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Avocado | | |
Avocado wood comes from trees that actually produce
the edible friut you might buy in your local store. Generally, the
Avocado species grown on the Hawaiian Islands usually differ from
the typical Hass (the bumpy one, often black in color) or xxxx (the
smooth skinned green one. In Hawaii, one of the most popular Avocado
fruits is called a Butter Avocado because many people like it's
near buttery flavor and smooth texture. Most of the Avocado wood
used in turning comes from trees that are damaged or uprooted during
storms, or have to be removed due to building restrictions.
The wood is a pinkish color, with a varying grain, and can show some
very interesting patterns, especially in a piece containing burl.
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Banyan | | |
Most people recognize the Banyan by the profusion of secondary trunks
connecting to the root system. It is a pale white wood with moderate
grain structure.
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Blue Gum | | |
Blue Gum is a variety of Eucalyptus.
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Candlenut | Kukui | |
Tourists will be quick to recognize the
leis made from the nut of this tree. It is called candlenut tree
because the nut is so high in oil it was set on fire and used
like a candle by Hawaiian natives.
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Cook Pine | | |
A relative of the more common Norfolk Pine, Cook pine can usually be
differentiated by examining the center of the tree and the location
of the limbs. Generally, Cook Pines have a darker center than Norfolk
Pines, and their branches grow at relatively random locations around
the trunk. The branches of Norfolk Pines grow in fairly even rows (or
circles) rather evenly spaced around the trunk, though the number of
branches often changes from one row to the next. Due to cross polination,
there has been a hybridization of the two species, and in some locations
the two trees can only be determined by a botanist.
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False Kamani | | |
Resembling Kamani, this tree also grows near the shore, in wet areas.
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Formosan Koa | | |
Formosan Koa has the sickle shaped leaves similar to true Koa, and the wood
is comparable, but with a lighter layer of wood under the bark than regular
Koa.
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Guava | Kuawa | Psidium Guajava |
A low tree, native to tropical America, naturalized in Hawaii.
It bears lemon sized fruits which are commonly made into jelly, jam,
juice and sherbet. Hawaiians make a medicinal tea from leaf buds,
which has an astringent effect.
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Hau | | Hibiscus Tieliaceus |
Sometimes spelled (and pronounced) Hou, Hau is a lowland tree,
found in many warm countries, some spreading horizontally of the
ground forming inpenetrable thickets, and some trained on trellises.
The leaves are rounded and heart shaped, the flowers cup shaped with
five large petals that change through the day from yellow to dull red.
Formeerly the light tough wood served for outriggers of canoes, the
bast for rope, and sap and flowers for medicine.
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Ironwood | | |
Generally planted as an ornamental tree or windbreak, Ironwood was once
planted for use as ships masts.
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Kamani | | |
Kamani grows near the shoreline and reaches heights
of 40 - 60 feet. The tree could be up to 36 inches in
diameter. The wood color is a rich, chocolate brown.
The lustrous and interlocking grain is dramatic.
Kamani is a hardwood and hardest to work with among
the indigenous woods. In many parts of Polynesia, the
kamani is a sacred tree and so it was in Hawaii.
Hawaiians planted the beautiful trees with their high
scented flowers near their houses.
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Kiawe | Kiawe | Prosopis pallida |
Known as Mesquite in the southwest area of the United States Mainland.
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Koa | Koa | |
Koa is a large evergreen tree and was commonly used
for canoes. Koa is known for its dark brown beauty, but
only became popular for calabashes or bowls in the
20th Century as kou died out. Koa is a difficult wood to
work with and today is primarily used for furniture.
Curly koa is popular for wood items such as ukuleles
since the grain is spectacular. Curly koa is rare and
comes from the part of the tree that the main branches
radiate from (known as a fork or crotch). The wood grain
is stretched one ons side of the fork and compressed on the
other, producing a shimmering grain. Other species of wood
may also exhibit curly grain, though most Hawaiian woods don't
produce curliness quite as dramatic as seen in some Koa.
