The Albizia Tree
Hawaiʻi-grown albizia is one of the fastest growing tree species in the world. It is notorious for damaging houses, roads, and other public infrastructure and is Hawaii’s most prolific invasive species.
Because of their fast-growing nature, albizia trees experience sudden branch drop syndrome, shearing large limbs with no apparent cause, which can greatly damage infrastructure and severely harm a passerby.
Based on latest inventories, Falcataria moluccana (albizia) occupies approximately 5% of Hawaii’s landmass. The presence of albizia damages the forest's ecosystem by outcompeting native and canoe plants and by modifying nitrogen levels in the soil.
1 ACRE >
18 TREES >
39.6 MBF LUMBER >
378 SURFBOARDS
One acre of albizia forest can produce 378 surfboards.
A Restorative Supply Chain
Bizia’s surfboards play an integral role in the restorative supply chain of the albizia wood industry in Hawai’i. Our lumber is sourced through The Albizia Project, which partners with land stewards to remove albizia, restore native forests, and provide a locally-sourced, sustainable building material — albizia lumber.
Albizia removal needs are typically identified by community members and utility companies. Once the logs are cut, they are sent to be milled by Bello’s Millwork in Wahiawā. If the removal site is accessible to the public, land-stewards then begin to organize reforest efforts, while the albizia wood itself is turned into lumber.