Life history theory predicts that species face various allocation tradeoffs in demographic processes. In plants, the leaf economics spectrum and the wood economics spectrum have shown global trends in how species allocate resources, where each species falls somewhere in the continuum of acquisitive high performer and conservative defender. Such tradeoffs in functional traits and performance are potentially useful in predicting restoration success under various field conditions, but their applicability within a species is poorly explored. Yet, for species that occur along a wide environmental gradient, intraspecific tradeoffs in functional traits reflecting plant performance may be expected due to local adaptation. In restoration, use of local sources has been recommended but genetic offset is shown due to climate change, and sources that will tolerate projected climates at restoration sites may need to be proactively sought. Using Acacia koa (koa), a Hawaiian endemic tree species that occurs along environmental gradients, we tested intraspecific tradeoffs in life history strategies, reflected in functional traits, and their applicability in restoration. With a combination of fieldwork, greenhouse, growth chamber, and lab experiments, we will show some strong intraspecific tradeoffs, and how understanding local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity in different environmental conditions may be useful in restoration.