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No. 12
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| THE HAWAIIAN KOA
Early Polynesians who traveled to Hawaii discovered a large, majestic hardwood tree growing in the forests of the rain-cloud covered mountains. They named this tree koa, a word derived from the Tahitian word "toa" which means strong. The Hawaiian koa tree is an endemic species (not found anywhere else in the world) and was once a common forest tree on all of the islands. Today koa can be found by carefully searching all the main Hawaiian islands, but the largest trees are found on the island of Hawaii. |
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KOA GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS Koa seeds are small, dark brown to almost black and bean-like. A dozen of these seeds are contained in a brown pod that measures about six inches by one inch. The seeds may be released, or "dehisced," by a pod opening while it is still hanging on the tree or after the pod has dropped to the ground. A seed will sprout and grow to about one inch in the first month if conditions are favorable. Although the conditions for koa seeds to sprout are not precisely known, the seeds usually require full sunlight and plenty of moisture. Koa sprouts do not grow well in the shade. After three |
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| months the young sprout will average about five inches in height. A one-year-old seedling will measure about three to six feet and in five years the tree will be about 30 feet tall. In addition to reproducing by seeds, koa can reproduce by "root suckers." Koa roots may grow out from the base of the tree over 100 feet before shooting upward to grow a new tree. The leaves on young koa trees and the new growth that sprouts on mature koa are true leaves - - they are called compound leaves. The sickle-shaped greenery seen on older trees are actually false leaves called "phyllodes" (fil-odes). A phyllode is the stem portion of a leaf, called the petiole (pet-e-ole). The leaves have fallen off and the petiole flattens out and curves as it continues to grow into the sickle shaped "false leaf." This phyllode looks and functions very much like a true leaf. | |
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KOA HABITATS Koa grows best at 5,000 to 6,000 feet above sea level, especially where the forest is covered in rain clouds. Koa grows in a variety of forms depending on the location and climatic conditions. Koa trees growing in dry open areas tend to have short, stout trunks, rough, grey bark, and large, spreading canopies. Trees that grow in wet conditions have taller, straight trunks, with smooth bark and their first branches may occur as high as 40 feet up the trunk. |
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FOREST FRIENDS A wide variety of herbs, shrubs, and other trees are found in the koa forest. A combination of koa trees and ohia trees (another native Hawaiian tree) form one of the most commonly seen mixed forests in Hawaii. Several species of native Hawaiian birds such as the akiapolaau and creepers feed on insects that are harmful to koa. Non-native birds can also be seen in koa trees, probably feeding on insects. |
| ENEMIES OF KOA
There are many insects that harm koa. They include more than 40 different species native to Hawaii. Some insects will eat the leaves, stripping the tree of all its greenery, while others may |
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| eat the seeds. Animals living in the forests can also be a problem for the young koa. Grazing cattle, sheep, and goats eat the seedlings and stomp on them in their search for food. Wild pigs may uproot trees to feast on the tender roots. Alien vegetation (plants brought by humans to Hawaii) are also a threat to koa. Plants such as Banana Poka vine can overgrow both young and mature trees, blocking out the sunlight and breaking branches with their weight. People are endangering Hawaiian koa forests. The beautiful koa wood is in high demand by lumber companies and carpenters for a variety of purposes. |  |
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USES FOR KOA The uses of koa by humans began with the early Hawaiians and continues today. Koa, valued for both its strength and beautifully grained wood, was used by the Hawaiians for making canoes and paddles, surfboards, and bowls. Canoes measuring up to 70 feet long and 3 feet wide and capable of carrying 70 people, were made by chopping down a large tree, dragging it down from the forest, and carving out the canoe. Surfboards of 10 to 18 feet were made from koa and used by these early Hawaiians. Today, builders and artisans use koa wood for floors, walls, furniture, cabinets, decorative bowls and boxes, picture frames, jewelry, and a variety of other products. The beauty of koa can be seen in both the rich grain of a finished piece of wood and in a walk through a native forest where a true appreciation of this majestic tree can be found. |
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