The “normal” wood for a banjo uke is maple, which has a bright and loud sound. Over the years I have experimented with many woods and found success with woods that aren’t as bright as maple but have a cheerful and loud sound. Koa is my favorite of these at the moment. This stash of Koa comes from Lizann’s grandfather, who built clocks with this wood. I was able to find some nice curly stuff for the rim and strong straight grain wood for the neck. I was even able to use Koa for the fretboard, headplate and bridge. I will donate to plant trees in Hawaii through Saving Hawaii’s Forests to show my thanks for the privilege of working with this wood.