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INTERVAL WORLD
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Issue 2, 2019
31
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS: KNOCK ON WOOD
Hawaii’s acacia koa is the Aloha State’s most common and exclusive
native tree. Relied on for its strong, deep-hued, and textured wood,
it’s used to carve furniture, ships, and musical instruments — one
reason it’s earned the moniker Hawaiian Mahogany.
At woodworking studios across the Hawaiian Islands,
Martin &
MacArthur
’s rich history and affection for koa wood is evident in
every handcrafted ukulele, clock, and rocking chair for sale. You’ll
also find daily-use items, such as a beach chair smartphone holder,
a gold-faced koa wood wristwatch, and even a men’s grooming kit
with wood finishes. On Honolulu,
Simply Wood Studios
also
conveys its deep affinity for koa, expressed through bowls, deco-
rative boxes, and home decor carved by some of the island’s most
talented artisans. Browse the shop — located right across the street
from the famed
malasada
(Portuguese doughnut) joint, Leonard’s
Bakery — for some koa wood jewelry, a handmade koa wood puzzle
of a mother sea turtle and her hatchling, or a one-of-a-kind vase
segmented together with koa, cocobolo, and pau amarello woods
(the last often coined Brazilian satinwood).
TUCSON, ARIZONA: SET IN STONE
Of all the gemstones prevalent in Native American culture, turquoise
holds the most significance in the Southwest. Mined throughout
Arizona and valued for bestowing prosperity and good fortune,
turquoise is known as the Stone of Life, not only for the belief that
it represents all living things on Earth, but for its seemingly uncanny
ability to change hue depending on climate, temperature, light, and
the stone’s composition itself — a true living mineral that makes
turquoise a highly precious addition to any souvenir collection, from
jewelry to art.
Make your way to
Bahti Indian Arts
, purveyor of eclectic, fine
Indian art for more than 70 years, specializing in paintings, pottery,
and sculpture. Peruse the collection of Zuni fetishes, Hopi kachinas,
and Navajo textiles, which range from a pipestone mountain lion
with a turquoise dragonfly to owl kachinas to handwoven rugs. A
45-year labor of love,
Morning Star Traders
opens up a world
of Southwestern treasures and museum-quality finds. Discover a
wealth of antiques, including a handmade pair of sterling silver,
1930s Navajo thunderbird earrings, and a Hopi turquoise and silver
bracelet, circa the 1950s, engraved with an owner’s mark and artist
hallmark. Best yet, proceeds support Native American families.
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA: EVERGREEN
The rituals of sharing a meal, pouring libations, or even sitting down
for a beverage in Argentina are filled with symbolism, significance, and
meaning — much like preparing, toasting, and drinking yerba mate
NAVAJO TURQUOISE JEWELRY