The Story Behind Kani Woodworking
Decades in the Making: The Convergence of Wood and Wisdom
The Maker
Alan is a creator defined by the quiet hum of the shop and the precise logic of the engineer. His journey began not with a blueprint, but with a scar—a permanent, jagged reminder of a childhood curiosity that led him to sneak into his uncle's carving tools. Though he was too young to safely wield them, that early encounter with the razor-sharp steel left a mark that would forever bind his skin to the story of the wood. It was a visceral introduction to the respect the material demands, sparking a lifelong passion for craftsmanship that has never faded.
To step into Alan's world is to witness a mind that refuses to choose between the analytical and the artistic. He does not simply follow plans; he engineers them. With a fastidious nature that demands perfection, he approaches each project as a unique problem to be solved, blending trusted structural techniques with custom-engineered innovations that make every piece truly one-of-a-kind.
While his academic background in engineering mathematics might seem worlds apart from the tactile nature of woodworking, Alan finds the two disciplines inextricably linked. He views grain patterns and joinery through the lens of geometry and physics, ensuring that beauty is never sacrificed for stability. For him, the shop is more than a workspace; it is a meditative sanctuary where the stress of the outside world dissolves into the rhythm of the saw and the scent of shavings. It is here, removed from distraction, that he finds his center, applying the rigor of mathematics to the organic flow of nature.
A Legacy of Craft
The lineage of Alan's craft is steeped in old-world discipline. As a student, he found a kindred spirit in his Austrian shop instructor, an old-world master who became a mentor. Under that tutelage, Alan flourished, eventually taking on the role of shop assistant during his senior year—a role that cemented his love for the machinery and the material. Even when his academic path took him deep into the abstract worlds of engineering mathematics and later computer engineering, the lathe called to him. The shop became his safety zone, a place of undistracted focus where the tangible reality of wood grounded the complexities of his studies.
The Evolution of Kani Woodworking
Kani Woodworking is a testament to patience and evolution, grown from the soil of the family farm. It began humbly in a corner of the garage, where a supportive father helped a young teenager install heavy, industrial machinery—radial arm saws that demanded respect and care. Despite the lack of supervision and the inherent danger of those early tools, Alan's careful hands survived the learning curve. As his collection of unique, exotic woods grew, so did his need for space, eventually spilling out into the farm's drafty hay barn.
What was once a spider-filled, unheated cavity has slowly transformed over two decades into a climate-controlled sanctuary. Through years of dedication—while living at the other end of the country for graduate school and building a career outside the shop—Alan returned home to upgrade his domain piece by piece. He added industrial dust collection, built fully insulated walls, and installed heat and air conditioning. Now, as he closes in on sixty, the shop stands as the best it has ever been: a physical manifestation of a lifetime spent balancing a professional career with the soulful necessity of creation.
The Spirit of Kani
The shop is named "Kani" in celebration of Makani, Alan's third Alaskan Malamute companion and a constant presence by his side. The name was chosen for its definition: a Hawaiian word for wind, representing an adventurous free spirit who is wise, intelligent, and incredibly stubborn. It seemed the perfect moniker for the dog, but it fits the shop just as well. It represents a wisdom that can only be earned over time—a stubborn refusal to compromise. Kani Woodworking is not a commercial enterprise driven by volume; it could never be, for Alan refuses to rush the process. Instead, it is a studio driven by enjoyment and the pursuit of excellence at his own pace. Here, amidst the sawdust and the silence, the free spirit of the wind meets the stubborn determination of the engineer, resulting in work that is as structurally sound as it is spiritually alive.