'Ohi'a Lehua



Metrosideros polymorpha


The Metrosideros genus is native to the Pacific, from the Philippines to New Zealand, throughout Polynesia and Melanesia. The name comes from the Greek metra for heartwood, and sideron for iron. There are fifty species in two subgenera, Mearnsia (24 species) and Metrosideros (26 species).

Of these twenty-six, there are five recognized species of Metrosideros in Hawai'i, with the polymorpha variety being the most common:

1. Metrosideros waialeale (collina?) - A variety endemic to Kaua'i island, named for the mountain where it grows, Mount Wai'ale'ale.

2. Metrosideros tremuloides - Lehua 'ahihi A variety endemic to O'ahu, famous in song and found on the peaks of Nu'uanu and Mount Ka'ala.

3. Metrosideros rugosa - Lehua papa Also endemic to O'ahu, found in the Ko'olau mountains or on summits of windward pali.

4. Metrosideros polymorpha - 'Ohi'a lehua:

a. Var. dieteri Endemic to Kaua'i, found on the Pihea Trail on the way to the Alaka'i swamp.

b. Var. glaberrima A variety with smooth, shiny leaves found on Kaua'i, O'ahu, Moloka'i, Lana'i, Maui and Hawai'i.

c. Var. incana found on all major islands: Kaua'i, O'ahu, Moloka'i, Lana'i, Maui and Hawai'i.

d. Var. macrophylla – A variety endemic to Maui and Hawai'i islands only.

e. Var. newelli – A variety endemic to Hawai'i island. Selections found in the Pi'ihonua gulch, back of Rainbow Falls.

f. Var. polymorpha - A variety with hairy leaves found on O'ahu, Moloka'i, Lana'i, Maui and Hawai'i.

g. Var. pseudorugosa – A variety found only on West Maui, in the Pu'u Kukui summit bog.

h. Var. pumila - Found only on Kaua'i, in and near bog at head of the Wahiawa River, as well as on Maui and Moloka'i.

5. Metrosideros macropus - Also called 'ohi'a lehua, but endemic to island of O'ahu only. Samples found on the 'Aiea Ridge, Poamoho Trail.




Lehua

Ku'u wahi pua lehua, kau i ka wekiu.
My dear lehua blossom perched on the topmost branch.

Most commonly known as the flower for Hawai'i island, the 'ohi'a lehua is an endemic plant believed to have arrived in the Hawaiian islands by way of the Marquesas, and before that from New Zealand. The flower and plant there is known as the raka or the pohutukawa, and as you can see, it is very strikingly similar to our 'ohi'a lehua! Go here to learn more about the Metrosideros excelsa, aka the New Zealand Christmas tree.

And back to Hawai'i….

Young shoots of the lehua are called liko. Depending on the variety of lehua, the liko may be fuzzy, have red tips, be green or white and everything in between. Liko means to bud or to put forth new leaves. Sometimes the word is used to describe a child or a descendant, especially of an ali'i.





When we went up to Keauhou in June (I mentioned this trip in my blog on the alala), we were treated to the sight of pristine 'ohi'a and koa forests. There were huge trees easily seventy feet tall, and the lehua came in a multitude of colors, including red, orange, yellow and even striated pink varieties. Some trees bore flowers of more than one color. In the last picture here, there are three trees in different colors: red on the left, yellow in the back and orange on the right. Some of them grew in close proximity to one another, while others stood alone in the middle of an open area. It was all beautiful and breathtaking to behold.







Some colors have names to distinguish them, like the yellow lehua mamo. These two were taken by Kuha'o or Kauila and you can see here the variation in shades of the yellows as well:





I captured this orange beauty on the trip up to Keauhou. I'd never seen so many orange pua in all my life, and the trees were magnificent.



You can find 'ohi'a lehua growing anywhere from sea level to about the 7,500 foot level. In ancient times, lehua groves grew all the way down to the ocean, where their petals would fall onto the water, staining the water red. It is a hardy forest plant, growing closely with many other plants including the 'ie'ie and in higher elevations, the koa. The 'ohi'a can grow as a dwarf (as in bonsai) or a shrub variety all the way up to trees 100 feet tall.

Lehua blossoms are a key source of nectar and bugs for honeycreepers like the 'i'iwi and the 'apapane, who can easily camouflage themselves among flowers the same shade of red as they are. 'Ohi'a is a kinolau for the god Ku and its hard reddish wood was used in the creation of idols for the heiau. The wood was also used in fences around temples, and sometimes as posts and rafters for hale, as well as firewood or even canoes. The flowers are considered sacred to the volcano goddess Pele. The plant is one of the nine placed on the kuahu hula. From different parts of the plant, kapa makers derived dyes in hues of red, yellow, pink, orange, green and purplish or reddish tones.

Of all the Hawaiian flowers, lehua has always been my favorite. I used it extensively in my wedding, from centerpieces to lei to bouquets to even the print on our clothing. And yes, it was all designed by Sig Zane Designs! The print is Kalehuaokeola and you can find it here, featured on our umbrellas.

That's about all for now. You know, when I started this project a WEEK ago, I never thought I'd learn as much as I did. Just goes to show, you learn something new every single day. A hui hou kakou!

Mahalo to Keana, Kauila and Kuha'o for their photographic contributions.