Koai`a

Koai’a is a small tree, 15 to 25 feet tall, from the dry leeward areas of Kaua'i, Maui, Moloka'i, Lana'i and Hawai'i. It is related to true Hawai'ian Koa but is smaller and more adapted to dry conditions. It has an attractive rounded shape and sickle-shaped, gray-green “leaves,” small yellow powder puff flowers, and brown seed pods.

Traditional Cultural and Medicinal Uses

• The wood is hard and dense. In the past, when it was more abundant, it was favored for making long-lasting fence posts for pastures. Many of these old fence posts are still in use in Hohala
• The early Hawai'ians probably used it for tools and weapons
• Its hard, dense nature made it suitable for carved fishhooks