Ka ‘Ōhi‘a

The ‘Ōhi‘a is a mysterious looking tree, commanding respect at the sight of it.  Many believe that if you pluck a the tree's lehua blossom while hiking, a misty rain will roll in and obscure your path back down.  This rain is most often attributed to Pele, the volcano goddess, however the flowers hold more significance for her youngest sister, Hi‘iaka.  The lehua flowers are sacred to her, and she does not like anyone taking them without permission. 

When in bloom, these trees are a sight to behold.  Puffs of crimson dot the branches emerging from the gray, twisted-looking trunk.  Lichen is often draping from the tree, adding to the mystery of this amazing plant.  These trees loom over deep valleys, reminding us that they are of another world in which we dare not enter. 

‘Ōhi‘a is a Hawaiian endemic plant that appears in many forms.  Its scientific name, Metrosideros polymorpha, illustrates this diversity.  The flowers are most often red, but can also be salmon, orange, pink, yellow, and even white.   Its leaves can range from rounded and furry to narrow and pointed.  It can also be found as a small shrub only 6 inches high, or as towering forest trees.  The seeds are air-dispersed, and readily adapt to a wide range of environments, as ‘ōhi‘a can be found growing in dry forests as well as bogs.  It is often the first plant, along with ferns, to grow back after a fresh lava flow.  ‘Ōhi‘a are the most dominant tree in the Hawaiian forest and are genetically healthy because of their large and diverse populations.  They hybridize easily, which results in many subspecies. 

The wood is hard, good for flooring and furniture, formerly used for images, spears, mallets.  It was also used at stanchions for houses and canoes because of its strength, and because it is not difficult to find pieces straight and long enough for this purpose.   

This tree was of the most importance to bird catchers in ancient times.  Hawaiians produced amazing pieces of feather work - full and half length capes, helmets and carved idols to name a few.  The endemic Hawaiian Honeycreepers were the supply for these brilliantly colored feathers.  These honeycreepers would drink the honey from the tree's blossoms, called lehua.  This was the most opportune time for bird catchers to snare them.  The birds were captured, a few feathers were plucked, then the bird was released.  While they never intended to harm these birds, it is possible that some birds died as a result of the trauma.  The ‘I‘iwi, a red and black honeycreeper with a curved beak, is today the most commonly found bird amongst the branches of the ‘ōhi‘a.  Others join it, such as the ‘Apapane, whose feathers match the color of the red lehua blossom exactly. 

The yellow lehua, called lehua mamo, is named after a now extinct honeycreeper with bright yellow plumage.  While we can't blame their extinction completely on the bird catchers, it is true that they played a part.  Lehua mamo are not as easy to find as the red lehua; one must be an experienced hiker to be able to get to the few places where it can still be found. 

Because of its intimate connection with Pele, and because Pele lives on Hawai‘i island, the lehua blossom was designated as the flower of the island of Hawai‘i in 1923 by the Territorial legislature. 

Sources: 

Lilleeng-Rosenberger, Kerin E.  Growing Hawai‘i's Native Plants.  Honolulu: Mutual Publishing, 2005. 

Kepler, Angela Kay.  Hawaiian Heritage Plants, Revised Edition.  Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1998. 

Beckwith, Martha.  Hawaiian Mythology.  Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1970. 

Pukui, Mary Kawena and Samuel H. Elbert.  Hawaiian Dictionary, Revised and Enlarged Edition.  Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1986. 

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