Carved Koa Hawaiian Island Chain 30″x 60″ $660

Description

Carved Koa Hawaiian Island Chain 30″x 60″ $660

Koa

Uses
Ancient Hawaiians were using the koa trunks to build waʻa (dugout outrigger canoes) and papa heʻe nalu (surfboards).  The reddish wood is very similar in strength and weight to that of Black Walnut (Juglans nigra). The construction of ukuleles, acoustic guitars, and  Hawaiian steel guitars often uses Koa.

Conservation
The koa population has suffered from grazing and logging.  The largest koa grow in wet forest areas. Many of those have been logged out, though. Koa now comes largely from dead or dying trees or farms on private lands. Although formerly used for outrigger canoes, there are few if any  koa trees remaining in Hawaii that are large and straight enough to do so today. With today’s forestry efforts, there is hope this may change for future generations.

In areas where cattle are present, because the seedlings are eaten, koa regeneration is almost completely suppressed. However, if the cattle are removed, koa trees are among the few native Hawaiian plants able to germinate in grassland. It can be instrumental in restoring native forest.

The dimensions listed in the ‘additional information’ table includes packing for shipment.  The dimension listed on this page is correct for the bowl itself.  Mahalo!