Located on the Hamakua Coast of Hawaii's Big Island, Koawood Ranch sits on the slopes of Mauna Kea overlooking the Pacific Ocean and resonating with the vibrancy and stillness of nature's perfection. We are a Koa forest conservation program, milling operation, and Koa woodworking studio.
History
The ranch is within a native Koa and Ohia forest that was converted to cattle grazing during the 1800′s. Grazing damaged the forest and subsequent harvesting of the high-value Koa lumber further pushed the forest into severe decline.
Conservation
To restore the forest, we placed this land into a conservation program working in conjunction with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the local Dept. of Forestry offices. Our work is designed to balance the cattle and forestry operations of the ranch through the application of ecological practices patterned exclusively upon nature's interactions amongst the plant, animal, fungal, and microbial taxonomic kingdoms. As a result, the positive impacts of these rehabilitation activities are now becoming fully evident with the fantastic rebirth of the forest.
Lumber to Finished Products
Our forestry management program includes an onsite milling facility that produces dimensional Koa lumber for sale to specialty woodworkers. It also furnishes the onsite artist studio with the raw material for the production of fine wood turnings and luxury furnishings.