Description
Koa wood honu pendant set in stainless steel with chain
It’s a honu world! This new design blends the warmth of the koa wood with cool steel, with a beautiful and durable result. A portion of each sale is donated to non-profit organizations working towards establishing sustainable native forests in Hawaii. We sincerely thank you for your support.
Metal: Stainless Steel
Wood Inlay: Hawaiian Koa
Engraving: Hawaiian Island Chain
Size: Approx. 1″ dia.
Includes 18″ Stainless Steel Box Chain
Made by Che Garcia with all woodwork done on the Big Island, with Hawaiian koa wood.
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). Because of its specific gravity of 0.55, Koa is sought for use in wood carving and furniture. Koa is also a tonewood. It is often used in the construction of ukuleles, acoustic guitars, and Weissenborn-style Hawaiian steel guitars.
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 koa remaining, large and straight enough to do so today. In areas where cattle are present, the koa regeneration is almost completely suppressed. However, if the cattle are removed, koa are among the few native Hawaiian plants able to germinate in grassland. It can be instrumental in restoring native forest.
Koa wood honu pendant set in stainless steel with chain
