Lesser koa finch birds, when the first and last specimens were shot. In all, there were eight specimens that were collected, all of them from in trees that were used by the greater koa finch. There were several other related species living at its time including one from Oahu, one from Maui and one living in Kona. It has been confused with a house finch and many novice bird watchers claim false sightings. It was also confused with the O’u, which was still common on Hawaii and Kauai until the latter's recent disappearance. Lesser koa finch The lesser koa finch ("Rhodacanthis flaviceps") is
Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge numerous deep gulches. Rainfall decreases to about at elevations above , where majestic koa ("Acacia koa") and red-blossomed ōhia lehua ("Metrosideros polymorpha") trees form a closed-canopy forest. Further upslope, above , rainfall decreases to or less and native forest merges into abandoned pastureland where alien grasses and weeds, introduced as forage for cattle, are the dominant vegetation. Since 1989, over 400,000 koa, ōhia, and other native plants have been planted in this area as part of the refuge's reforestation program. The Pua Akala Cabin, located within the refuge, was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places in August 2008.