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Koa Wood Uses before Jewelry

Koa Wood in jewelry making is a common modern practice. Hula dancers often wear Koa bracelets and other jewelry. We've taken it a step further by pairing the beautiful wood with hypo-allergenic metals for a more versatile look as well as add to our pieces. While koa jewelry is fairly modern the use of Hawaiian Koa wood dates back centuries.

The Koa wood, also known as the Hawaiian mahogany, has always been treasured for its fine texture. The tree, native to Hawaii, thrives on volcanic soil, particularly on the Big Island where it can grow upwards of 100 feet tall. The stunning color of the wood varies between a lighter or orange brown to a deep red based on the area it grows in.  

 

Komo Koa Jewelry

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KOA RINGS

koa-jewelry

KOA JEWELRY

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KOA WATCHES

The Polynesians have long treasured the Koa wood tree for its strength, durability and resilience. The term "Koa" translates to bold, warrior-like, brave, and fearless. It was used to make everything from weaponry and tools like spears and paddles to musical instruments like the ukulele. The prized Hawaiian Koa wood was even reserved for people of royalty status (Aliʻi) and the Hawaiian Monarch where it was sculpted into images of gods and made into furniture among other uses. Whole Koa logs, up to 60 feet long, were used to make voyager canoes called Te Puke. Watch this short video from the History Channel showcasing how historians believed the Polynesians may have used these and their navigational skills to discover the Americas before Columbus. 

By the turn of the century the prized koa wood was still primarily used for those of higher status and in government architecture to make furniture, staircases, statues, and other woodworks. Iolani Palace on Oahu, the official residence of Hawaii’s monarchy, is a beautiful place to view such use. The demand for Hawaiian Koa wood is still high for making quality furniture and other upscale projects. 

The State of Hawaii is working on preserving this rare but desirable wood by implementing harvest restrictions and adding reforestation projects. We at Koa Wood Rings only use wood that's been sustainably sourced, most often reclaimed pieces from woodworking projects. We also commit to helping the reforestation projects by donating a portion of our proceeds to foundations that work to educate and preserve Hawaii's natural forests such as The Hawaii Forest Institute and Hawaii Forest Industry Association. Our beautiful jewelry is purchased everyday as gifts, to celebrate anniversaries, and our rings are often the symbol of love as wedding bands. We're honored to be a part of people's love stories, memories, and aloha.

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The Girlfriend Loves It

She wears it all the time, it looks great, and it reminds us of our trip to the redwoods.

A
Redwood Wide Titanium Ring
Audrey (Salt Lake City, US)
Beautiful Ring & Engraving

My fiance and I get married in a week, and he LOVES his ring. I got a little phrase that's part of my vows to him engraved in, and he adores it. He's from California, and I always call him my Redwood tree for a lot of sappy reasons - and this ring was perfectly sentimental for this. So thank you! It's beautiful and he's really happy with it. I was worried that it would be too thick of a band, but it was perfect.

KOA WOOD

The help with my Koa Wood ring was much appreciated. My first ring had a flaw and Woodsman took care of the issue with no problems. I appreciate the willingness to work with me. Thank you!

Incredible customer service

My original Ring needed some adjusting, and there was no hesitation in assisting. Not often do you find a company who truly stands behind their product and their work. I’m proud to wear the ring and to recommend to others incredible product.

T
Hawaiian Koa Wood Cross Necklace
Tamara Lewis (Kea‘au, US)
Always beautiful jewelry!

Always beautiful jewelry, really nice koa and nice packaging. Fast shipping.

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