Koa (Acacia koa [Fabaceae]) is a dominant tree endemic to Hawaii, and an important component of the forest in Waikamoi Preserve. It has beautiful wood; however, "[d]espite the economic, ecological, and cultural value of koa, not a single stand of koa...in Hawaii has been through a full silvicultural rotation (i.e., establishment, stand improvement, harvest, and reestablishment)" (from USDA).
More information about koa is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).
(image by Forest & Kim Starr)
Information from TNCH's Waikamoi Preserve Plant Identification Cards:
Description: Koa, the largest native tree in Hawaii, grows up to 35 m (115 ft) tall with basal diameters up to 1.5 m (5 ft) wide. The trunk is light tan or gray; smooth on the juvenile trees, and rough and thick on mature trees. Saplings resemble koa haole, having true leaves composed of tiny leaflets. Koa seedlings (and young stems) have a fine golden fuzz on their stems, which distinguishes them from koa haole seedlings. Mature koa trees have leaves reduced to photosynthetic leaf stems, or phyllodes, which are sickle-shaped, 7.5-26 cm (3-10.4 in) long, 6-25 mm (0.25-1 in) wide, and alternately arranged. Tiny flowers form dense, greenish-yellow round heads. The fruit is a long flat pod containing ellipsoid seeds; it is ripe when it turns brown and rattles when shaken.
Distribution and Ecology: Koa occurs in dry through wet forest at 60-2,060 m (200-6,800 ft) elevation on most of the main islands. Koa forests are an important habitat for rare birds and are sensitive to grazing by ungulates.
Early Hawaiians used the hearty, rich wood for war canoes, paddles, and surfboards. Koa was not used for calabashes until modern times as the wood left an ill taste on food. The kahuna kalai wa'a, or canoe priest, took direction from the 'elepaio, an endemic bird, in selecting the right koa log. If the 'elepaio pecked at the log, it was deemed unsuitable because it was probably infested with insects, their larvae, or eggs.
![Koa (Acacia koa [Fabaceae]) is a dominant tree endemic to Hawaii, and an important component of the forest in Waikamoi Preserve. It has beautiful wood; however, "[d]espite the economic, ecological, and cultural value of koa, not a single stand of koa...in Hawaii has been through a full silvicultural rotation (i.e., establishment, stand improvement, harvest, and reestablishment)" (from USDA).
More information about koa is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).
(image by Forest & Kim Starr)
Information from TNCH's Waikamoi Preserve Plant Identification Cards:
Description: Koa, the largest native tree in Hawaii, grows up to 35 m (115 ft) tall with basal diameters up to 1.5 m (5 ft) wide. The trunk is light tan or gray; smooth on the juvenile trees, and rough and thick on mature trees. Saplings resemble koa haole, having true leaves composed of tiny leaflets. Koa seedlings (and young stems) have a fine golden fuzz on their stems, which distinguishes them from koa haole seedlings. Mature koa trees have leaves reduced to photosynthetic leaf stems, or phyllodes, which are sickle-shaped, 7.5-26 cm (3-10.4 in) long, 6-25 mm (0.25-1 in) wide, and alternately arranged. Tiny flowers form dense, greenish-yellow round heads. The fruit is a long flat pod containing ellipsoid seeds; it is ripe when it turns brown and rattles when shaken.
Distribution and Ecology: Koa occurs in dry through wet forest at 60-2,060 m (200-6,800 ft) elevation on most of the main islands. Koa forests are an important habitat for rare birds and are sensitive to grazing by ungulates.
Early Hawaiians used the hearty, rich wood for war canoes, paddles, and surfboards. Koa was not used for calabashes until modern times as the wood left an ill taste on food. The kahuna kalai wa'a, or canoe priest, took direction from the 'elepaio, an endemic bird, in selecting the right koa log. If the 'elepaio pecked at the log, it was deemed unsuitable because it was probably infested with insects, their larvae, or eggs.](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-3V4crTW/2/L/i-3V4crTW-L.jpg)
![Koa (Acacia koa [Fabaceae]) is a dominant tree endemic to Hawaii, and an important component of the forest in Waikamoi Preserve. It has beautiful wood; however, "[d]espite the economic, ecological, and cultural value of koa, not a single stand of koa...in Hawaii has been through a full silvicultural rotation (i.e., establishment, stand improvement, harvest, and reestablishment)" (from USDA).
