Koa is the Hawaiian word for "strength" or "warrior." Koa is one of the lesser known treasures of the Hawaiian Islands on the mainland but it has a rich history and is very much appreciated by the inhabitants of the 50th state.

Koa is in the Acacia family, but this particular species only grows in the Hawaiian Islands. It is the largest tree native to Hawaii and the second most common there.

A very attractive wood with straight grain in some material, Koa's grain is interlocked and sometimes wavy or curly. The heartwood is a deep red to dark brown and has dark brown markings. It has a medium and even texture and has a natural luster.

This wood dries fairly easily with little degrade. Final conditioning of the wood in the kiln can prevent the wood from cupping. The wood is durable and resistant to insects, fungal attack and especially preservative treatment. It works easily with hand and machine tools but has a slight tendency to blunt cutting tools. A reduced cutting angle of 20 degrees is recommended for planing or molding curly grained material. Koa has medium bending strength and stiffness.

While the wood grows quickly and plentifully, the demand for Koa has been high; therefore making it an expensive wood.