Hawaiian Koa
Scientific name: Acacia koa
Overview
Hawaiian Koa is one of the most famous and highly valued hardwoods native to the Hawaiian Islands. The tree belongs to the Acacia genus and grows primarily on the volcanic slopes of Hawaii, Maui, and the Big Island. Koa has long held cultural significance in Hawaiian history, where it was traditionally used for canoe building, weapons, and ceremonial items.
The wood is prized for its beautiful color and dramatic figure, which can range from straight grain to curly, fiddleback, and highly figured patterns. Because of its attractive appearance and excellent working properties, Hawaiian Koa is widely used in fine furniture, musical instruments, and high-end woodworking projects.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Hawaiian Koa
- Scientific Name: Acacia koa
- Region: Oceania & Pacific Hardwoods (Hawaiian Islands)
- Tree Size: 60–100 ft tall, 2–4 ft trunk diameter
- Average Dried Weight: 40 lbs/ft³ (640 kg/m³)
- Janka Hardness: 1,170 lbf
- Color: Golden brown to reddish brown, often with darker streaks
- Grain: Straight to wavy, often highly figured
- Texture: Medium and smooth
Identification Characteristics
Hawaiian Koa is known for its rich golden to reddish-brown color and often dramatic figure. The grain may be straight, but many boards display curly or fiddleback patterns that create striking visual effects. The wood has a medium texture and a natural luster that becomes very prominent when finished.
Key identification traits include:
- Golden brown to reddish brown color
- Curly or fiddleback figure common
- Medium texture
- Natural luster when finished
Working Properties
Hawaiian Koa is considered moderately easy to work and responds well to both hand tools and machine tools. The wood cuts cleanly and finishes beautifully, making it a favorite among woodworkers and instrument makers.
- Machines and turns well with sharp tools
- Gluing and finishing properties are excellent
- Sands to a smooth, polished surface
- Highly figured boards may require careful machining
Safety Note
Koa dust may cause mild irritation in some individuals, which is common with many hardwood species. Proper dust collection and personal protective equipment are recommended when working with the wood.
Common Uses
Hawaiian Koa is widely used in fine woodworking and specialty items due to its beautiful grain and cultural significance.
- Fine furniture
- Musical instruments (guitars and ukuleles)
- Turned bowls
- Carvings
- Knife handles
- Decorative woodworking
Sustainability & Notes
Hawaiian Koa forests are protected and managed carefully. Harvesting is generally limited to fallen trees, deadwood, or trees removed through controlled forestry practices. Reforestation programs and plantation growth have helped support sustainable supply while preserving native forests.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
Australian Blackwood – Another member of the Acacia genus with similar working properties but generally darker color.
Snakewood – An extremely dense and highly prized exotic hardwood known for its distinctive figure and hardness, though it is generally used in smaller specialty applications rather than the heavy-duty uses associated with Buloke.
Queensland Maple – A Pacific region furniture wood with lighter color and more uniform grain.
Related Guides
Wood Strength
Learn what determines wood strength, including density, stiffness, and resistance to bending and impact.
Moisture Content & Long-Term Stability
Proper drying helps maintain stability and prevent movement in figured hardwoods like Koa.
Understanding Chatoyance in Wood
Explore Understanding Chatoyance in Wood to learn how grain orientation and reflected light can create the shifting visual depth seen in highly figured examples of this species.
Best Woods for Guitar Building
Explore Best Woods for Guitar Building to see how this species can be used in instrument construction and how it compares with other important tonewoods.
Best Woods for Wood Turning
Explore Best Woods for Wood Turning to see how this species compares with other hardwoods for bowls, vessels, pens, handles, and decorative turned projects.
Compare Wood Properties
See how this species ranks in density and hardness using our Wood Density & Janka Hardness Chart. You can also explore Hardest Woods, Softest Woods, and Most Dense Woods for quick comparisons.
Collector Notes
Hawaiian Koa is one of the most desirable woods among collectors and woodworkers due to its dramatic figuring and historical significance. Highly figured samples displaying curly or fiddleback grain are especially prized and can command premium prices in the woodworking market.
Video Overview
Share Your Photos of This Species
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Wood Sample Collection
This species is part of an ongoing effort to document and preserve wood samples from around the world.
Learn more about contributing to the collection:
Resources
Authoritative botanical and forestry references used in compiling information about this species include:
• USDA Forest Service – Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material
https://www.fpl.fs.usda.gov/products/publications/
• The Wood Database – Global reference for wood identification, physical properties, and woodworking characteristics
https://www.wood-database.com/
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – Plants of the World Online – Botanical taxonomy and species distribution database
https://powo.science.kew.org/
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN Red List) – Global conservation status assessments
https://www.iucnredlist.org/
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) – International trade regulations for protected plant species
https://cites.org/
Additional forestry publications, academic research papers, and regional timber studies may also be referenced where available.
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Contributions help fund the continued expansion of this archive while promoting sustainable forestry education and the long-term appreciation of the world’s forests.
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Availability & Where to Buy
Exotic hardwood availability can vary significantly depending on region, sustainability regulations, and supplier inventory.
As this archive grows, recommended suppliers and specialty wood retailers will be listed here to help woodworkers locate responsibly sourced material.
Lumber Suppliers:
Availability varies — see the Where to Buy Exotic Woods page for current sources.
Related Tools & Products:
• RUITOOL Japanese Double Edge Ryoba Pull Saw for precise flush cuts, joinery, and detailed woodworking
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• 800W Compact Wood Router Tool Kit with 15-Piece Router Bit Set for trimming, edge work, and shaping wood surfaces
https://amzn.to/498gKP4
• IRWIN Quick-Grip One-Handed Mini Bar Clamps for holding woodworking pieces securely during assembly and glue-ups
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