More information about koa is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).
(image by Forest & Kim Starr)
Information from TNCH's Waikamoi Preserve Plant Identification Cards:
Description: Koa, the largest native tree in Hawaii, grows up to 35 m (115 ft) tall with basal diameters up to 1.5 m (5 ft) wide. The trunk is light tan or gray; smooth on the juvenile trees, and rough and thick on mature trees. Saplings resemble koa haole, having true leaves composed of tiny leaflets. Koa seedlings (and young stems) have a fine golden fuzz on their stems, which distinguishes them from koa haole seedlings. Mature koa trees have leaves reduced to photosynthetic leaf stems, or phyllodes, which are sickle-shaped, 7.5-26 cm (3-10.4 in) long, 6-25 mm (0.25-1 in) wide, and alternately arranged. Tiny flowers form dense, greenish-yellow round heads. The fruit is a long flat pod containing ellipsoid seeds; it is ripe when it turns brown and rattles when shaken.
Distribution and Ecology: Koa occurs in dry through wet forest at 60-2,060 m (200-6,800 ft) elevation on most of the main islands. Koa forests are an important habitat for rare birds and are sensitive to grazing by ungulates.
Early Hawaiians used the hearty, rich wood for war canoes, paddles, and surfboards. Koa was not used for calabashes until modern times as the wood left an ill taste on food. The kahuna kalai wa'a, or canoe priest, took direction from the 'elepaio, an endemic bird, in selecting the right koa log. If the 'elepaio pecked at the log, it was deemed unsuitable because it was probably infested with insects, their larvae, or eggs.](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-HPskgXg/1/L/i-HPskgXg-L.jpg)
!['Olapa (Cheirodendron trigynum [Araliaceae]) is a native shrub/tree in the Waikamoi Preserve. "[T]he fluttering motion of its leaves when moved by the slightest of breezes is the inspiration for a type of hula" (info from NPN).
More information about 'olapa is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).
(image by Forest & Kim Starr)
Information from TNCH's Waikamoi Preserve Plant Identification Cards:
Description: 'Olapa is a tree that ranges in height from 5-15 m (16-50 ft). The bark is gray and smoothish but sometimes rough or scaly. Its compound leaves, palmately arranged on long, slender, and flattened petioles (stalks), have 3-5 leaflets, which are shiny green on the upper surface; dull light green below. Edges sometimes have fine, curved teeth. When the bark and leaves are crushed, they emit an aromatic carrot-like smell. The greenish or purplish flowers are arranged in forked clusters. The small fleshy fruit turn purplish to black at maturity. At a distance these trees can be distinguished by its leaves fluttering in the breeze.
Distribution and Ecology: 'Olapa occurs an all of the Hawaiian Islands except Kaho'olawe in moist to wet forest, where it is a common canopy tree, along with 'ohi'a and koa. The fruits were eaten by native birds, some of which are rare or extinct. 'Olapa is a host plant for native Drosophila, or picture-wing, flies.
The bark of 'olapa, taken along with other plants, was used as a preventive medicine for asthma by the early Hawaiians. The fruit was used as a blue dye for kapa, or bark cloth. The wood is a good fuel as it burns when green. The wood was also used for catching birds for their feathers; birds landed on 'olapa sticks smeared with sticky material. 'Olapa is a term used in hula to describe dancers who acquire the grace of the 'olapa leaves blown by the slightest wind.](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-DVVGcgf/1/L/i-DVVGcgf-L.jpg)
!['Ohia (Metrosideros polymorpha [Myrtaceae]) is a dominant forest tree in the Waikamoi Preserve. The native honeycreepers depend on its nectar for food.
More information about 'ohia is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).
(image by Forest & Kim Starr)](https://photos.smugmug.com/Places/Hawaii/Hawaii-Maui-Waikamoi-Preserve/Hawaii-Maui-Waikamoi-Preserve/i-wwGGZ6r/1/99c44254/S/starr-020925-0093-S.jpg)
![Koa (Acacia koa [Fabaceae]) is a dominant tree endemic to Hawaii, and an important component of the forest in Waikamoi Preserve. It has beautiful wood; however, "[d]espite the economic, ecological, and cultural value of koa, not a single stand of koa...in Hawaii has been through a full silvicultural rotation (i.e., establishment, stand improvement, harvest, and reestablishment)" (from USDA).
