Which one is rarer, koa, or ohi'a?

[EightFingers]

I've been hearing ohi'a is rarer than koa, so I wanted to find out. Google-ing didn't tell me what I wanted to know. So, does anyone here know?

[MarkP]

I would have to say Koa is rarer. I have Ohia on my property and I see it everywhere. Not so Koa.

[holeinursery]

Ohia is by far the more common tree. On all major islands it is the main component of the native forest. Alpine areas on Hawaii island may consist of manane-naio forests ,a little lower down Koa exists in strands that circle the main Mountains, Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, and Hualalai. Commercial harvesting of Koa has greatly diminished its range. Ohia grows from sea level to 6000 + elevation. Koa is not a coastline species. Carlquists book is a good reference if you want to read more.

[dirk1609]

As a wood worker, koa isn't rare its just expensive. I can fill up my truck day after day with Koa if I have the money. Ohia becomes a slightly rare wood to wook with because most of it is cracked, split checked garbage. SO I would say as a wood worker good quality Ohia is actually rarer than Koa. Most local woods, except eucalyptus, are rarer that Koa due to the fact that so much many mills mill tons of koa.

[Carey]

According to the agroforestry.net website of "Taditional Trees of Pacific Islands" tree species listing, ohi'a (Metrosideros polymorpha) is the most abundant native tree species in the Hawaiian Islands.

HOWEVER, Koa (Acacia koa) is a much faster growing species, so finding mill worthy stock of Koa may be easier... for the links on Pacific native trees:

http://www.agroforestry.net/tti/index.ht...view-49575

[EightFingers]

That makes sense that ohia lumber is rarer than koa even though there are more ohia trees. Judging by the way ohia reacts as it dries, it should make for some "interesting" woodworking.

[Hotzcatz]

Ohia is brittle, it doesn't make a good ax handle. Trust me on that.

---

"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson

[Fishboy]

I've often wondered if sandalwood still grows on the islands. I assume it's around, but does anyone know how abundant these trees are? The Wikipedia article on the genus doesn't mention Hawaii as a location.

Aloha pumehana,
Brian and Mary
Lynnwood, WA\Discovery Harbour

[EightFingers]

I bought sandalwood on the Big Island, but I never thought about asking if it was "local"!

I have some ohia I brought back and it turns beatifully. I will try to mill some into lumber, but I'm betting a lot will end up being turned. I hear its also is a great smoking wood!