Scientific Name: Acacia koai’a
Endemic: All HI.
Description: A tree with the same physical resemblance to Koa but only smaller (up to 15 ft.). It has the same sickle shaped foliage, which aren’t actually leaves but modified stems called phyllodes. It also has harder, more dense wood and longer, narrower seed pods with a different arrangement of seeds. Some sources list this tree as a variety of Koa while others separate it into its own species.
Distribution: Much less abundant than Koa. Only found on Maui, Molokai, Kaua’i, Lanai, and Big Island in very restricted populations. There is also a single plant thought to still exist on O’ahu. Often found in more dry open areas.
Cultural Uses: The very hard wood of this small tree is used to make many useful tools including kapa anvils and spears. The name koai’a comes from combining the two words koa (like the koa tree) and i’a (fish), since the wood from this plant was used to make fish hooks but more specifically due to its durability, shark hooks.
Landscape Uses and Care: Use as a specimen tree any where with lots of sun. Requires little watering and is a beautiful small tree. Because of where it is found naturally, many people prefer to use this tree, rather than Koa, in drier low elevation areas. Due to its durability, beauty, cultural significance and size, koai’a has the potential to be a very successful landscape tree. Only its rarity is preventing it from being as popular as it should be. Hopefully as more people become native plant enthusiasts, that downfall will change.
Additional Info: Another name for Koaia is Koai’e. This may be due to the fact that this plant was used to make kapa beaters which are called i’e kuku. So it’s the type of Koa used to make i’e, hence the name Koai’e.
Koaia