Acacia koaia "laau melomelo" (fishing lures), "hoe" (paddles), "ihe" (short spears), "pololu" (long spears), "ōō" (digging sticks), "ie kūkū" (square "kapa" beaters), and "papa olonā" ("Touchardia latifolia" scrapers). "Koaia" leaves were used to cover "hale lau koaie" (shelters and permanent sheds). Acacia koaia Acacia koaia, known as koaia or koaie in Hawaiian, is a tree in the pea family, Fabaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. It is closely related to "koa" ("A. koa"), and is sometimes considered to be the same species. "Acacia koaia" is usually distinguished by growing as a short (rarely more than ), broad, gnarled tree; having the seeds
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.