The specific epithet akiainvivens is Latin (akia in vivens) and literally means "living on or in ʻākia.

"[1] It was isolated originally from decaying wood of the endemic Hawai'ian shrub ʻākia (Wikstroemia oahuensis).

The cells are without any gliding motility[1] and the genome revealed no flagella or chemotaxis systems.

[1] The species expresses caseinase, lipase, and amylase, but can digest neither cellulose nor DNA.

[7] Meanwhile, the Hawaiʻian legislation was deferred for a year when it encountered competition from Senator Glenn Wakai's SB3124 proposing Aliivibrio fischeri.