Visit to Hoonah, Alaska: Warmth from the Tongass
- Darian Dyer
- Jun 16
- 3 min read
Hoonah, Alaska is located on Chichagof Island. The village is surrounded by the Tongass National Forest, the largest national forest in the United States at around 17 million acres. The Huna Tlingit people have inhabited the area since advancing glaciers forced them south in around 1750, naming the settlement “Xunniyaa,” meaning “shelter from the north wind.” It’s a community where half of the homes heat with wood.
I took a short, eight-seat plane ride from Juneau to land at Hoonah’s airport in early May. I was aiming to see the wood bank run by the Hoonah Indian Association. The view from above offered an unreal perspective on the landscape that locals have to operate within, with very few roads in sight and a forested landscape under various management practices. Snow-topped mountains rose jagged among the forest, looking every bit as scenic as you might expect and probably twice as hard to work within as they seemed. The temperature was fine but the scene was cold and I could imagine how nice wood heat would be in those circumstances.
The Hoonah Community Firewood Bank is in its early days having been started in January 2025. They operate with the crew of the Hoonah Native Forest Partnership. The firewood bank received $26,852 during the 2025-2026 Firewood Bank Assistance Program grant cycle and used the funds to purchase 25 truckloads of logs from the Tongass as well as a chainsaw, fuel, and labor. They combine their efforts with Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding, delivering wood to households at prices on a sliding scale, based on income. Prices range from $325 (for those who are non-HUD eligible) to $25 per cord. The community wood bank distributes about 75 cords a year to 75 homes within a 1-2 mile radius of the wood lot.
Central to their efforts is their relationship with the local sawmill owner, Wes of Icy Straits Lumber, who has owned the only sawmill in town for the last 20-25 years. The firewood bank purchases nonmerchantable timber from him, giving the mill owner a way to efficiently utilize wood that would otherwise be decked and randomly dispersed. This example of federal wood sourcing and integration into the regional timber sector is one of the reasons we chose to travel so far to visit Hoonah. It’s a relationship we hope many firewood banks will replicate locally to create lasting partnerships for wood sourcing and processing, as well as to establish themselves as a valuable, community-driven link to the wider wood products market. Not only can a firewood bank support the local wood economy, but it can also serve those in need, creating a win-win situation for all.
Left: Ian, left, and Nathan, right, talk about wood storage. Right: Wood dries under cover at the wood lot.
Besides the need for an affordable source of heat in the village, many homes that qualify for reduced cord fees have issues with the weatherization of their homes. The climate’s effect on a homeowner's roof is a major concern in the area where humidity and subsequent moss growth can cause wear and tear on the roof’s surface. This, combined with an aging population and less frequent caregiving support within multigenerational homes, means the firewood need is likely to increase. The Hoonah Indian Association is looking to expand its impact on the community where they can. I had the opportunity to walk into their new greenhouse which not only serves up fresh produce for the community but serves as an activity for local youth to be involved in (particularly during the long, dark days of winter). They are willing to leverage any grant opportunity or partnership they can find to work towards a healthier and more prosperous future for the village.
Left: David checks the moisture content of drying logs. Right: Ian, Nathan, David, and Darian at the wood lot.
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