Hakea acuminata is a multi-branched shrub growing to 0.5 to 1.8 metres (1.6 to 5.9 ft) high, with smooth grey bark. Shiny rich green leaves have a yellow tinge at the base, are almost flat and partially whorled in the higher flowering branches. Leaves are concave, narrowly oval to egg-shaped 3 to 12 centimetres (1.2 to 4.7 in) long and 9 to 38 millimetres (0.354 to 1.496 in) wide. Leaves have one to three prominent longitudinal veins on both sides. The inflorescence has 16 to 24 flowers appearing in racemes in leaf axils. The perianth is a cream-yellow and the style long and prominent. The pistil is 34–37 mm (1–1 in) long. Egg-shaped woody fruit grow singly or in pairs 25 to 31 mm (1.0 to 1.2 in) long and 16 to 21 mm (0.63 to 0.83 in) wide. Fruit become corky as they age and have little or no beak. Seed are blackish-brown, obliquely egg-shaped 18 to 21 mm (0.71 to 0.83 in) long and 9 to 10 mm (0.354 to 0.394 in) wide with a wing extending down both sides of body. From May to October clusters of cream to pale yellow, ageing to pale pink blooms appear.^[2][3][4]

Hakea acuminata was first formally described by botanist Laurence Haegi in 1999 as part of the work Appendix: Hakea written by Haegi, W.R.Barker, R.M.Barker, and A.J.Wilson as published in Flora of Australia.^[5]

This species is endemic to two small areas along the south coast in the Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance regions of Western Australia between Ravensthorpe and Jerramungup. Grows on undulating plains of shrub-mallee or heath in deep white sand or loamy soils over granite.^[2][6]

Hakea acuminata is classified as "Priority Two - Poorly Known", known from one or a few populations by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife, meaning it is rare or near threatened, due to its restricted distribution.^[7]