Acacia koaia 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 longitudinally arranged in the pod; shorter, straighter phyllodes; and much denser wood. A population on the northern coast of Kauai may be intermediate, but the relationships have not been worked out. "Koaia" wood is claimed to be very different
Koa wilt species of koa-finches, "Rhodacanthis palmeri" and "R. flaviceps", which fed on green koa seed pods. These species are now extinct due to habitat loss and avian malaria. It is important to preserve the remaining koa populations to helpt to avoid further native bird extinctions. Koa also has great cultural importance for native Hawaiians. The name “koa” means "brave, bold, fearless" or "warrior" in Hawaiian. Koa wood was used extensively in ancient Hawaiian society for constructing houses, spears, tools, canoe paddles, kahili (feathered standards of royalty), calabashes, ceremonies, and surfboards. Canoes were, and still are, carved from the trunks of koa