Acacia koa Acacia koa Acacia koa is a species of flowering tree in the pea family, Fabaceae. It is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, where it is the second most common tree. The highest populations are on Hawaii, Maui and Oahu. Its name in the Hawaiian language, koa, also means brave, bold, fearless, or warrior. Koa is a large tree, typically attaining a height of and a spread of . In deep volcanic ash, a koa tree can reach a height of , a circumference of , and a spread of . It is one of the fastest-growing Hawaiian trees, capable of
Acacia koaia It can be seen on ranch land in North Kohala, and at a small fenced exclosure outside of Waimea known as the "koaia" sanctuary. "Koaia" is one of the species being used to revegetate the island of Kahoolawe, which lost most of its plant life to overgrazing and ordnance testing. Native Hawaiians ground "koaia" leaves and bark with "auaukoi" ("Senna occidentalis") and "kikānia pipili" ("Desmodium sandwicense") stalks. The mixture was then hydrated and used in a steam bath to treat diseased skin. The wood of "koaia" is harder and more dense than that of "koa". It was used to make