More information about koa is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).
(image by Forest & Kim Starr)
Information from TNCH's Waikamoi Preserve Plant Identification Cards:
Description: Koa, the largest native tree in Hawaii, grows up to 35 m (115 ft) tall with basal diameters up to 1.5 m (5 ft) wide. The trunk is light tan or gray; smooth on the juvenile trees, and rough and thick on mature trees. Saplings resemble koa haole, having true leaves composed of tiny leaflets. Koa seedlings (and young stems) have a fine golden fuzz on their stems, which distinguishes them from koa haole seedlings. Mature koa trees have leaves reduced to photosynthetic leaf stems, or phyllodes, which are sickle-shaped, 7.5-26 cm (3-10.4 in) long, 6-25 mm (0.25-1 in) wide, and alternately arranged. Tiny flowers form dense, greenish-yellow round heads. The fruit is a long flat pod containing ellipsoid seeds; it is ripe when it turns brown and rattles when shaken.
Distribution and Ecology: Koa occurs in dry through wet forest at 60-2,060 m (200-6,800 ft) elevation on most of the main islands. Koa forests are an important habitat for rare birds and are sensitive to grazing by ungulates.
Early Hawaiians used the hearty, rich wood for war canoes, paddles, and surfboards. Koa was not used for calabashes until modern times as the wood left an ill taste on food. The kahuna kalai wa'a, or canoe priest, took direction from the 'elepaio, an endemic bird, in selecting the right koa log. If the 'elepaio pecked at the log, it was deemed unsuitable because it was probably infested with insects, their larvae, or eggs.](https://photos.smugmug.com/Places/Hawaii/Hawaii-Maui-Waikamoi-Preserve/Hawaii-Maui-Waikamoi-Preserve/i-rB6SChr/1/bf5a7ba9/S/starr-060325-6733-S.jpg)
![Koa (Acacia koa [Fabaceae]) is a dominant tree endemic to Hawaii, and an important component of the forest in Waikamoi Preserve. It has beautiful wood; however, "[d]espite the economic, ecological, and cultural value of koa, not a single stand of koa...in Hawaii has been through a full silvicultural rotation (i.e., establishment, stand improvement, harvest, and reestablishment)" (from USDA).
More information about koa is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).
(image by Forest & Kim Starr)
Information from TNCH's Waikamoi Preserve Plant Identification Cards:
Description: Koa, the largest native tree in Hawaii, grows up to 35 m (115 ft) tall with basal diameters up to 1.5 m (5 ft) wide. The trunk is light tan or gray; smooth on the juvenile trees, and rough and thick on mature trees. Saplings resemble koa haole, having true leaves composed of tiny leaflets. Koa seedlings (and young stems) have a fine golden fuzz on their stems, which distinguishes them from koa haole seedlings. Mature koa trees have leaves reduced to photosynthetic leaf stems, or phyllodes, which are sickle-shaped, 7.5-26 cm (3-10.4 in) long, 6-25 mm (0.25-1 in) wide, and alternately arranged. Tiny flowers form dense, greenish-yellow round heads. The fruit is a long flat pod containing ellipsoid seeds; it is ripe when it turns brown and rattles when shaken.
Distribution and Ecology: Koa occurs in dry through wet forest at 60-2,060 m (200-6,800 ft) elevation on most of the main islands. Koa forests are an important habitat for rare birds and are sensitive to grazing by ungulates.
Early Hawaiians used the hearty, rich wood for war canoes, paddles, and surfboards. Koa was not used for calabashes until modern times as the wood left an ill taste on food. The kahuna kalai wa'a, or canoe priest, took direction from the 'elepaio, an endemic bird, in selecting the right koa log. If the 'elepaio pecked at the log, it was deemed unsuitable because it was probably infested with insects, their larvae, or eggs.](https://photos.smugmug.com/Places/Hawaii/Hawaii-Maui-Waikamoi-Preserve/Hawaii-Maui-Waikamoi-Preserve/i-tFhtMkF/2/d7d3ba38/S/starr-041106-0478-S.jpg)
![Koa (Acacia koa [Fabaceae]) is a dominant tree endemic to Hawaii, and an important component of the forest in Waikamoi Preserve. It has beautiful wood; however, "[d]espite the economic, ecological, and cultural value of koa, not a single stand of koa...in Hawaii has been through a full silvicultural rotation (i.e., establishment, stand improvement, harvest, and reestablishment)" (from USDA).
