinets and fine furniture, musical instruments, gunstocks, interior joinery, shop and bank interiors and highly decorative veneers.

This is a rare tropical hardwood, mainly growing on the upper slopes of the islands of Hawaii (Big Island) and Maui, but it may be seen on all the major Hawaiian island.