[2] Dubautia waialealae is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known only from Mount Waiʻaleʻale on Kauai.

[3] It grows in habitat around the famous Mount Waiʻaleʻale rain gauge, which measures 460 inches (38.3 feet)[4][5] of rain in an average year, its distribution extending a short way down the slopes of the mountain.

[6] Dubautia waialealae, a distinctive member of the silversword alliance, takes the form of a dense, rounded, cushionlike clump 10 to 50 centimeters tall.

[7] Threats to this rare localized endemic plant include damage to the habitat by feral pigs, feral goats, and invasive plant species such as Juncus planifolius and Andropogon virginicus.

[1] It was federally listed as an endangered species of the United States in 2010.