Koa Knife Scale

.75 x 1.5 x 6

Koa Wood (Acacia koa) is one of the most beautiful and highly prized hardwoods in the world, celebrated for its rich golden-brown to reddish-brown coloration, spectacular grain patterns, and exceptional natural luster. Native exclusively to the Hawaiian Islands, genuine Hawaiian Koa is highly sought after by woodturners, pen makers, knife makers, instrument builders, and fine woodworkers.

Koa is especially admired for its extraordinary natural figure, which can include curly, fiddleback, quilted, wavy, and interlocked grain. Its warm colors, beautiful chatoyance, and ability to take an exceptional finish make it an outstanding choice for custom pens, knife handles, bottle stoppers, game calls, decorative turnings, and specialty woodworking projects.

Every piece of Koa offers its own combination of color, grain, and natural character, making this remarkable Hawaiian hardwood an excellent choice for creating distinctive, one-of-a-kind projects.

Botanical Information

Botanical Name: Acacia koa A. Gray

Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae)

Genus: Acacia

Species: Acacia koa

Wood Type: Tropical hardwood

Primary Origin: Hawaiian Islands, United States

Common & Trade Names

Koa, Koa Wood, Hawaiian Koa, Hawaiian Koa Wood, Koa Hardwood, Curly Koa, Figured Koa, Fiddleback Koa, Quilted Koa, Hawaiian Acacia, and Koa Acacia.

Important: Genuine Hawaiian Koa is botanically identified as Acacia koa. Other woods marketed under names such as Australian Koa or Koa-like Acacia are not necessarily the same species.

Origin & Distribution

Koa is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, meaning it occurs naturally nowhere else in the world.

It grows in native Hawaiian forests, particularly at middle and higher elevations, and is one of Hawaii's most culturally and economically important native hardwoods.

Historically, Koa was used by Native Hawaiians to construct canoes, surfboards, bowls, weapons, and other important objects. Today, it is highly valued for fine furniture, musical instruments, woodturning, and specialty woodworking.

Because genuine Hawaiian Koa has a limited natural distribution and remains in high demand, quality Koa lumber and turning blanks are considered premium specialty hardwoods.

Color & Appearance

Koa is admired for its exceptionally rich and varied natural coloration.

Heartwood may display:

Golden brown

Honey brown

Amber

Orange brown

Reddish brown

Chocolate brown

Deep reddish chocolate

The sapwood is generally pale yellow to creamy white, providing attractive contrast with the darker heartwood.

Highly figured Koa can exhibit dramatic, three-dimensional grain patterns that appear to shimmer or change as the viewing angle and lighting shift.

Color and figure vary naturally from piece to piece. Not every Koa blank will display curly or highly figured grain.

Grain & Texture

Koa typically has a medium to coarse texture, with grain ranging from straight to wavy, interlocked, or highly figured.

Common figure types include:

Curly Koa: Repeating waves or curls that produce shimmering patterns.

Fiddleback Koa: Tight, regular curls particularly prized in musical instruments.

Quilted Koa: Broad, rolling figure resembling a quilted surface.

Wavy Koa: Flowing, irregular grain patterns.

Figured Koa: A general term for Koa displaying distinctive natural grain patterns.

Highly figured Koa may exhibit exceptional chatoyance, producing remarkable depth and movement under a clear finish.

Wood Characteristics

Koa is a moderately dense hardwood offering an excellent balance of strength, workability, and natural beauty.

Representative characteristics for Acacia koa include:

Average Dried Weight: Approximately 38 lbs/ft³ (610 kg/m³)

Specific Gravity: Approximately 0.53 basic / 0.61 at 12% moisture content

Janka Hardness: Approximately 1,170 lbf (5,200 N)

Grain: Straight, wavy, or interlocked

Texture: Medium to coarse

Natural Luster: Moderate to high

These values are representative of the species. Individual blanks may vary depending on growth conditions, moisture content, and grain structure.

Stability & Durability

Koa is generally considered a moderately durable hardwood, with heartwood offering some natural resistance to decay.

Properly dried Koa can provide good dimensional stability for interior woodworking applications. However, like all hardwoods, it may expand or contract with changes in environmental moisture.

Highly figured pieces may contain irregular grain and internal stresses, making proper drying, storage, and acclimation especially important.

For smaller precision projects such as pens, knife handles, and game calls, properly dried Koa can provide excellent long-term performance.

