Question 1

True or false: The koa tree is native to Hawaii and nowhere else in the world.

Accepted Answer

True. True. Acacia koa is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, growing only there in the wild, making it a unique island treasure.

Question 2

True or false: Koa wood is denser than water, causing it to sink if placed in a bucket.

Accepted Answer

False. False. Koa wood typically has a specific gravity of 0.6–0.8 (less than 1, the density of water), so it floats in water rather than sinking.

Question 3

True or false: Koa tree flowers are bright red and bloom year-round.

Accepted Answer

False. False. Koa flowers are pale yellow to cream-colored, not red, and they bloom mainly in spring and summer.

Question 4

True or false: Ancient Hawaiians used koa wood exclusively for surfboards.

Accepted Answer

False. False. While koa was prized for canoes and weapons, early surfboards were often made from lighter woods like wiliwili.

Question 5

True or false: Koa wood is naturally resistant to termites and decay.

Accepted Answer

True. True. Koa's dense grain and natural oils make it highly resistant to termites and rot, which is why it was used for canoes.

Question 6

True or false: Koa trees belong to the pea family, Fabaceae.

Accepted Answer

True. True. Koa is a legume in the Fabaceae family, which explains its ability to fix nitrogen in the soil via root nodules.

Question 7

True or false: Koa trees can live for over 1,000 years in the wild.

Accepted Answer

False. Koa trees typically live 100–200 years. There is no evidence they can reach 1,000 years, as they are relatively fast-growing and not exceptionally long-lived.

Question 8

True or false: Koa tree seeds are carried by ocean currents to new islands.

Accepted Answer

False. False. Koa seeds are heavy and not buoyant; they rely on gravity and birds for dispersal, not ocean drift.

Koa Tree Trivia Questions