Hawaiia^?(TM)s Woods come from the only Pacific tropical forests in the United States. Hawaiia^?(TM)s endemic trees grow nowhere else on earth. Most of these species are hardwoods; highly productive broad-leafed tropical trees. Many are very dense and require special skill to mill, season, and work effectively. Hawaiia^?(TM)s woods in the hands of our fine craftsmen and women make some of the highest quality furniture and decorative wood objects in the world. Source: L. H. Nitz from Elbert L. Little, Jr. and Roger G. Skolmen, Common Forest Trees of Hawaii (Native and Introduced). USDA, Forest Service Agricultural Handbook No. 679, 1989. Wood grain picture credits: Winkler Wood Products, Inc., Martin & MacArthur, Inc., Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Hawaia^??i State Department of Land and Natural Resources. Bluegum (Eucalyptus globulus) This introduced tree grows to a height of about 250 feet, and a diameter up to 6 feet. The tree has been an important stock for reforestation of damaged pasture lands in the early years of this century. The wood is extremely hard (specific gravity .8), and seasons with some difficulty. It is light to medium brown in color, with occasional gray figure. The tree is self-pruning, producing lower logs without branches or knots. Ellis, the famed British cabinet maker of the 1900s notes that the crush strength of Bluegum in many applications is over 3 tons per square inch. In the hands of a skilled craftsman, Bluegum makes exceptionally durable furniture. Ironwood (Casuarina sp.) The Hawaiian Ironwood is a common tree initially planted for windbreaks and in depleted soils or sandy areas requiring a salt-tolerant tree. The common name refers to any of a number of closely related species that have also been called a^?oeshe-oak,a^?? or a^?oebeefwood.a^?? The tree reaches heights of 80 to 100 feet and diameters up to 18 inches. The wood is dark brown and very tough and dense (specific gravity varies with the exact species from about .58 to .81). Broad rays may form a pronounced ray fleck similar to oak on radial surfaces. The wood is difficult to season and work, but has been used for exceptionally durable furniture. Kamani (Calophyllum inophyllum) Kamani grows near the seashore, and reaches heights of 40 to 60 feet, diameters up to 36 inches. The heartwood is reddish brown, with a moderate density (specific gravity .6). It was traditionally used for bowls. The wood is lustrous and the interlocking grain shows a dramatic braided ribbon stripe on the quartersawn face. It is relatively difficult to work because of the interlocked grain, but very fine cabinetry has been made from it. The doors on the main floor of a^??Iolani Place have panels of Kamani veneer. Lemon-gum Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora) The Lemon-gum is an introduced tree which grows exceptionally well at low elevations in Hawaia^??i. It reaches 80 to 160 feet in height and up to 4 feet in diameter. The wood is light brown to gray brown, and may be deeply marked with black veins in boards cut from the lowest log of the tree. The wood may have straight or wavy grain, and is exceptionally hard and dense (specific gravity .85). In Hawaia^??i it has been used for heavy, high-stress applications, such as residential flooring, tool handles, trailer decking and boat framing. In more recent years, citriodora has been used in prize-winning furniture designs, where its strong grain stands out. Description of Hawaii's Woods Page 2 Hawaiia^?(TM)s Woods come from the only Pacific tropical forests in the United States. Hawaiia^?(TM)s endemic trees grow nowhere else on earth. Most of these species are hardwoods; highly productive broad-leafed tropical trees. Many are very dense and require special skill to mill, season, and work effectively. Hawaiia^?(TM)s woods in the hands of our fine craftsmen and women make some of the highest quality furniture and decorative wood objects in the world. Koa (Acacia koa) Koa is the largest endemic tree in Hawaia^??ia^??gthe species exists naturally nowhere else in the world. It is the fastest growing of Hawaiia^?(TM)s valuable hardwoods. It can grow as much as an inch in diameter per year, reaching 100 feet in height, attaining a trunk diameter of 5 feet or more. It was historically the material of choice for carved ocean-going canoes. Koa wood is the most prized cabinet and furniture wood in Hawaia^??i. Colors range from light brown to deep red/brown hues. Highly figured koa is sought after for use in fine furniture, musical instruments, crafts, gunstocks, and knife handles. Koa has weight and strength properties similar to black walnut. It is a moderately heavy wood (specific gravity .55). It is stable, works well, and takes an exceptionally rich, deeply reflective glow when finished with oils and modern varnish or laquer. Mango (Mangifera indica) Mango is a large tree often reaching 65 feet in height and 3 feet in diameter. The wood has been used in Hawaia^??i for carved and turned bowls and furniture. Mango is a relatively soft hardwood, moderately heavy, with specific gravity of 0.57. The color is