Hawaii is a unique ecosystem and according to The Bishop Museum in Honolulu, home to hundreds of endangered species. Bishop Museum even refers to Hawaii as the “Endangered Species Capital of the World”.  One of the reasons this is true is that Hawaii is the most isolated landmass on earth and many species have evolved, unique to these islands. One of the very unique plants of Hawaii is the magnificent Koa tree. Koa played a very important part in Hawaiian culture. The massive straight trees were the source of logs carved into voyaging canoes that became the Polynesian fleet navigating the Pacific a thousand years before Columbus discovered the new world. The wood was prized for paddles, construction, bowls, weapons and musical instruments. When it comes to tropical hardwoods, Koa is one of the most magnificent and is often referred to as the king of the forest.

When the Western world discovered this magnificent wood, they applied Western   methods of harvesting, clearing 90% of the original forest. This resource was all but eliminated from lower elevations and the genetic diversity that once existed has been lost. The history and beauty of Koa is what started us on the path to forming HLH. These incredible trees belong to all generations. Although Koa is unique to Hawaii, many other tropical hardwoods are endangered in their natural ranges. There are over 50 species of rare and valuable tropical hardwoods that can grow in Hawaii. With Hawaii’s isolation, many of these threatened species can find refuge in the fertile soil of this very special corner of the United States.

Photo courtesy of Bart Potter