Hawaii Forest Industry Association receives Hawaii County grant to promote koa wood
By APThursday, December 31, 2009
Hawaii group receives grant to promote koa wood
HILO, Hawaii — Hawaii County’s Department of Research and Development has awarded a $5,000 grant to the Hawaii Forest Industry Association.
The association says the money will be used to elevate the awareness of koa wood through a campaign titled “Koa: Standing the Test of Time.”
The group says it has already begun evaluating its “Hawaii’s Wood” branding program and making recommendations to revise materials to better encompass more information about koa and other Hawaiian hardwoods.
It says new strategies are being put into place to broaden the public’s awareness of, desire for and appreciation of koa.
More than 20,000 acres of koa trees are now being grown commercially. The association says koa will remain in restricted supply for at least 15 to 20 years as the new growths mature.
