The plant's natural habitat is rocky cliffsides in moist forests dominated by Acacia koa.
They chose to use koa wood for the sides and back, a wood that was commonly used in the beginning of the twentieth century, but became rare during the Great Depression.
Acacia | Acacia aneura | acacia | Acacia dealbata | Greater Koa Finch | Acacia pendula | Acacia melanoxylon | Acacia koa | Acacia acuminata | Na Koa Ikaika Maui | Acacia truncata | Acacia sophorae | Acacia Ridge, Queensland | Acacia Ridge | Acacia pycnantha | Acacia mearnsii | Acacia longifolia | acacia koa | Umbrella Thorn Acacia—''Acacia tortilis'' | San Acacia, New Mexico | Acacia verticillata | Acacia translucens | Acacia sclerosperma | Acacia saligna | Acacia ramulosa var. linophylla | Acacia quadrimarginea | Acacia pubescens | Acacia Life Insurance Company | Acacia leprosa | Acacia kempeana |
The larvae of the nominate subspecies are whitish and feed on Acacia koa, Aleurites moluccana, Cheirodendron gaudichaudii, Coprosma foliosa and other Coprosma species, Metrosideros, Pipturus, Rubus hawaiiensis and Smilax sandwicensis.
Many different variables of tone woods are used in Maestro’s line of ukuleles, including Flame maple, acacia koa, Red Cedar, Cocobolo, Java Rosewood and Granadillo.