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Kou | Kou | |
This rare evergreen tree grows along shorelines and was
a wonderful shade tree near homes. At one time, Kou
was the dominant tree along the shorelines of all the
islands. It was from this soft but durable wood that
traditional Hawaiians carved the majority of their
bowls. Kou has a rich, dark brown heartwood with
darker streaks. There are no discernible growth rings
in the wood. The wood never cracks or checks and
can be turned into any shape. Unfortunately, insects
from the mainland US are killing the groves of Kou in
Hawaii. Molokai has probably the largest number of
living Kou trees and that is just a handful. As one might expect
Kou is a protected wood and very rarely seen in a turned object or
furniture, except in instances of historical origin.
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Lemon Gum Eucalyptus | | |
Lemon Gum is a variety of Eucalyptus
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Lychee | | |
Lychee is a pinkish to reddish wood with fine, close grain. It's tendency
to split during drying does not make it a favorite wood with turners or
furniture makers. Some examples of this wood take on a light chocolate color
when finished.
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Macadamia Nut | | |
The radial ray pattern of the grain of the Macadamia Nut tree make the wood
immediately recognizable. Usually turned side grain because of severe cracking
due to shrinkage during drying, it is not often you will find objects turned
from end grain, though the grain pattern is often most beautiful in this
orientation. In side grain turnings, it shows a lacy pattern somewhat like lacewood
or silk oak. It is a hard, dense wood, not often turned with a natural edge.
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Mango | Manako | |
A large tree, the mango often reaches 65 feet in height
and 3 feet in diameter. Mango is a soft hardwood. The
grain is wavey and often has a pronouned curly or
"fiddleback" figure. The color is lustrous blond with
mottled color variations.
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Milo | | |
Milo is a dark, rich chocolate colored wood,although
the wood color can be peach colored. It all depends on
how much salt water, the shore-loving milo tree gets.
Milo is usually found only at lower elevations. Molokai
has a plentiful supply of milo as much of its shoreline
has yet to be developed. Milo became the replacement
wood for calabashes or bowls when Kou started to die
out in the mid 1800s.
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Monkeypod | | |
Monkeypod is a dark, rich chocolate colored wood, somewhat
reminiscent of Koa, though not demonstrating the variety of
grain that Koa has. It is sometimes used in woodturning.
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Norfolk Pine | | |
The Norfolk or Norfolk Island Pine is a tropical pine stree.
It has a "knotty pine" character. With a characteristic
pine color, thse stunning trees have brilliant
translucence and wonderful eyes where the branches
come out of the tree.
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Ohia/Lehua | | |
Though usually turned end grain to show off the reddish hartwood, this
wood is prone to splitting across the pith. Fresh cut wood will often
display a crack running across the center one third of the log, which
usually grows to split the object as the wood dries. The cracking primarily
occurs because the outside shrinks more than the center of the log as
it dries. Once dry, the wood
is stable and is used in making interesting art objects.
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Painted Gum | | |
Painted Gum is a variety of Eucalyptus
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Paperbark | | Maleluca sp. |
Paperbark is typically grown as a specimen tree in lanscaping, and
is not often used in turning.
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Pheasant Wood or
Golden Shower Tree | | |
This decorative tree is normally found in yards. Its
distinctive yellow flowers makes this a beautiful but
large yard tree. The wood's grain, when cut, looks like
feathers and hence the name pheasant wood. The
wood is a golden brown and makes distinctive bowls
and jewelry.
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Primavera or
Gold Tree | | |
This tree is a flowering tree growing over 60 feet in
height and 3 feet in diamter. The wood, similar to
satinwood, is light yellow and fairly strong. The grain
may be wavy.
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Robusta Eucalyptus | | |
Robusta is a variety of Eucalyptus, and often resembles Philipine Mahogany,
though it is usually heavier and darker in color than Mahogany.
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Saligna Eucalyptus | | |
Saligna is a variety of Eucalyptus.
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Silk Oak | Oka Kilika | |
This tree was introduced for shade, ornament, and
reforestation. It may reach 70 feet in height with a
diamter of up to 3 feet. Sometimes this wood is called
lace wood. The color of wood is pinkish brown and
finishes up to a lustrous golden color. The tree grows
up to the 4000 foot level.
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Sugi | | |
This tree is a type of cedar with cedar's characteristic
aroma. The wood color ranges in color in white and
yellow with a reddish brown heartwood. Sometimes incorrectly called
Sugi Pine.
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Toon | | |
Info on Toon goes here.
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Tropical Ash | | |
Info on Tropical Ash goes here.
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