Koa
A young koa tree found growing in our mill yard in Millfield, Ohio
Acacia Koa is a hardwood tree native to the Hawaiian Islands. Koa trees can grow to be up to 6 feet in diameter. Young Koa trees have compound leaves (technically "phyllodes") resembling those of ferns; as the tree matures these change to sickle-shaped leaves. Though koa is only known to naturally grow in Hawaii, we have found a young tree growing in our mill yard in Ohio (see image, right).
Though the tree is native to all of the Hawaiian Islands, the best supply and highest quality wood is found on the Big Island. As the State of Hawaii does not allow any harvesting of koa on state land, all logging companies must seek logging rights to operate on private land. Unfortunately, relying on private land for koa makes the supply of the wood somewhat sporadic.
Koa has been used in the construction of musical instruments for many years. Initially used for building the Hawaiian ukulele, it has since grown in popularity and is currently available as an option by many companies on both electric and acoustic guitars. Though koa may be most widely known for its use in musical instruments, its aesthetic qualities lend itself to use in all types of woodworking. In addition, koa trees have long been used by Hawaiians for canoes.
Pictures
Though we make every attempt to ensure consistency in the pictures of our sets, we are not always able to do so. Nearly all of our pictures are taken under tungsten lighting and are color-corrected in order to achieve the most accurate color representation possible. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have questions regarding any of our sets.
Shipping
All orders are shipped via UPS ground and insured for the full value of the shipment unless otherwise specified. Shipments to P.O. boxes will be shipped via USPS Priority Insured Mail.
International Orders
The variability of shipping options and rates for orders shipped to addresses outside the contiguous United States prevent us from accepting these orders through our website. Please contact us for more information.
Returns/Exchanges/Refunds
If, for any reason, you are unsatisfied with your order, please contact us and we will refund your money or provide you with something more satisfactory. Please note that all returned sets must be in their original condition (no sanding, trimming, etc).
Payment Options
We have several different payment options available. Orders placed through our web store can be paid using Paypal and most major credit cards. Please contact us if you would prefer an alternate payment method. We currently accept Money Orders, Bank Checks, as well as Personal Checks. Orders paid by Money Order or Bank Check will be shipped once payment is received. Personal Check orders will be shipped once we are notified the check has cleared the bank (this can take up to 3 weeks).