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
Koa wilt to the Hawaiian islands. It ranges in size from 15 to greater than 50 feet with a canopy spread of 20 to 40 feet. It has a showy white flower and blooms sporadically. Mature leaves are sickle shaped. Koa wilt is typically a fatal pathogen for its host. In only a few months, a tree may lose its entire canopy and die. Trees less than fifteen years old are typically the most susceptible. Symptoms include stains in cambium, roots, and sapwood as well as chlorosis (yellowing), canopy dieback, brown and wilted leaves, oozing sap, and bark cankers. The Koa wilt