In the past Koa was used in Hawaiian Medicine where the bark and the crescent leaves
were used in various medicinal preparations including birth control.
Location:
This tree grows in the Hawaiian Islands between see level to 6,000 feet
Koa is a valuable participant in the native rain forest habitat. It is considered
to be one of the oldest Hawaiian trees, and it supports over 40 species of endemic
insects. Many native bird species depend on the Koa tree.
Tree:
The Koa tree is one of the tallest trees in Hawai'i it usual grows 80 to
100 feet tall with a trunk diameter of 3 to 4 feet.
The flowers of the Koa are small yellow and puffball like. The Koa tree is a protected
tree in Hawai'i. Because the wood is so prized for all sorts of uses it is now illegal
to kill any living Koa tree, and only dead trees may be used for any type of woodworking.
Wood:
Use:
The reddish-orange and brown wood is prized for many products and was used by the
Hawaiians to build canoes - many of which were built from a single, straight Koa
trunk. The trees can reach a diameter of over 10 ft and are resistant to salt water,
making them perfect for boat building. Koa is also prized wood for making
musical instruments. It has been used in top of the line cabinets and fin
furniture along with gunstocks and fine veneers.
