Est. Kauai · Hawaiian hardwoods
Wood that remembers
the island it came from.
Michael Rollins hand-builds heirloom furniture, keepsakes, and koa ukuleles from locally-milled Hawaiian trees — each grain, knot, and live edge left to tell its own story.
Selected work
Pieces that outlive their makers.
From live-edge desks to hand-carved koa ukuleles — every piece begins as a raw slab and ends as something a family keeps for generations.
YouTube
Watch the process begin, from standing tree to workable wood.
Step inside the shop with Michael — real builds, real shavings, straight from the @woodspeakkauai YouTube channel.
Now playing — May 12, 2024
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Craftsman
Two decades of sawdust, and I still get up early for it.
I mill, dry, design, and finish every piece myself in a small shop on Kauai's north shore. No production runs, no shortcuts — just one board, one plan, one client at a time.
Most of the wood comes from my Ohana at Koa farm.
How a commission works
From slab to heirloom, in four steps.
We meet — in person or on a call — and I learn what you want, where it'll live, and how it should feel.
Together we pick from koa, mango, monkeypod, or milo I've dried in the shop. You'll see the actual slab.
I sketch, joint, glue, and hand-finish. You get photo updates as it comes together — usually 6–14 weeks.
Local drop-off on Kauai, or shipped worldwide in a crate I build for it.
Questions
What to expect when you commission a piece.
How long does a commission usually take?
Most pieces take 6–14 weeks from the day we choose the slab to delivery. Smaller items like boxes or frames may finish sooner; large furniture or instruments can stretch a bit longer depending on drying, joinery, and finish work. I send photo updates at key milestones so you're never guessing.
What goes into the price of a custom piece?
Pricing is based on the wood species and size, the complexity of the build, joinery, finish, and any shipping or install. There are no hidden fees — I quote a flat price after we land on the design, and I won't change it unless the scope changes.
What kinds of wood do you work with?
I keep a rotating stock of locally-milled Hawaiian hardwoods: koa, mango, monkeypod, and milo are the usual favorites. Each slab is dried in-shop and chosen for figure, stability, and the story behind it. If you have a specific wood in mind, ask — I can often source it or suggest something similar.
How does the commissioning process work?
It starts with a conversation — in person, on the phone, or by email. We talk about what you want, where it will live, and how it should feel. Then we pick the actual wood, I sketch and quote, and I build it with photo updates along the way. Local Kauai clients get hand delivery; everywhere else gets a custom crate and insured shipping.
Now booking · Winter 2026
Have a piece of wood — or a room — that's been waiting for the right hands?
Send me a note with what you're dreaming up. I reply to every message personally, usually within a couple of days. No obligation, no pressure.