Hawaii Wood Art Gallery of Ethereal Wood

For the last 13 years, Maui raised Cain Savage has embarked on a journey through wood, culminating in the forms of wooden bowls and plates, wood bats, the wooden samurai sword, wood sculpture, and furniture. He believes each piece of wood has a purpose and an ethereal feel that guides the transformation from start to finish. His earthy, spiritual approach allows him to recycle what Mother Nature has created into the perfect keepsakes, gifts, and works of art for your home. Let a piece of Ethereal Wood enlighten your life. 

Hawaii wood artist Cain Savage

Hawaii wood artist Cain Savage

Koa wooden fruit bowl

Koa wooden fruit bowl

Solid wood children’s bench

Solid wood children’s bench

One of a kind commissioned wood art

One of a kind commissioned wood art

Unique Koa wood platter

Unique Koa wood platter

Kiawe wood bowl

Kiawe wood bowl

Black Walnut wooden salad bowl

Black Walnut wooden salad bowl

Koa wood table with dividing inlay

Koa wood table with dividing inlay


Working with wood is like opening a hidden gem or a present. You don’t know what it’s going to look like until you put the first coat of oil on it.
— Cain Savage

Natural, free-flowing style sets Cain apart from other wood artists

Kiawe bowl - free form

Kiawe bowl - free form

Cain allows each piece of wood to tell him what to do. He doesn’t approach each project with an idea in mind, but rather lets the shape flow from the wood itself. He looks at the grain, placement of knots and other inclusions, which create a natural guide for him to follow. He knows these inclusions are the areas where the wood will have the most color and where he’ll be able to bring out the wood’s natural beauty. As he’s working the wood, he allows the shape to emerge on its own, showing him what the final form will be. 

 

Visualization through meditation

Connected koa wood bowls

Connected koa wood bowls

Each piece of wood is unique. Cain's creative process combines this with his desire to make something different every time. He meditates on each piece, looking for the curves within and allows them to show him the form enclosed by the wood. Through this mediation, he is able to roughly visualize what each piece of wood will become. Integrating this with his free-flowing style, Cain is able to create a one of a kind piece of wood art every time. 

 

Recycling at its best

Black walnut wood bowl - free form

Black walnut wood bowl - free form

Trees that need to be cut down find a second life through wood art with Cain. Only local Hawaiian wood is used by Cain, based on what is available at the time. Although this is a different approach than most wood workers use, it is what Cain feels comfortable with. Cain also spends some of his time propagating trees from seed to help replenish those that were cut down. Cain includes the whole cycle of wood from tree to finished product in Ethereal Wood.