More information about koa is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).
(image by Forest & Kim Starr)
Information from TNCH's Waikamoi Preserve Plant Identification Cards:
Description: Koa, the largest native tree in Hawaii, grows up to 35 m (115 ft) tall with basal diameters up to 1.5 m (5 ft) wide. The trunk is light tan or gray; smooth on the juvenile trees, and rough and thick on mature trees. Saplings resemble koa haole, having true leaves composed of tiny leaflets. Koa seedlings (and young stems) have a fine golden fuzz on their stems, which distinguishes them from koa haole seedlings. Mature koa trees have leaves reduced to photosynthetic leaf stems, or phyllodes, which are sickle-shaped, 7.5-26 cm (3-10.4 in) long, 6-25 mm (0.25-1 in) wide, and alternately arranged. Tiny flowers form dense, greenish-yellow round heads. The fruit is a long flat pod containing ellipsoid seeds; it is ripe when it turns brown and rattles when shaken.
Distribution and Ecology: Koa occurs in dry through wet forest at 60-2,060 m (200-6,800 ft) elevation on most of the main islands. Koa forests are an important habitat for rare birds and are sensitive to grazing by ungulates.
Early Hawaiians used the hearty, rich wood for war canoes, paddles, and surfboards. Koa was not used for calabashes until modern times as the wood left an ill taste on food. The kahuna kalai wa'a, or canoe priest, took direction from the 'elepaio, an endemic bird, in selecting the right koa log. If the 'elepaio pecked at the log, it was deemed unsuitable because it was probably infested with insects, their larvae, or eggs.](https://photos.smugmug.com/Places/Hawaii/Hawaii-Maui-Waikamoi-Preserve/Hawaii-Maui-Waikamoi-Preserve/i-3V4crTW/2/abaeed4d/S/starr-020511-0009-S.jpg)
![Koa (Acacia koa [Fabaceae]) is a dominant tree endemic to Hawaii, and an important component of the forest in Waikamoi Preserve. It has beautiful wood; however, "[d]espite the economic, ecological, and cultural value of koa, not a single stand of koa...in Hawaii has been through a full silvicultural rotation (i.e., establishment, stand improvement, harvest, and reestablishment)" (from USDA).
More information about koa is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).
(image by Forest & Kim Starr)
Information from TNCH's Waikamoi Preserve Plant Identification Cards:
Description: Koa, the largest native tree in Hawaii, grows up to 35 m (115 ft) tall with basal diameters up to 1.5 m (5 ft) wide. The trunk is light tan or gray; smooth on the juvenile trees, and rough and thick on mature trees. Saplings resemble koa haole, having true leaves composed of tiny leaflets. Koa seedlings (and young stems) have a fine golden fuzz on their stems, which distinguishes them from koa haole seedlings. Mature koa trees have leaves reduced to photosynthetic leaf stems, or phyllodes, which are sickle-shaped, 7.5-26 cm (3-10.4 in) long, 6-25 mm (0.25-1 in) wide, and alternately arranged. Tiny flowers form dense, greenish-yellow round heads. The fruit is a long flat pod containing ellipsoid seeds; it is ripe when it turns brown and rattles when shaken.
Distribution and Ecology: Koa occurs in dry through wet forest at 60-2,060 m (200-6,800 ft) elevation on most of the main islands. Koa forests are an important habitat for rare birds and are sensitive to grazing by ungulates.
Early Hawaiians used the hearty, rich wood for war canoes, paddles, and surfboards. Koa was not used for calabashes until modern times as the wood left an ill taste on food. The kahuna kalai wa'a, or canoe priest, took direction from the 'elepaio, an endemic bird, in selecting the right koa log. If the 'elepaio pecked at the log, it was deemed unsuitable because it was probably infested with insects, their larvae, or eggs.](https://photos.smugmug.com/Places/Hawaii/Hawaii-Maui-Waikamoi-Preserve/Hawaii-Maui-Waikamoi-Preserve/i-HPskgXg/1/7a686375/S/starr-030405-0092-S.jpg)
!['Olapa (Cheirodendron trigynum [Araliaceae]) is a native shrub/tree in the Waikamoi Preserve. "[T]he fluttering motion of its leaves when moved by the slightest of breezes is the inspiration for a type of hula" (info from NPN).
