Associated plants include kukui (Aleurites moluccanus), hame (Antidesma pulvinatum), ʻahakea (Bobea sp.

At that point, the arrival of the black twig borer, (Xylosandrus compactus) caused a catastrophic collapse of the species.

Today, populations only exist in the northwestern part of Kauaʻi, the Waiʻanae Range on Oʻahu, the southwestern slopes of Haleakalā on Maui, and the Big Island's Kona coast.

Nearly all living individuals exist as basal shoots from older trees where the main trunk has died, or are outplanted saplings.

Because of the extreme durability of the wood and its easily recognized fluted pattern, many dead trunks can still be found.