The koa wood signified Hawaiian royalty. The Alii (royalty) used items made of koa wood: canoes, paddles containers, surfboards, and spears. In late 1800s and early 1900s, koa, or the “Hawaiian Mahogany,” was used to create ukulele, furniture, staircases, and other woodwork for upper class and government buildings.
Along with koa, other native Hawaiian tree species included ohia, sandalwood, kukui, kopiko, kolea, and pua. Their forests covered a large part of the Hawaiian islands.
Native Hawaiian wood was a popular export. In the early 1800s, lumber mills started appearing around the Hawaiians islands and exported the fragrant sandalwood, the first major export of Hawaii. Later, the koa wood was exported. The “Hawaiian mahogany” was prized for its durability and hues.
However, while Hawaii’s wood industry didn’t have significant issues selling its wood, the federal government accused the industry of developing a trust in 1905. A trust is when companies work together to prevent competition and to keep the prices artificially high.
In terms of the wood’s source, overharvesting, invasive species, and other human activities (e.g. farming) would destroy the forests in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Cattles trampled on young trees. Hilo grass choked them out. Insects attacked their leaves. Borers ate through the wood. Wild pigs, goats, and deer were also destroying the native trees. Fires burned the forests.
In response to the destruction, the Hawaii government created forest reserves. U.S. Congress established the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in 1916, preserving the forests around the Mauna Loa and Kilauea volcanoes.
– Alice Kim
“Koa furniture of all sorts and kids made to order at reasonable prices at S. Muraoka Carpenter Shop, contractor and builder, Main Street, Wailuku, back of First Maui Savings and Dev. Co.”
Koa Furniture
The Maui news, March 31, 1922, Page 7
chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82014689/1922-03-31/ed-…
Hawaii Digital Newspaper Project
hdnpblog.wordpress.com/
