Silviculture - forestry - is one of the Big Island's
fastest growing diversified agricultural activities. Most of the state's 1.7 million acres
of forest and 700,000 acres of timberland are on the Big Island, both privately and
publicly held. Nearly all forestry activity - valued at over $29 million in 1993 - is Big
Island-based, in particular the selective harvesting of Acacia koa, the islands' premier
native wood. Among the most common of Hawaii's forest trees, koa's beauty and variety have
placed it among the most highly valued woods worldwide. The Big Island is well known for
its fine woodworkers, bowl turners and custom furniture makers, who employ koa and a host
of other tropical hardwoods in their creations. Other forestry-related businesses include
seedling nurseries, agroforestry consultants, ecotourism ventures, milling operations and
lumber kilns. The state's largest commercial tree farm, an operation of Prudential Timber
Investments, is planting at least 16,000 acres of short-rotation hardwoods on former
sugarcane land. Thousands of acres of mature hardwoods, planted decades ago by state
foresters and now ready for harvest, will also contribute to this growing industry.
Silviculture - forestry - is one of the Big Island's
fastest growing diversified agricultural activities. Most of the state's 1.7 million acres
of forest and 700,000 acres of timberland are on the Big Island, both privately and
publicly held. Nearly all forestry activity - valued at over $29 million in 1993 - is Big
Island-based, in particular the selective harvesting of Acacia koa, the islands' premier
native wood. Among the most common of Hawaii's forest trees, koa's beauty and variety have
placed it among the most highly valued woods worldwide. The Big Island is well known for
its fine woodworkers, bowl turners and custom furniture makers, who employ koa and a host
of other tropical hardwoods in their creations. Other forestry-related businesses include
seedling nurseries, agroforestry consultants, ecotourism ventures, milling operations and
lumber kilns. The state's largest commercial tree farm, an operation of Prudential Timber
Investments, is planting at least 16,000 acres of short-rotation hardwoods on former
sugarcane land. Thousands of acres of mature hardwoods, planted decades ago by state
foresters and now ready for harvest, will also contribute to this growing industry.