This palm tree is called loulu and is an endemic native, one of 19 endemic species of Pritchardia from the Hawaiian Islands. Most of native species of Pritchardia are unique to a particular island and correct identification may require consideration of the island the tree is growing on naturally. In the case of the loulu trees at Nā Pōhaku o Hauwahine, we cannot always know where the seeds were gathered and there is no control over who plants what.

Loulu were once prominant members of the islands' forests. One of the native O‘ahu loulu, P. martii, is now very rare. Nā Pōhaku o Hauwahaine was one of several test sites where these palms were set out as juveniles to better understand their requirements. All five planted here have since died, succumbing to dry conditions during the summers.

Most comonly encountered as landscape plants in Hawai‘i are two species of Pritchardia from elsewhere in the Pacific basin: Thurston fan palm (P. thurstonii) and Fiji fan palm (P. pacifica). These species can be distinguished from the Hawaiian natives.