Salvaged from Oahu, and hand-finished here on the Big Island, this strong, hard wood, Opiuma, Pithecellobium dulce, is a species native to the Pacific Coast, the highlands of Mexico and Central America as well as northern South America. It has been naturalized in many parts of the world including here in Hawaii in the late 1800’s. Opiuma was first used as a shade tree. It can grow up to 60 feet with light gray bark and can become quite invasive. People believed the small black seeds, which are used in lei making, resembled Opium.

This piece is especially unique and has many imperfections. I used a water-based resin to fill the major cracks and applied many layers of beeswax and orange oil to bring out its beautiful luster. It should not be submerged in water as there are still many cracks along the edges that give it a one-of-a-kind character.