In Maui for a few days. Want exotic woods. There’s one local store but then I got the idea to call arborists. One has promised me some pheasant wood tomorrow. Too bad I didn’t pack my chainsaw. We will see what I can find. Wish me luck.
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Hawaiian woods search
- Thread starter Alan Weinberg
- Start date
You should visit @Emiliano Achaval He might set you up with some nice woods!
Have you checked on the process of getting the wood back onto the mainland? You might go into a fair amount of effort, and then have it seized in Ca.
"Bringing wood from Hawaii to the mainland United States requires declaring it for inspection and ensuring it is pest-free, due to regulations aimed at preventing the spread of invasive species. Unprocessed firewood is generally prohibited due to the giant African snail infestation, and palm tree material from Oahu cannot be moved due to the coconut rhinoceros beetle.Driftwood, naturally weathered by saltwater, is allowed if declared and inspected, but must be free of soil and other organic material".
Tried. He’s on mainland most of the time I’m here and hasn’t gotten back to me.
I’ve looked on line and found variable information. Finished wood is allowed so I might swing by a hardware store, rub some oil on the pieces and call them finished. Or I’ll go to post office . . .
Alan-I have looked into getting some Hawaiian wood shipped. I forget the name of the supplier, but he ships to the mainland all the time. I'm sure any outfit who does that will know the regulations, and be willing to share them. Green wood would probably cost a fortune to ship to CA, so I understand why you might want to take it with you. I hope you get it through Customs okay.
Been to various islands in the Hawaii chain.....years ago. I used to go purchase a Rubbermaid container and a roll of duct tape, and a felt tip marker. Go find some wood on your running around the island. Take off all the bark. Make sure it fits in your container. Then I would show up at the airport and have the Ag people check the wood. Always seemed to get approval. Would then put the lid on the container and tape it down. Write my name, etc. on the outside. Check it as baggage. It worked for me.
I think the bark will cause you problems. Without the bark, you stand a much better chance.
I think the bark will cause you problems. Without the bark, you stand a much better chance.
Have contacted 19 places—arborists and wood places. 18 strikes and one possible who may call me back . . .
I guess I got lucky. The guy I got it from says he sends wood all the time in someone's luggage. Last year we went to Hawaii. Ended up buying an extra suitcase at a discount store aand brought back 80lbs of wood. After we left Maui we hopped over to the Big Island for a week. At the Maui Airport the counter agent asked why it was so heavy. I replied it's fuilled with wood I can't get in Indiana. She smiled and charged me for teh extra bag dee. No inspection. After the week on the Big Island we flew home. Same thing at the airport in Kona. The question was asked about the weight and contents, my reply, then the smile and exrta bag charge. nothing said about taking wood. Al the wood was chainsaw cut. some with bark some without. They were inspecting for fruit but not wood. There was even an additional conveyor belt bag scanner (like the one at the TSA line) at the actual boarding gate. You had to run your carryon through that a second time to verify no fruit. I wonder if I was just lucky, or if they are not too concerned about wood, or if the restrictions on transporting wood have changed since May 2024 when we were there. Or they may not be too concerned with wood leaving the state but have stricter guidelines for wood coming into the state.
Alan, the suggestion to contact Emiliano is good. I will see if I can get a hold of the guy I got my wood from. I don't like passing on someone's private contact info to a stranger without their permission.
Also, Check the AAW main site under resources for finding local clubs/chapters. There is a club on Maui. Maybe the club contact person shown can help.
Also, In LaHaina there was a weekly craft/farmer's market we went to. There were a couple turners there selling stuff. Maybe they can help or point you to a source. But, you may want to check your State's retrictions for bringing wood into the state from another state. Does it have to be bark free, kiln dried, etc.
Alan, I forgot to mention - some of the woods I got and really liked are Milo, monkeypod, and Pheasant wood. Pheasant weood is cool as some of the grain actially looks like the feather of a pheasant. I have't had any but a friend came bag from Maui a few years ago with some spalted manog. That had some beautiful color and spalting.
Thanks Ricc. Lahaina is gone. Hope you reach your wood guy for me! Have contacted Emiliano—club president—but he’s on mainland. Striking out.
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Alan - Try Hardware Lumber Maui (HLM) in Wailuku. Not sure how much they have there, but one of my neighbors has been there in the past and said they had some turning stock. They had a house in Maui and he said that was a favorite placer of his. Good luck and have fun - we’re heading that way in September/October.
Thanks. Closed today.
Hi Allan,
I went through the same thing last year. Here is a link to that discussion thread. I was in Kauai, but the same issue.
Good luck.
I went through the same thing last year. Here is a link to that discussion thread. I was in Kauai, but the same issue.
Good luck.
HI all,
Surfed online to try to find the answer and got mixed results. My wife and I are traveling to Kauai for our 25th wedding anniversary next weekend.
I'm going to miss the symposium, I know. I found an ad where someone is clearing 1 acre of ground and giving away the wood. Does anyone know if I can bring home un-processed wood from Kauai to the mainland? I might look into shipping some also. Thanks for your help
Also, is there a turning club on Kauai? I found old posts of a club but nothing new.
Surfed online to try to find the answer and got mixed results. My wife and I are traveling to Kauai for our 25th wedding anniversary next weekend.
I'm going to miss the symposium, I know. I found an ad where someone is clearing 1 acre of ground and giving away the wood. Does anyone know if I can bring home un-processed wood from Kauai to the mainland? I might look into shipping some also. Thanks for your helpAlso, is there a turning club on Kauai? I found old posts of a club but nothing new.
Actually we were there in Lahaina Feb 2024 months after the fire. yes things were gone and closed especially around the harbor waterfront areaand that was sad to see. But the community is resilient. LOTS of business, restaurants, farmers markets, hotels. etc were open for business when we were there just a few months after the fire. We did our best to support those local businesses whenever we could during our vacation.
Called as soon as they opened today—0730–they have no turning stock thicker than 2 inches. I’m striking out and leave tomorrow.