Oahu Koa Bowl by John Berthiaume 4.5″H x 7.5″D $450

$450.00

Out of stock

Description

Oahu Koa Bowl by John Berthiaume 4.5″H x 7.5″D $450

John Berthiaume

 

About the Artist

John Berthiaume is a woodworker who moved to Hawai’i from his home state of Michigan in 1978. While taking advantage of the many beautiful types of wood available in Hawai’i, he has developed his passion and talent for woodworking. He specializes in designing and crafting jewelry boxes, bowls and furniture from locally sourced 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.

 

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!

Oahu Koa Bowl by John Berthiaume 4.5″H x 7.5″D $450

Additional information

Weight 10 lbs
Dimensions 13.5 × 13.5 × 10.5 in