lustrous blond, frequently showing mottled color variation acquired during drying. Some trees may have dark brown heartwood. The grain is often wavy and often has a pronounced curly or a^?oefiddlebacka^?? figure. Though tough, mango wood is perishable and is therefore tricky to season without degrade. Milo (Thespesia populnea) Milo is a medium-sized lowland tree attaining 30 feet in height, with a trunk diameter of 8 to 20 inches. This slow-growing, taste-free and insect-resistant wood has been used historically by native Hawaiians in the making of food containers and in boat building. It has light brown sapwood, clearly defined from the reddish/chocolate brown heartwood. The stable wood is moderately heavy (specific gravity .6), is easy to work and takes a very high polish. Because of the high value of the beachside real estate milo thrives on, it is not currently planted in commercial quantities. Norfolk Island Pine, Cook Pine (Arucaria heterophylla) (Arucaria columnaris) The Norfolk Island Pine grows to 140 feet with a diameter of up to 3 feet. The wood is lightweight (specific gravity .44), has a decided a^?oeknotty pinea^?? character, and strength characteristics of Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir. The trees are widely available in Hawaia^??i. The wood has a characteristic pine color. The most stunning modern use of these closely related species is for bowl turning. In finely turned bowls, the wood can take on a brilliant translucence very difficult to replicate with other woods. Description of Hawaii's Woods Page 3 Hawaiia^?(TM)s Woods come from the only Pacific tropical forests in the United States. Hawaiia^?(TM)s endemic trees grow nowhere else on earth. Most of these species are hardwoods; highly productive broad-leafed tropical trees. Many are very dense and require special skill to mill, season, and work effectively. Hawaiia^?(TM)s woods in the hands of our fine craftsmen and women make some of the highest quality furniture and decorative wood objects in the world. a^??Ohia^??a lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) The a^??Ohia^??a is unique to Hawaia^??i. It is one of the trees initially used by native Hawaiians for critical construction applications such as tools, and wear-strips along the gunwales of canoes. Its modern applications are typically in flooring, furniture and cabinetry. It is the most common endemic tree in the state, can be a major component of mixed forest stands, and is one of the very first trees able to take root on new lava fields. The tree is present in shapes ranging from shrubs to 100 feet in height. The wood ranges in color from pale brown to a dark reddish brown. It is fine grained, very hard, strong, and dense (specific gravity .70) In furniture and cabinetry applications, a^??Ohia^??a is nearly indestructible. However, great care and experience must be brought to bear in the seasoning of this notoriously unstable wood. Painted Gum (Eucalyptus deglupta) The Deglupta has a beautifully colored, striped bark, and grows in Hawaia^??i to 150 feet, with a diameter up to 3 feet. The wood is relatively light (specific gravity .45), stable, and works very easily. It has been used for cabinet work in the past, and has recently found its way into furniture and carved work. It is one of the worlda^?(TM)s fastest growing trees, and is found in plantings of various ages in Hawaia^??i forest reserves. Wood color runs through a range of pale browns to pinkish browns, often in pronounced stripes, lending furniture pieces a sense of liveliness. Pheasantwood, kolohala (Cassia siamea) This introduced Southeast Asian tree has been planted as a flowering street tree. It grows to 60 feet high with a diameter of about two feet. The wood is relatively heavy, (specific gravity .75) and hard. It has a beautiful figure on flat-sawn faces that mimics the tail feathers of the pheasant. The wood is not commonly available from plantation sources, but is frequently found by arborists in the care of landscaping and street trees. It is used for ornamentation or trim on decorative and furniture products. Primavera, goldtree (Rosodendron donnell-smithii) Primavera is a flowering tree growing to 60 feet in height and 3 feet in diameter. The wood, similar to satinwood, is light yellow, fairly strong, and lightweight (specific gravity .45). The grain may be wavy. It was initially introduced as a street tree and is available in limited quantities from forest reserve stocks. When available it has been used in furniture and flooring.Robusta eucalyptus (Eucalyptus robusta) Robusta is the most commonly planted of over 100 eucalyptus species introduced to Hawaia^??i. It is a moderately large tree, 50 to 160 feet in height, and up to 4 feet in diameter. The wood is light red in younger specimens, and runs to a deep, dark mahogany red in older trees. The mature wood is very hard, and typically very heavy (specific gravity .8). It compares to white oak in most strength properties. As with many of the eucalypts, successful processing of E. robusta is achieved by eliminating the brittle wood near the pith. In fine furniture