Boehmeria grandis, commonly called ûakolea, is a flowering species of the Urticaceae family that is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. ûakolea can be found in mesic to wet forests across Hawaiûi along streams, on ridges, and valley floors. Multiple sources have cited observations in Makaua Gulch on Oûahu.
The ûakolea can look like and be confused with its endemic counterpart MÃÂmaki (Pipturus albidus) of the same family. However, differences in ûakolea's appearance come from its exerted stamens, the tightly grouped seeds on the branches of MÃÂmaki, and subtle differences between the leaves of both that can be difficult to notice.
ûakolea is one of the four endemic host plants for the pulelehua (Vanessa tameamea), meaning the pulelehua butterflies and caterpillars will only reproduce where these host plants are found. Other pulelehua host plants include MÃÂmaki, Olonà(Touchardia latifolia), and à Âpuhe (Urera glabra) and (U. kaalae).