Kauaʻi record · kba_plant_acacia_koa
Koa
Acacia koa
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About Koa
Koa (Acacia koa) is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and recorded on Kauaʻi. Tree to 35 m tall whose mature foliage consists of narrow, often strongly curved phyllodes rather than conventional leaves; seedlings first bear feathery bipinnate leaves.
Kauaʻi evidence
Taxonomy, nativity, island-level occurrence, growth form, names, and source conservation assessments are documented in the 2026 census audit. Broader ecology and conservation recommendations still require claim-level source review. Generated imagery is not occurrence evidence. The 1918–1959 Kauaʻi reforestation working register records 283,404 plants under Acacia koa across 44 entries dated 1921–1956. These are recorded planting quantities, not counts of surviving trees, and they do not by themselves establish current persistence, naturalization, or ecological impact. Source: Kauaʻi Reforestation Plantings 1918–1959 working register (user-supplied; reconciled 6 October 2026).
Names and classification
- Scientific name
- Acacia koa
- Common names
- Koa
- Hawaiian names
- Koa
- Other names
- Koa · Acacia koa · Acacia hawaiiensis · Acacia heterophylla var. latifolia · Acacia kauaiensis · Acacia koa var. hawaiiensis · Acacia koa var. lanaiensis · Acacia koa var. latifolia · Acacia koa var. waianaeensis · Acacia koa var. weimeae · Racosperma kauaiense · Racosperma koa · Rhacosperma koa · koaʻoha · koaiʻa · koaiʻe
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Order
- Fabales
- Record type
- Species or taxonomic group
Kauaʻi occurrence and status
- Kauaʻi occurrence
- Recorded on Kauaʻi
- Origin
- Endemic
- Conservation status
- Smithsonian checklist assessment: Apparently Secure; U.S. source status: No Status
- Evidence date
- 2026-10-05
- Evidence limits
- Island-level occurrence is retained; finer locality is intentionally withheld. Growth-form tags describe the taxon across its range, not a measured Kauaʻi population. Checklist source statuses are not a new legal-status determination.
Habitat and ecology
- Habitats
- Mesic to wet native forest · Restoration forest · Ridge slopes
- Food and resource needs
- Light, water, nutrients, and suitable soil or substrate
- Reproduction
- Viable propagules and suitable establishment conditions
- Shelter
- Suitable soil, substrate, and vegetation structure
- Growth form
- Tree
Threats and conservation
- Threats
- Ungulates, invasive grasses/plants, pests, drought, poor regeneration
- Conservation actions
- Fencing, outplanting, seed-source management, weed control
- Monitoring
- Fencing, outplanting, seed-source management, weed control
- Data gaps
- Additional ecological and conservation citations are recommended
Process and seasonal context
- Seasonal timing
- Not assessed
- Seasonal description
- Koa (Acacia koa) is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and recorded on Kauaʻi. Tree to 35 m tall whose mature foliage consists of narrow, often strongly curved phyllodes rather than conventional leaves; seedlings first bear feathery bipinnate leaves.