applications Robusta is extremely durable, typically finishes with a deeply reflected glow, and ages over time to a rich mahogany color. The fanciest grade of quartersawn E. robusta lumber has a dramatic a^?oeblock mottlea^?? figure resembling a checkerboard of parallelograms. Saligna eucalyptus, Flooded-gum (Eucalyptus saligna) This tree grows to 200 feet in height with a trunk diameter up to 4 feet. Since 1880, it has been widely used for forestation in Hawaia^??i. The wood is moderately heavy (specific gravity .61, with mature wood over 50 years old approaching .75), and runs from pale brown through pink in color, and tends to darken when finished. The wood is fine grained, and resembles cherry in many applications. The grain tends to be straight to strongly interlocked, and may show distinct ribbon-striped figures on quarter-sawn faces. Silk-oak (Grevillea robusta) Silk-oak, commonly called a^?oesilky oaka^??, was introduced for shade, ornament and reforestation. It may reach 70 feet in height with a diameter of up to 3 feet. The wood was traditionally referred to as a^?oelacewooda^?? in its native Australia, and is now scarce there. It is moderately dense (specific gravity .57). The heartwood is initially pale pinkish brown, with strong medullary rays on the quartersawn face resembling those characteristic to oak. Flat-sawing of the lumber produces a less dramatic but attractive a^?oefish scalea^?? figure. In time, the wood seasons to a lustrous golden color. This open-grained wood finishes well. The tree grows up to an elevation of 4,000 feet, and is naturalized on diverse private and state forest lands. Sugi, Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) Sugi, often called Sugi pine, is an aromatic softwood native to Japan. The sapwood is white or yellow, with reddish brown heartwood. The wood is light (specific gravity .41). It has strength properties similar to western red cedar, and is suitable for aromatic drawer linings. It has traditionally been one of the most important timbers of Japan, and was planted by the Hawaia^??i Division of Forestry between 1910 and 1960. Use of Sugi in decorative items is growing. Toon (Toona ciliata) Toon was introduced in 1918 for plantation use. It grows to 50 feet tall and reaches over two feet in diameter. The wood is very lightweight (specific gravity .35), and is reddish brown. The tree is also called a^?oeAustralian red cedara^??, because of the strong aromatic cedar scent of the wood. It carves and turns particularly well. There are several stands in Hawaia^??i forest plantations. Tropical ash (Fraxinus uhdei) Tropical ash was originally introduced in 1880 as a shade tree, but has been planted in Hawaia^??i as a forest and watershed cover tree since the 1920s. It grows to about 80 feet in height and three feet in diameter. The wood is white and similar to white ash, but is moderately hard and light weight (specific gravity .47). It has applications in furniture for its especially light coloring and fine grain. More of the wood is expected to be available from state plantings in coming years. West Indies mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni) West Indies mahogany is the first discovered species of mahogany. It was introduced to Hawaia^??i in the early 1900s, and is widely planted in both public and private forest stands. It has been used in various locations as a stately street tree. The tree grows to 60 feet in height and 4 feet in diameter. The heartwood is reddish, pinkish, or yellowish when cut, gradually turning a dark red brown. It is moderately hard, heavy (specific gravity .7-.8) and strong. Roots and stumps of large trees are prized for their strong figure. koa, mango, ohia and less-common species, in the form of lumber, turning blocks or made-to-order furniture"What a mine of wealth these magnificent koa trees would be to the people who should transport their timber to the shore and ship it to foreign countries! The koa is the Hawaiian mahogany. It takes a polish like gold or diamonds. In the hands of foreign workmen, it might be made as ornamental as precious marble."a^??hGeorge Leonard Chaney, 1879 Even though its numbers are in rapid decline, koa remains king of the Hawaiian forest. It is the tallest and most revered of Hawaiia^?(TM)s native trees. It also ranks among the oldest tree species in the state and unquestionably carries the highest value. Biologists regard koa (Acacia koa) as one of the first botanical "settlers" of Hawaii because more than 40 species of endemic insects live on koaa^??hmore than on any other native tree. Several native bird species are associated with koa either primarily or exclusively. Ita^?(TM)s estimated that the koa forest predates the arrival of man by millions of years. Koa was used in early Hawaii to build war canoes, surfboards and calabashes. Today, it is used as a material for a variety of furniture pieces and accessories, including tables, desks, cabinets, benches, clocks, picture frames, desk items and more. In terms of strength and weight, koa is similar to black walnut. It is a moderately heavy wood. Ita^?