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November 1st 2010. Koa Wood Crafts.
Three stamps and a minisheet were issued on November 1st 2010 depicting Koa Wood crafts.
The Koa tree, Acacia koa, is endemic and the second most popular tree in Hawai'i. The Hawaiian word “Koa” means brave or fearless, like a warrior. Koa is a large tree and can grow up to 80 feet tall & 40 feet wide and thrives in volcanic soil.
Koa has been used for just about everything that is made of wood. The trunk of the Koa tree is thick and hard and ideal for carving. The early Hawaiians used Koa tree trunks to carve their outrigger canoes (see booklet cover). Some of the original longboards used in surfing were carved from Koa wood. Before the introduction of china- ware to Hawai’i, eating bowls and plates were commonly carved out of Koa wood.
Koa also has a tonal property and is used for the production of musical instruments, such as the ukulele (see cachet on the FDC). The commercial growing of Koa trees is time-consuming. Up to 25 years is needed before the Koa tree is of any useful size.
The $2.50 stamp (above left) pays for extra charges, such as additional weight. It shows two different carved koa wood bowls. The top bowl has been carved in the shape of a pineapple.
The $6 stamp (above middle) prepays the Overnight rate. It shows two koa wood canoe paddles.
The $9 stamp (above right) prepays the Same Day rate. It shows the koa wood carving from the Royal Mausoleum at Honounau on the Big Island of Hawai'i, which was taken to England in 1825 on the H.M.S. Blonde. It was returned to Hawai'i in 1924 and now resides in the Bishop Museum, Honolulu.
The $9 minisheet (above) prepays the Same Day rate. It depicts a typical 19th century luau scene with about twenty Koa bowls and plates of different shapes and sizes on display. The scene is from an old Hawaiian postcard.
The booklet cover (above) depicts a typical Hawaiian outrigger canoe. The hull has been carved in one piece from the trunk of a koa tree.
The special postmark for this issue depicts a koa wood necklace ornament of a turtle based on a Hawaiian petroglyph.
WE ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS ON ALL ORDERS
Technical details of the stamps:
Colors: Multicolored
Size: Individual Stamp - 47mm x 31mm. Minisheet - 63mm x 50mm.
Stamp sheet size: 30 (6 across, 5 down)
Perforation: Perf 12. Minisheet - imperf.
Stamps design: Enelani.
Layout & Pre-press: Enelani.
Printer: Hawai'i Security Printers, Honolulu, Hawai'i.
Printing Method: 4-color (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black) printing process.
Sheet margin markings: HAWAI'I POST (top middle), "Traffic Light" showing 4 colors used in printing (lower left side), © 2010 Hawai'i Post (lower right side) & Hawai'i Security Printers, Honolulu, Hawai'i. (bottom middle)
Paper: GPA coated white stock with water-activated gum on the back.
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