Today I planted another koa’ia tree, the low elevation koa. The reason why koa wood is so expensive is due to its beautiful curly grain and it’s scarcity. It is also endemic to and only grows in Hawaii.
Until 1819 koa was forbidden to common folks and was reserved for only the royal class. When Kamehameha II, Liholiho abandoned the kapu system koa became available for everyone for daily use. The introduction of cattle to Hawaii decimated the establishment of new trees to replenish the next generation. But back then, koa was still abundant and it was commonly used as fence posts. When westerners realized how exquisite the wood was it became a valuable export commodity kind of like sandalwood. These days koa is harvested only from public lands and only if the tree is dead. There are a handful of koa plantations around the Big Island but the trees are still far too young to be harvested at this point.
We planted several hardwood species mixed into the food forest too. Queensland maple, African mahagony, pheasantwood, and koa’ia. Perhaps they will be cut down for lumber many decades from now. Technically many of the fruit trees we planted can be used for wood working and building too but I would much rather enjoy the fruits.
Originally posted on 2021-11-30, part of the daily planting journal behind Ha’a Chocolate’s food forest on Hawai’i Island.