Hawaiian Koa pen blank

Description

imported directly from the island of Hawaii

you will receive on pen blank similar to the one in the picture

Color can be highly variable, but tends to be medium golden or reddish brown, similar to Mahogany. There are usually contrasting bands of color in the growth rings, and it is not uncommon to see boards with ribbon-like streaks of color. Boards figured with wavy and/or curly grain are also not uncommon. The Grain is usually slightly interlocked, and sometimes wavy. Uniform medium to coarse texture. In most circumstances, Koa is easy to work, and sands well. However, figured wood, or pieces with heavily interlocked grain can be difficult to plane or machine without tearing or chipping of the grain; also, Koa can occasionally give problems in gluing, though this is somewhat uncommon. Koa turns, stains, and finishes well. With the tree endemic to Hawaii only, and with supplies dwindling, Koa is likely to be rather expensive. Also,  boards of highly figured and/or curly Koa can command fantastic prices. often used as Veneer, furniture, cabinetry, musical instruments (especially guitars and ukuleles), canoes, gunstocks, carvings, bowls, and other turned/specialty wood objects. Although Koa is naturally quite abundant on the islands of Hawaii, most Koa forests have been cleared for grazing pastures; and since young Koa seedlings are edible for grazing animals, most new trees are prevented from growing to lumber-harvestable size. As a result, mature Koa trees are either scarce, or in hard-to-access mountainous locations, and the price of Koa is likely to only increase further in the future.  Koa is widely considered to be the most beautiful and useful of Hawaii’s native hardwoods. Visually, Koa has been compared to Mahogany, while in terms of working and mechanical properties, it has been compared to walnut. Koa tends to be quite stable regarding environmental changes in humidity.

limited quantities

3/4″ x 3/4″ x 6″