More information about 'olapa is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).
(image by Forest & Kim Starr)
Information from TNCH's Waikamoi Preserve Plant Identification Cards:
Description: 'Olapa is a tree that ranges in height from 5-15 m (16-50 ft). The bark is gray and smoothish but sometimes rough or scaly. Its compound leaves, palmately arranged on long, slender, and flattened petioles (stalks), have 3-5 leaflets, which are shiny green on the upper surface; dull light green below. Edges sometimes have fine, curved teeth. When the bark and leaves are crushed, they emit an aromatic carrot-like smell. The greenish or purplish flowers are arranged in forked clusters. The small fleshy fruit turn purplish to black at maturity. At a distance these trees can be distinguished by its leaves fluttering in the breeze.
Distribution and Ecology: 'Olapa occurs an all of the Hawaiian Islands except Kaho'olawe in moist to wet forest, where it is a common canopy tree, along with 'ohi'a and koa. The fruits were eaten by native birds, some of which are rare or extinct. 'Olapa is a host plant for native Drosophila, or picture-wing, flies.
The bark of 'olapa, taken along with other plants, was used as a preventive medicine for asthma by the early Hawaiians. The fruit was used as a blue dye for kapa, or bark cloth. The wood is a good fuel as it burns when green. The wood was also used for catching birds for their feathers; birds landed on 'olapa sticks smeared with sticky material. 'Olapa is a term used in hula to describe dancers who acquire the grace of the 'olapa leaves blown by the slightest wind.](https://photos.smugmug.com/Places/Hawaii/Hawaii-Maui-Waikamoi-Preserve/Hawaii-Maui-Waikamoi-Preserve/i-DVVGcgf/1/b4a00232/S/starr-020925-0084-S.jpg)
![Fruits of pukiawe (Leptecophylla tameiameiae [Styphelia tameiameiae]) in Waikamoi Preserve (East Maui) (July 2010)
Copyright (c) 2010 by Philip A. Thomas (imagesbypt@philipt.com)](https://photos.smugmug.com/Places/Hawaii/Hawaii-Maui-Waikamoi-Preserve/Hawaii-Maui-Waikamoi-Preserve/i-3gxXVNJ/0/0fa90765/S/20100722_018711-S.jpg)
![Fruits of pukiawe (Leptecophylla tameiameiae [Styphelia tameiameiae]) in Waikamoi Preserve (East Maui) (July 2010)
Copyright (c) 2010 by Philip A. Thomas (imagesbypt@philipt.com)](https://photos.smugmug.com/Places/Hawaii/Hawaii-Maui-Waikamoi-Preserve/Hawaii-Maui-Waikamoi-Preserve/i-t3VBvsd/0/54712e73/S/20100722_018468-S.jpg)
![Leaves of 'akala (Rubus hawaiensis [Rosaceae]), a species found in Waikamoi Preserve
Copyright (c) 2010 by Forest & Kim Starr (starrimages@hear.org), used with permission](https://photos.smugmug.com/Places/Hawaii/Hawaii-Maui-Waikamoi-Preserve/Hawaii-Maui-Waikamoi-Preserve/i-2tCz9Z3/0/8677d9cc/S/rubus%20hawaiiensis%20starr-100412-4664-S.jpg)
![Flower of 'akala (Rubus hawaiensis [Rosaceae]) in Waikamoi Preserve
Copyright (c) by Philip A. Thomas (imagesbypt@philipt.com)](https://photos.smugmug.com/Places/Hawaii/Hawaii-Maui-Waikamoi-Preserve/Hawaii-Maui-Waikamoi-Preserve/i-BBpHb6w/0/4fb47f73/S/rubus%20hawaiiensis%20starr-030419-0024-S.jpg)
![Fruit of 'akala (Rubus hawaiensis [Rosaceae]) in Waikamoi Preserve
Copyright (c) 2010 by Philip A. Thomas (imagesbypt@philipt.com)](https://photos.smugmug.com/Places/Hawaii/Hawaii-Maui-Waikamoi-Preserve/Hawaii-Maui-Waikamoi-Preserve/i-GkWhbv5/0/c2fa7645/S/pt%2020100722_018946-S.jpg)
