This new native species is similar to another sympatric native species,
Humidicutis peleae , but differs in being entirely yellow and in forming much larger
basidiospores.  Although many authors accept Humidicutis  within the genus
Hygrocybe , we accept the taxon as a distinct genus based on two features:  the absence
of clamp connections in all tissues except at the base of basidia where large
medallion clamps occur from which other basidia proliferate; and by the absence of
muscaflavin pigments.  At present, H. poilena  is known from a single montane
ohi`a-hapu`u kipuka on the island of Hawai`i.