Workability & Woodturning

Koa is highly regarded among woodturners and fine woodworkers for its attractive cutting characteristics and exceptional finished appearance.

Straight-grained Koa generally machines and turns well with sharp tools. Highly figured or interlocked material may require lighter cuts and careful tool presentation to minimize tear-out.

Koa is especially suitable for:

Custom pens

Pen turning blanks

Knife handles

Knife scales

Bottle stoppers

Duck calls

Game calls

Turkey call components

Small bowls

Decorative vessels

Jewelry

Small boxes

Custom handles

Fine woodworking projects

Its combination of warm coloration, striking figure, and natural luster makes Koa an excellent choice for projects where the natural beauty of the wood is the primary feature.

Finishing

Koa responds beautifully to clear finishes that enhance its natural color, depth, and figure.

Popular finishing options include:

Danish oil

Tung oil finishes

Hardwax oils

Shellac

Lacquer

Polyurethane

Cyanoacrylate (CA) finishes for pens

Wax finishes

A clear finish can dramatically enhance the chatoyance of curly and figured Koa, bringing out the shimmering grain patterns and rich golden-to-reddish-brown coloration.

Careful sanding through progressively finer grits helps produce a smooth finished surface.

For highly figured pieces, sharp tools and careful sanding are particularly important to minimize torn grain.

Ideal Uses

Koa Wood blanks are excellent for:

Pen blanks and custom pens

Woodturning projects

Knife handles and knife scales

Bottle stoppers

Duck calls and game calls

Turkey call components

Small bowls and vessels

Jewelry and accessories

Decorative boxes

Custom handles

Fine carving

Musical instrument components

Specialty woodworking

Collectible and artistic projects

Health & Safety

Koa wood dust may cause irritation and allergic reactions in some individuals.

Potential concerns include:

Skin Irritation: Contact with wood dust may cause irritation or allergic contact dermatitis.

Respiratory Irritation: Inhalation of dust may irritate the nose, throat, and respiratory system.

Eye Irritation: Airborne particles may cause redness and discomfort.

Sensitization: Repeated exposure may increase sensitivity in susceptible individuals.

When cutting, sanding, drilling, or turning Koa:

Use effective dust collection.

Wear properly fitted respiratory protection appropriate for fine wood dust.

Use safety glasses or a face shield as appropriate.

Avoid prolonged skin contact with accumulated dust.

Maintain adequate workshop ventilation.

Clean work areas using dust extraction rather than compressed air.

As with all woodworking materials, appropriate protective equipment and responsible dust management are recommended.

CITES & Conservation

Koa (Acacia koa) is not generally listed under CITES.

However, because Koa is native exclusively to the Hawaiian Islands, responsible sourcing and forest management are particularly important.

Koa harvesting and distribution may be subject to land ownership restrictions, local forestry regulations, and other applicable requirements.

International buyers should verify import requirements and any documentation needed for wood shipments.

Interesting Facts

Native to Hawaii: Genuine Koa occurs naturally only in the Hawaiian Islands.

Cultural Importance: Koa was traditionally used by Native Hawaiians to make canoes, surfboards, bowls, and other important objects.

Meaning of Koa: The Hawaiian word koa is associated with bravery and warriors.

Musical Instruments: Koa is highly prized for guitars, ukuleles, and other musical instruments.

Exceptional Figure: Curly and fiddleback Koa are among the most desirable figured hardwoods used in fine woodworking.

Natural Chatoyance: Highly figured Koa can produce dramatic shimmering effects under a clear finish.

Why Choose Koa Wood?

Koa combines extraordinary natural beauty, rich color, distinctive figure, and excellent workability in one premium Hawaiian hardwood.

Its golden, amber, reddish-brown, and chocolate tones create a warm, luxurious appearance, while curly and figured grain patterns can give finished projects remarkable visual depth.

For woodturners, pen makers, knife makers, call makers, and fine woodworkers, genuine Hawaiian Koa offers an exceptional material for creating distinctive, premium-quality projects.

Whether you're turning a custom pen, crafting a knife handle, making a bottle stopper, or creating a decorative piece, Koa provides natural character and beauty that make every finished project special.

Oakbrook Wood Turning Supply offers Koa Wood for craftsmen seeking premium hardwood blanks with exceptional color, figure, and natural appeal.

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