Koa - North Shore Koa Designs

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Big Box Stores vs. North Shore Koa Designs

The only similarity between a product from a big box store and a handcrafted product is they both perform the same need but that's about it.

When comparing true handcrafted product with the pieces you find in a big box store, some people see the different in price and they can’t understand how a handcrafted product could cost so much.

So why are handcrafted products so expensive?

Wood - We take our time selecting the right board(s) for every product we produce. In some cases, we work directly with the Koa Wood Ranch on Hawaii Island and local sources here on Kauai to find the perfect board(s). You’ll hardly ever find products in a big box store made from real/solid wood. Instead, most of their products are built from particle board. Even small amounts of water can cause particle board to warp, buckle, and fall apart.
Handcrafted - We make all of our products, start to finish. Nothing is outsourced! Our process is geared toward quality and the big box store, toward quantity.
Sanding - We hand sand every product starting at 400 grit, up to 1500 Grit. It's basically as smooth as glass. Big box stores products will be machine sanded.
Finish - We prefer a clear finish, so the natural beauty of the wood can pop out. We recommend quarterly maintenance using Milsek Furniture Polish, to clean and protect the wood in one easy step. Big box stores will use some cheap finish that will not hold up over time.
Longevity - The longevity of anything from a big box store will pale in comparison to an heirloom quality product.
Your Design Input - When you select us, everything is based on what you want. We will work with you by a combination of email, phone, and Zoom. You will be talking directly with the people who will build your product. You decide the size, shape, type of wood, grade of wood, etc.

The Company

Handcrafted items

Facts about Koa Wood

North Shore Koa Designs creates a wide range of items: Headboards, Nightstands, Coffee tables, End table, Kitchen table, Foyer tables, Desks, Jewelry boxes, Clocks, Napkin holders, decorative wall art, and seasonal products. Most items are made with Hawaii grown Koa wood but other products have been made out of Monkey Pod, Eucalyptus, Mellow, Mango, Walnut, and Beech and Mahogany. The combination of different woods are often selected for contrasting wood color and grain. More often than not, it is the combination of woods that enhances the beauty of Koa.

Computer assisted equipment such as the machine called Computer Numerical Control (CNC), is never used to make any item. Although power tools directed by David are used, he also uses a hand planer, hammer, and chisel to create Koa items. All fine sanding and finishes are done by hand.

Within the gallery you will find a pictures of products made by North Shore Koa Designs as well as pictures of custom ordered furniture. Due to the scarcity of Koa wood, orders must be placed well in advance; Furniture designs may not be possible due to the availability of the size of boards needed.

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Facts about Koa Wood

The Koa tree is rare and endemic to Hawaii.

The wood is harvested only from trees that have decayed or have fallen due to natural causes.

Koa wood is known for its deep, rich colors and interlocking grain – which causes curly figuring.

This extremely strong hardwood is revered and prestigious to Hawaiians.

Historically, Koa wood was used for

The Koa tree is rare and endemic to Hawaii.

The wood is harvested only from trees that have decayed or have fallen due to natural causes.

Koa wood is known for its deep, rich colors and interlocking grain – which causes curly figuring.

This extremely strong hardwood is revered and prestigious to Hawaiians.

Historically, Koa wood was used for canoes, paddles, weapons, and furniture belonging to the Hawaiian royalty.

Premium Curly Koa lumber can cost $150-$200/board foot. Prices are increasing as the wood becomes scarce.

Although its population is stable, Koa trees are considered to be an endangered species. North Shore Koa Designs purchases their Koa wood from a ranch on the Big Island, The Koa Wood Ranch. A portion of all proceeds goes directly to the reforestation activities done by The Koa Wood Ranch.

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Koa Wood Ranches Blog - What is Koa?

Creative Team

Facts about Koa Wood

Creative Team

As a husband and wife team, David and Sharlene reside on Kauai's North Shore. Their garage is David's workshop where he makes all of their products. His passion for woodworking began in high school wood shop class. Throughout his life he has refined his craft to the point that friends and relatives began asking for specific items to pur

Throughout her life, Sharlene has developed her ability to design and create things. Seeing her ideas come to fruition with David's woodworking skills, has given her a sense of satisfaction and pride. She modifies or adds features to her designs to fulfill a buyer's vision of an end product. By doing so, most final pieces become heirlooms for the buyer - the rarity of Koa wood and the time spent working on an item is a value that cannot be measured. Without saying, products made by David and Sharlene are indeed one of the kind items that can not be found in stores.

David has been on Kauai's north shore for over 12 years. Sharlene was born and raised in Hawaii. After 24 years of being an elementary school teacher, Sharlene is retired and devotes her time to designing new Koa wood products. David is a retired software analyst / programmer, a career that spanned 39 years.

Send David and Sharlene an email if you have ideas on something you would like crafted. They are a team that welcomes a challenge.

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WHAT DOES KOA WOOD GRAIN LOOK LIKE?

There's three main types of grains

Straight

Describes wood grain that runs in one direction. It has little waving or curl, the grains are mostly parallel.

Curly

Describes a wood grain that has been compressed and produces alternate stripes perpendicular to the face of the wood. This compression creates the visual illusion of a three-dimension surface. This is Koa’s most desirable characteristic.

Figured

Is similar to curly in the sense that compression and other factors cause a desirable looking effect. Unlike curly, however, it is not necessarily perpendicular to the surface. It may contain uneven twists and unpredictable turns in the grain.

Our source for this information is the Koa Wood Ranch: https://koawoodranch.com

Welcome To North Shore Koa Designs

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Big Box Stores vs. North Shore Koa Designs