Color
The heartwood ranges from light pinkish-brown to deeper reddish-brown. Its natural color may darken with age and finishing.
What is Hawaiian Red Cedar?
Hawaiian-Grown Specialty Tonewood
Hawaiian Red Cedar
Australian Red Cedar / Toona ciliata
Rich reddish-brown color, lightweight character, and natural warmth. Hawaiian Red Cedar is an Australian Red Cedar hardwood grown on Hawaii Island, valued for its attractive appearance, distinctive aroma, and versatile workability. Discover its potential for guitars, ukuleles, and fine woodworking.
01
What Is Hawaiian Red Cedar?
Origin & Botanical Information
Hawaiian Red Cedar refers to Australian Red Cedar (Toona ciliata) grown in Hawaii. This species is a hardwood belonging to the mahogany family (Meliaceae), rather than the true cedar genus (Cedrus).
Native to parts of Asia and Australia, Toona ciliata has traditionally been used for furniture, cabinetry, joinery, and decorative woodworking. It is valued for its relatively light weight, reddish-brown heartwood, and ease of working.
Australian Red Cedar was introduced to Hawaii in the early twentieth century and has been grown in forestry plantings. Hawaiian-grown material offers an interesting option for woodworkers and instrument makers seeking a distinctive hardwood.
- Common Name
- Hawaiian Red Cedar
- Other Names
- Australian Red Cedar / Australian Toon / Toon
- Scientific Name
- Toona ciliata M.Roem.
- Family
- Meliaceae (Mahogany Family)
- Native Range
- Parts of Asia through eastern Australia
- Wood Origin
- Hawaii Island, State of Hawaii, USA
- Specific Gravity
- Approximately 0.35–0.40 (reported reference range for Hawaiian-grown material; values vary)
- Common Uses
- Musical instrument components, furniture, cabinetry, and decorative woodworking
02
Wood Characteristics
Color, Grain & Workability
Grain & Texture
The grain is usually straight, although interlocked or wavy grain may occur. The wood generally has a relatively coarse, open texture.
Low Density
This species is relatively lightweight and soft compared with many dense hardwoods. Its low weight makes it useful for selected instrument components and woodworking projects.
Natural Aroma
Freshly cut or machined material may release a characteristic cedar-like aroma. The intensity can vary between individual pieces.
03
Hawaiian Red Cedar vs. Western Red Cedar
Understanding the Species Difference
Despite their similar common names, Hawaiian Red Cedar and Western Red Cedar are botanically distinct wood species.
Hawaiian Red Cedar
Toona ciliata belongs to the mahogany family (Meliaceae). It is a hardwood native to parts of Asia and Australia. Maikai Wood Hawaii offers material grown on Hawaii Island.
Western Red Cedar
Thuja plicata belongs to the cypress family (Cupressaceae). It is a softwood native to western North America and is widely used for acoustic and classical guitar soundboards.
Important Species Distinction
Both woods can be lightweight, aromatic, and reddish in color, but their botanical classification and physical properties differ. Similar names do not indicate identical acoustic performance or interchangeable applications.
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Musical Instrument Applications
Hawaiian Red Cedar as a Tonewood
Hawaiian Red Cedar offers lightweight wood with good working characteristics, making it a material worth considering for selected musical instrument applications.
Individual pieces with suitable density, stiffness, grain orientation, and dimensions may be considered for guitar and ukulele soundboards. Depending on the material and instrument design, it may also be used for backs, sides, and specialty components.
Low-density woods can be useful in soundboard design, but their suitability depends on mechanical properties and structural requirements.
The final tonal response, volume, and sustain of an instrument depend on wood stiffness and density, thickness, bracing, body construction, and craftsmanship.
The wood species alone does not guarantee a particular tone, sensitivity, or acoustic performance.
05
Hawaiian-Grown Timber & Availability
Origin, History & Material Selection
Australian Red Cedar has a history of introduction and cultivation in Hawaii, including forestry plantings.
Hawaiian-grown material is not as widely encountered in the mainstream tonewood market as established commercial soundboard species. Suitable instrument-making pieces must be selected according to their dimensions, grain, and material condition.
Although geographic origin is an important part of the wood's identity, wood density, growth characteristics, and mechanical properties vary between trees.
Hawaiian origin alone does not guarantee greater density, slower growth, or better acoustic performance.
When selecting Hawaiian Red Cedar, consider grain orientation, dimensions, moisture content, cracks, stability, and the intended application, in addition to its origin.
06
Recommended Applications
Instrument Making & Woodworking
Acoustic Guitars
Selected soundboards, backs, sides, and decorative components, where the material properties and dimensions meet design requirements.
Classical Guitars
Potential soundboard and specialty component applications, subject to suitable stiffness, grain orientation, and structural design.
Ukuleles
Tops, backs, and sides for selected designs, highlighting the wood's natural reddish-brown appearance and light weight.
Woodworking & Crafts
Carving, boxes, lightweight furniture components, decorative panels, and other specialty woodcrafts.
07
Working, Drying & Storage
Practical Workshop Considerations
Hawaiian Red Cedar is generally easy to cut and shape because of its relatively soft, lightweight nature.
However, interlocked grain or areas of tension wood may cause fuzzy surfaces, tear-out, or other machining difficulties.
Sharp cutting tools, controlled feed rates, and careful attention to grain direction are recommended.
Even lightweight hardwoods may develop checking, end splits, shrinkage, or distortion during drying.
Initial moisture content, board thickness, grain orientation, and drying conditions should be considered when preparing material for instrument making.
Before precision machining, allow the timber to acclimate to the workshop environment. Check moisture content and dimensional stability.
Workshop Safety
Use suitable dust extraction, ventilation, and personal protective equipment when cutting or sanding. Wood dust may cause skin or respiratory irritation in sensitive individuals.
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A Distinctive Hardwood Grown in Hawaii
Selecting Hawaiian Red Cedar
Hawaiian Red Cedar combines rich reddish-brown color, relatively low weight, a distinctive natural aroma, and versatile working properties.
Its appearance and material characteristics make it an interesting option for instrument makers and woodworkers exploring specialty hardwoods.
From selected guitar and ukulele components to furniture and decorative crafts, Hawaiian-grown Toona ciliata offers a range of creative possibilities.
At Maikai Wood Hawaii, we value the unique character of Hawaiian-grown timber and provide specialty materials for luthiers, instrument makers, and woodworkers around the world.
