My name is Jonathan Davis, and I’m a knifemaker based in Kona on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. While steel and fire occupy most of my days, the true inspiration behind Hookbill Knives comes from another lifelong passion: parrots.

The name itself is a tribute to these amazing creatures. Over the years, my home has become a refuge for a growing flock of rescue birds, each with its own personality, history, and scars. Caring for them has taught me patience, consistency, and respect for the bond that can exist between humans and animals.

Those same lessons find their way into my work at the forge.

Like parrots, knives are often misunderstood. Both can be beautiful and dangerous, demanding responsibility, skill, and trust from those who handle them. A well-made knife, much like a well-cared-for parrot, is built to last a lifetime (or more). Both carry the marks of their journey, growing character through use, care, and time.

My knifemaking process mirrors the lives of the birds that inspire it. Raw steel is shaped by pressure, heat, and careful guidance, transformed into something resilient and purposeful. Many rescue parrots undergo a similar process, arriving with difficult pasts and gradually revealing their intelligence, strength, and individuality.

Hookbill Knives is more than a workshop. It is part of a larger vision. My goal is to establish Hookbill Sanctuary, a permanent home for rescued parrots where they can live safely and where others can learn about these remarkable creatures. Every knife I create helps move that vision forward.

For me, the forge and the aviary are connected. One is a place where steel is shaped by fire; the other, where trust is shaped by time. Both remind me that the most meaningful things in life are not manufactured—they are earned.