‘Ākia is the Hawaiian name applied to a large genus of native shrubs clasified by botanists as Wikstroemia species. As far as we know, "‘ākia" is applied to all of the eleven native Wikstroemia found in Hawai‘i. All are endemic; that is, found naturally nowhere else in the world. A few have beome popular ornamentals (especially W. uvi-ursi).

The ‘ākia growing here is W. oahuensis, which is typically a low-growing shrub but, at higher elevations, can be a tree up to 12 ft tall. Most are restricted in their distribution to a single island, but W. oahunesis is found on all of the major islands except Hawai‘i. A variety on Kaua‘i (var. palustris) is a shrub or dwarf tree that grows in bogs.

Some ‘ākia furnish very strong fibers that were used in making ropes and even kapa (cloth). The plants have medicinal qualities, and were used in ancient times as a laxative and to treat asthma. Some species may actually be poisonous.