Company Intro
Maikai Wood Hawaii is a specialist supplier and manufacturer of exotic woods for musical instruments, architectural veneers, furniture, knives, and fine crafts, with operations centered in Japan and sourcing rooted in Hawaii and select global hardwood markets.
The company manages the full process from log sourcing and import through manufacturing and export, with a core focus on high-grade Hawaiian tonewoods—most notably Hawaiian koa—processed under direct oversight from raw material to finished product.
A defining capability of Maikai Wood Hawaii is its full chain-of-custody sourcing, enabling the documentation of the precise origin of individual trees, including exact harvest locations on Hawaii Island. Hawaiian koa and other Hawaiian woods are sourced primarily from salvaged trees and land-clearing operations. Founder Jorma Winkler was selected by the State of Hawaii to successfully complete a Hawaiian koa salvage and reforestation project on Hawaiian Homelands on the Island of Hawaii, ensuring long-term resource continuity alongside responsible material use.
In addition to Hawaiian materials, Maikai Wood Hawaii imports select hardwoods from around the world and sources Japanese domestic hardwoods, which are manufactured in Japan for export to international customers.
Japan-based operations include the production of solid instrument woods, architectural veneer stock, and specialty veneer products, including KamiPLY and WashiPLY—a trademarked, paper-backed veneer system utilizing either U.S.-made kraft veneer backers or Japanese fleece-style papers bonded to real wood veneer for use in high-end architectural, furniture, and product applications.
Since 2000, the company has supplied materials for use in musical instruments, automotive interiors, architectural projects, fine crafts, jewelry, and watches, with customers and end users including Fender Musical Instruments, Takamine Guitars, Bentley Motors, Pernod Ricard, and the Obama Presidential Library.
Across all markets, Maikai Wood Hawaii prioritizes material quality, provenance, and long-term relationships, supplying wood specifically prepared for professional makers rather than mass-market distribution.
