These are a few of the collaborative projects created between Koa Stevens and his father Tonu-Shane Eagleton over the many years of their journey as a carving powerhouse team bridging their Polynesian Rotuman legacy and lineage and following the destiny of their sculpting pursuits.
A Polynesian woodcarver and his son use an energy called “Mana” to bring out the spirits that lie within a tree stump. circa 2020
Find out more about their artwork at nativeland.org/mana-of-the-treesDecember 2025 A completed memorial piece for Rick Griffin, commissioned by ‘The Chambers Project” in Grass Valley, Ca. Co-created by Tonu-Shane Eagleton and Koa Stevens with the guidance of The Chambers Project on the memorialization. This monolithic piece was sculpted with the iconic images which Rick Griffin designed and was to honor his artistic legacy for the early psychedelic rock and roll era which grew out of California. He was an artist whom created many of the emblematic posters for the Grateful Dead as well as an artist prominent in the surfing sub culture of California. This Sculpture was created from a local cedar in Nevada City, took over two months of continuous chiseling and was placed in the Chambers Projects Gallery for their ’60 years of the Grateful Dead retrospective art opening’ December 2025.‘The Shake Head Dancer’ created in collaboration between Koa Stevens and Tonu-Shane Eagleton for the Elem Nation of Pomo in Lake County, CA. Carved out of Alaskan Yellow Cedar to evoke a ‘Shake Head Dancer’ honoring the on going legacy of the first people and inhabitants of Lake County and to their eternal health and healing. The symbolic Flicker Headband was sculpted out of oak. Flicker feathers are a highly revered symbolic item, part of traditional dance regalia. Circa 2025
Group Carving Project for the “Madrones” in Mendocino, CA circa 2021 A collaborative team building creative incentive with a memorable statement to conclude.
Group Carving Project for the “Hip Camp” in Mendocino, CA placed up at Jug Handle State Park. circa 2021 Another collaborative team building creative incentive with a memorable statement to conclude.Carved by Tonu Shane and as a youth Koa was apprenticing. These were the gatekeepers to the historic Black Oak Ranch in Laytonville, Ca. Carved to represent a local myth of Salmon boy and Acorn woman to honor the return of the land and a wellspring of nourishment. Many Festivals and gatherings were and are held onsite and these original carvings stood for many years until age and elemental storms and bees gnawed away at them. circa 2003 give or take. The following images below are the recent additions to replace the fallen sentinels. Recreated and carved by Tonu-Shane Eagleton and Koa Stevens circa 2024
This Humpback and Ganesha were carved in collaboration from a living 200 year old Bay Laurel tree, which fell over during a large storm. Commissioned by a long time patron and inlaid with crystals and shells. Located near Ukiah, Ca Circa 2017/2018
A Cedars Deodara ‘Himalayan cedar’ carving which is now known as the ‘Stanford Cedar’ in a unique corner of the internet within the incense world due to its terpenic resinous and aromatic qualities unique to this single origin specimen, equal to some of the highest grade of sandalwood according to Kyara Zen. Throughout the carving process for this piece, which was commissioned for a patron with selected iconic imagery, the aroma was so brilliant that Koa saved all the saw dust and chips and this formed the base of his own incense collection as well as the one of the base ingredients of his friends at Craft Incense. A Whale and Water Phoenix known as a Halcyon. Carved from salvaged wood from the Tubbs fire from 2017. This piece was commissioned by the owner of ‘Old World Winery’ Darek Trowbridge. It was created to offer protection and balance after the loss of a home on his property due to a fire. It offers a cooling talisman and welcoming calm to a prosperous present and future. Now placed as a entrance gateway to a budding vineyard on his property in Fulton, Ca1. Second growth redwood slab in collaboration with Tonu-Shane. Formed into a Whale with a phoenix symbolizing the elements of water and fire, growth, renewal, rebirth and revival. Now located at the River Bend Resort in Forestville, Ca. 2. A Tiki Goddess, carved from wood salvaged out of the Tubbs fire from 2017, retrieved with the help of the fire brigade. Amana i’oro fekau
Carved oak salvaged from the river, 2009
Originally created for the 2009 Bioneers Conference, Amana i’oro fekau was inspired by themes of prophecy, protection, and omnipresence. Though intended for the main stage, the work was set aside — its realism stirring unease in a presenter with a fear of sharks.
The piece later found quiet refuge in the Presidio, where it hung for sixteen years without a label or name — a forgotten sentinel swimming in time. In a moment of synchronicity, the artist rediscovered it during a later exhibition, reuniting with the collaborative work he had created with his father.
Now resurfaced, Amana i’oro fekau breathes again — a sentient messenger returning from the depths to share its stories and wisdom.
Koa and Tonu in Ecuador, carving guayacan wood salvaged off the beaches, circa 2012-2014. They carved up and down the coast from villas, hotels, retreat centers, a central installation for the water woman festival (2012), a tea house, and much more.Oahu, with a stump carved for a collector outside their home
Father Son Tonu-Shane and Koa early 2000’s with a Healing Pole of Alaskan Yellow Cedar
