Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionOhia Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Domestic hardwood species
Ohia is best understood by how it looks, how it works, and where it should be used. This guide explains the practical buying details before sending you to the right Kingma products.
Scientific nameMetrosideros spp.
Janka hardness2,040 lbf
Average dried weight57 lb/ft³
Best fitFurniture
Overview
Why choose Ohia?
Ohia is a domestic hardwood species associated with Pacific islands. It is useful when the project calls for furniture, flooring, and turned objects
For SEO and customer usefulness, this page separates the science from the buying decision: appearance, working behaviour, durability, project fit, and then the right Kingma shopping path.
Scientific nameMetrosideros spp.
DistributionPacific islands
ShrinkageRadial: 6.9%, Tangential: 12.1%, Volumetric: 19.1%, T/R Ratio: 1.8
DurabilityRated as non-durable to perishable; good insect resistance.
Ohia colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood is a light to medium reddish brown. Grayish sapwood is not well defined.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain is interlocked, with a medium uniform texture and moderate natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, generally difficult to work on account of its high density and interlocked grain. Ohia also has a rather large movement in service, as evidenced by its high shrinkage values.
Besides the standard health risks associated with any type of wood dust, no further health reactions have been associated with Ohia.
Ohia should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Ohia
Best projects
Furniture, flooring, and turned objects
Use caution
Avoid specifying it by name alone; confirm board size, moisture, colour, figure, and the project environment before buying.
Finish strategy
Test finishes on offcuts first, especially when colour, blotching, outdoor exposure, or grain filling matters.
Buying note
Choose boards, slabs, plywood, blanks, or posts based on the project rather than species name alone.
Shop path
Buying Ohia from Kingma
Start with the direct species match when Kingma sells it. If stock rotates, use the closest live collection or a clearly explained alternative.
Live edge slabs
Use when the customer cares more about slab format and visual impact than this exact species.
View optionSimilar woods and alternatives
If Kingma does not have an exact match online, use the buying links below as practical alternatives only when the colour, grain, hardness, or project environment makes sense.
Ohia FAQ
What is Ohia best used for?
Ohia is best considered for furniture, flooring, and turned objects. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Ohia beginner friendly?
It depends on density, grain direction, and tooling. Test cuts on offcuts first, and choose Maple, Cherry, Walnut, or Poplar when easier machining is the priority.
Does Kingma sell Ohia?
Use the buying section on this page. If an exact product is not listed, the linked alternatives are included only when they make practical sense for colour, grain, or project use.