Koa

This is a treasured hardwood found only on the Hawaiian Islands. The word “koa” actually means “bold” in Hawaiian. The availability of this wood has been declining because there has been little reforestation of the tree after logging, with the land being used to graze cattle instead. Koa is highly valued for its beautiful “curly” grain and figuring and has long been used to craft the ukulele and more recently has come to be used in the construction of acoustic guitars.