ʻŌhiʻa lehua, ʻŌhiʻa, Lehua Mamo, Lehua, Mamo
Metrosideros polymorpha
Of the five different species of ‘ohi’a recognized, this is the most variable. The leaves of this plant range from 1/2″ to 3″, they can also be very glabrous or very hairy. The new leaves or liko range in color from dark purple, almost black to red, gold and everything in between. Some plants bush out while others grow to over 80 ft. tall. The ‘ohi’a or lehua as some people call, are best known for its flowers. They are just as variable as the plants themselves. Color ranges from very dark red (lehua ‘apane) all the way through to yellow (lehua mamo) or even white (lehua kea) according to some legends. I’ve even seen a flower that was dark red at the base, gradually faded to yellow and finally ended with greenish tips, it was unbelievable.
ʻElima ʻano ʻokoʻa o ka ʻōhiʻa. ʻOkoʻa hoʻi ka nui o nā lau; he 0.5–3 ʻīniha ka nui. He lau hinuhinu paha, a he lau heu paha. He mau ʻano ko ka liko: he poni, he ʻulaʻula, he melemele, a he uliuli kekahi. Ulu pūnohunohu kekahi ʻano ʻōhiʻa, a ulu kiʻekiʻe kekahi (kanawalu kapuaʻi). Kaulana nā pua lehua o ka ʻōhiʻa: he lehua ʻapane, he lehua mamo, a he lehua kea. Ua ʻike ʻia kekahi lehua he ʻula ka piko a he melemele/ʻōmaʻomaʻo ka lihilihi.
The ‘ohi’a is an endemic plant found on all of the main islands except Ni’ihau and Kaho’olawe, at least that’s where they’re found today, They were most likely found on those other islands in the past. Today ‘ohi’a are found mainly at higher elevations, there are some places where you can still see them on the coast and in lowland dry forests but these instances are very rare. Originally, there range extended from sea level all the way up to around 6,500 ft.
Ulu ka ʻōhiʻa ma nā mokupuni a pau o ka pae ʻāina, koe ʻo Niʻihau me Kahoʻolawe. Ulu nō paha i laila ma ka wā kahiko. I kēia wā, ulu ka ʻōhiʻa ma ka wao akua a ma ka wao maʻukele, a ulu kākaʻikahi i kai. Ma ka wā kahiko naʻe, ulu ka ʻōhiʻa mai kai a hiki i ke kualono.
One of the most important woods in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi culture, ‘ohi’a was used for a number of things: In house construction, rafters and posts were made of it; decking, seats and gunwales of canoes were also made of ‘ohi’a; various leis either used the flowers, flower buds or leaf buds of ‘ohi’a; it decorated hula altars for the god Kuka’ohi’a and religious images called ki’i were made of ‘ohi’a as well.
ʻO ka ʻōhiʻa kekahi lāʻau waiwai loa i ka nohona Hawaiʻi. He lāʻau kūkulu hale; no ka pou me nā oʻa. Hoʻohana ʻia no nā noho me nā moʻo o ka waʻa. Wili ʻia nā lehua, nā lau, me nā liko i lei, a no ka hoʻowehi ʻana i nā kuahu hula. Kālai ʻia nō hoʻi ka ʻōhiʻa i kiʻi akua.
Plant ‘Ohi’a anywhere. It is such a beautiful plant it deserves to be as dominant in the landscapes as it is in the native forests. Once planted it should be watered daily for up to 3-4 months in well drained soil. After that once every 2-3 days is sufficient unless you live in a very dry place or on the beach. Generally the plant reaches a height of about 15-30 feet in the landscape but height can be controlled by pruning, this also stimulates bushiness. Stem borers sometimes eat out stems and eventually the whole plant, often killing it. If you see a limb beginning to dry out, cut it off immediately to prevent further damage.
E kanu i ka ʻōhiʻa e like me kou makemake. E aho e kanu nui e like me ka ulu ʻana i ka nahele. I ke kanu ʻana, e hāinu i kēlā me kēia lā no nā mahina ʻekolu a ʻehā mua i ka lepo ʻākeke. Ma hope o ia mau mahina mua, e hāinu ʻelua manawa o ka pule. I ka māla, ʻumikūmālima a kanakolu paha kapuaʻi ke kiʻekiʻe. Hiki ke paʻipaʻi no ka hoʻohaʻahaʻa ʻana i ke kumu. Pilikia ka ʻōhiʻa i ka mū wāwahiwaʻa, a i pilikia nui, make ka ʻōhiʻa. Ke ʻike ʻia ka make ʻana o kekahi lālā, e ʻoki i ia lālā a kīloi.
‘Ohi’a probably evolved here in Hawai’i from plants that originally came from either New Zealand or perhaps Australia thousands of years ago. They are from the same genus and look very similar to each other. Many nurseries in Hawai’i grow these nonnative varieties, not knowing the potential damage they may be causing from cross-pollenation with native species. It is important to stick to growing native species to preserve the genetic integrity of the plants. If possible, growing plants that are specific to your island or even region of the island is best, they’re probably better suited to growing in that region anyway.
Ua hōʻea mua paha nā kūpuna o ka ʻōhiʻa i kēia ʻāina mai Aotearoa a mai ʻAukelekulia. Kohu like me kekahi kumulāʻau no laila. Mālama ʻia kekahi mau wahi hoʻopulapula i nā ʻōhiʻa haole, akā, e aho e kanu mau i ka ʻōhiʻa no kēia pae ʻāina. A inā hiki, e kanu i ka ʻōhiʻa no kou wahi ponoʻī.