Falcataria moluccana subtropical regions of the world and so has many common names. These include: albizia (Hawaii), Moluccan albizia, sengon (Java), salawaku (Maluku), jeungjing (Indonesia), ai-samtuco (Tetun, East Timor), madre de cacao (East Timor), batai (Malaysia), kerosin tree (Pohnpei), sau, Moluccan sau, and falcata (Philippines). The tree has become invasive in forests in Hawaii and on other Pacific islands. In Hawaii the caterpillars of the endemic Hawaiian koa looper ("Scotorythra paludicola") has been found to defoliate "Falcataria moluccana" and complete their development on this invasive tree without the larvae eating the leaves of their native host "Acacia koa". In Borneo the following
Acacia koa there are few koa remaining which are both large and straight enough to do so today. In areas where cattle are present, koa regeneration is almost completely suppressed. However, if the cattle are removed, koa are among the few native Hawaiian plants able to germinate in grassland, and can be instrumental in restoring native forest. It is often possible to begin reforestation in a pasture by disk harrowing the soil, as this scarifies seeds in the soil and encourages large numbers of koa to germinate. Experiments at the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge have shown that ōhia lehua ("Metrosideros polymorpha")