Its charcoal is superb. Heartwood of kiawe is dark reddish-brown and sapwood is light yellow. It is used for fence posts that are durable and decay-resistant but susceptible to termite attack. Pods can thus form a significant dry season fodder after grasses have dried down. When pods are fed as an exclusive diet, however cattle become malnourished and lose weight.
Trees are largely cross-pollinated, and produce few pods when grown in isolation.
The sparse thorny foliage is not a good fodder, and seeds are indigestible. Trees flower seasonally in dry areas, but may flower for longer periods when rooted in subsoil moisture. Pods of kiawe are sweeter than most other species. They can be made into a syrup, algarrobina, as a natural thickening for foods and beverages. They are reported also to serve as a medicinal for dysentery.