(TM)s stable, works well and has a rich, deeply reflective glow when finished with oils and modern varnish or lacquer. Its colors range from light brown to deep red and brown hues. Koa is the fastest growing of Hawaiia^?(TM)s valuable hardwoods, growing as much as an inch in diameter per year. A koa tree can reach a hundred feet in height, with a trunk diameter of five meet or larger. The depletion of koa has led to a dramatic rise in prices. Some woodworkers, in an effort to lessen costs, have introduced products that include both koa and other types of hardwood. Beware of koa imitations that have been hitting the market in recent years. Faux koa products are substantially cheaper than the real thing. Koa flooring, for example, is priced at about $30 a square foot. An Australian wood with a similar look may retail for half that amount. The story of the Hawaiian calabash traces its history back to a time when these bowl containers were used almost exclusively by the royalty of ancient Hawai'i. Some of these calabashes were so prized that they were given personal names, or were named after chiefs or ancestors and passed down as precious family heirlooms. In 1886, when King Kalakaua celebrated his fiftieth birthday with a national jubilee, there was an outpouring of wooden calabashes of extraordinary workmanship given as gifts to the king. By this time the calabash had evolved from mere utilitarian usage to a true object of art. Hawaiian wood bowls, ranging from simple yet elegant spherical forms to highly complex sculpture, are regarded by many collectors today as more art than artifact. Ardently collected, displayed, and treasured, the Hawaiian calabash has come to embody for many their pride in and love for the very spirit of Hawai'i. The Hana Coast Gallery is pleased and proud to be able to offer this special exhibit of Hawaiian bowls made by artisans of the islands from a number of beautiful native woods. Acacia Koa wood is indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands. It has a beautiful grain whose colors range from blonde to deep chocolate brown with deep reddish brown the most common color. The grades of Koa wood are Select - with very little or no figure and Curly whose figure can vary from slightly wavy, appearing sporadic ally, to a very tight curl over the entire surface providing a three dimensional look when finished to a high gloss. Much of the Koa trees in the past were harvested with little or no attention to reforestation and resource management. Thankfully, the growers are now carefully replanting and managing the harvesting of Koa to ensure a long-term supply of this beautiful wood. The photo to the right is an example of highly figured curly Koa on one of our cutaway tenor ukuleles with binding of ebony wood. ukekoa.jpg (5926 bytes) Mango Wood ((Mangifera Indicia) Mango wood is a beautiful light colored wood with touches of gray & brown grain providing very nice grain patterns. It is also available as figured or curly wood. The Mango tree is an evergreen tree of the Sumac family and a favorite fruit tree in Hawaii with many varieties of mango. It was imported to the islands in the 1800s. The ukulele in the photo at right is made of curly mango and book matched to provide a symmetrical design. It is bound with koa wood for protection and the neck is made of koa & mango wood in a three piece laminated pattern. Sometimes there is a high degree of spalting resulting in a very attractive black grain pattern. Spalting is a result of fungi entering the sapwood. ukemang.jpg (6966 bytes) Milo Wood (Thespesia populnea) The heartwood is a dark rich chocolate brown and similar in appearance to dark walnut. The sapwood is pinkish white and together provides a beautiful contrast. The photo at right shows an instrument with lots of outer sapwood with the lighter color dominating the instrument and the neck is a combination of dark & lightwood laminated to form a beautiful instrument. miloback.jpg (12814 bytes) Monkeypod Wood (Samanea saman) also called ohai by Hawaiians was introduced to the islands in the 1800s. Native to South America, this large tree reaches a height of eighty feet or more with a beautiful, thin, spreading, symmetrical crown. The most prized of this wood is the light yellow with swirling dramatic grain patterns. The ukulele in the photo at right is made of monkeypod wood and book matched with the softer sapwood located in the middle of the instrument that provides a nice contrasting instrument. The wood is very porous and grain filling is necessary to provide highlighting of the grain pores as well as a leveling medium for the lacquer finish that is hand polished to a high glossy protective finish. ukemky.jpg (6764 bytes) Other local wood used occasionally includes Kamani, Keawe, Macadamia Nut, and Hao. International woods include Purple Heart, Maple, Rosewood, Ebony, Walnut, and Redwood Generally, the back and sides are made of a sturdy hardwood for strength and aesthetics and the top is made with one of the tone woods that are used in the acoustic guitar industry such as Redwood, Western Red Cedar, Sitka or Engleman Spruce.