Wood Species Guide
Koa
Acacia koa
Also called: Hawaiian Koa, Curly Koa (figured)
What Koa looks like
Golden to reddish brown, often with darker bands. The best pieces have a three-dimensional shimmer (chatoyance) that moves as you walk around them.
Grain and texture
Medium texture with grain that can be straight, interlocked or wavy. Curly and fiddleback koa is common and highly prized.
Working Koa: planing, cutting and gluing
Straight-grained koa machines nicely, but figured boards tear out easily, so a drum sander or very sharp, low-angle cut is a must. It glues and finishes well.
Finishing Koa: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Finishing is where koa comes alive. Clear oil or a hardwax oil makes the curl pop; a high-gloss film gives it real depth. Seal coat before epoxy to keep the figure crisp and bubble-free.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Not decay resistant, but reasonably stable once dry. Treat it as an indoor wood in Florida, and keep tabletops out of direct sun to slow color change.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Koa is a Hawaiian treasure and priced like one, especially curly stock. It is a top choice for guitars, ukuleles, jewelry boxes and statement furniture. We do not stock it, but ask us and we can try to source boards or a small slab. Let the figure do the work and keep joinery simple.
Common uses for Koa
Ukuleles and guitars, fine furniture, cabinetry, veneer, boxes, turned bowls and canoe paddles.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices; rated Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Supply is limited because old koa forests were heavily cleared, and much of what is sold today comes from salvage and managed lands.
Safety and toxicity
- No common reactions reported
Few reports. Nothing beyond ordinary dust irritation is reported for koa, though some other acacias can irritate eyes, skin and airways.
- In the shop
- Dust collection + dust mask when sanding
- Food contact
- Use with care for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
No specific reactions are reported beyond the normal risks of wood dust, though some related acacias are irritants. Use dust collection and a mask.
Koa in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Koa listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
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