Koa Calabash

I'm a woodturner in the Island of Maui, Hawaii. My studio is located in Upcountry Maui, on the slopes of the extinct volcano Haleakala. I'm the president of the Maui Woodturners Association, a chapter club of the AAW. I started turning about 20 years ago. 95 % of my turnings are Acacia Koa wood. I'm also a charter fishing boat captain, I play polo and hunt Axis deer all year round. Love Pheasant hunting, have a Pointer dog and an English Setter. I turn on a Stubby S750 lathe. Visitors are always welcome. Love to talk story with other turners. Our club was started Feb. 2016. We now have 27 paid members! With more coming. We would love to have you do a Demo for us if you come to Maui. I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I moved to Maui in 1987. A big Koa tree grew too close to my house, had to hire the trimers to take it down. To haul it out they want it more money than the cutting down job, I told them to leave it where it was.... A friend of mine stopped by, asked if I wanted to sell it. He offered to teach me something "EASY" to do with the wood!! Lets go buy a lathe he said... The rest is history.... I still have some of that first tree... Aloha

- Emiliano Achaval