Kōlea lau liʻi
Myrsine sandwicense
Beautiful shrubs or small trees up to 20 ft. tall with small elliptical leaves that cluster up toward the stem tips. Like all kolea, the young leaves, called liko, are bright pink and add tremendous color to the plant. Small yellow flowers tinged with red and purple emerge from small woody knobs along the length of the branch. Once these are pollinated they develop in to tiny black fruit about ¼” in diameter.
He mau lāʻau pūnohunohu, a lāʻau haʻahaʻa; he iwakālua kapuaʻi ke kiʻekiʻe. Hui nā lau oloolo ma ka wēlau o nā lālā. He mau liko ʻākala nani loa ko ke kōlea, a he mau pua melemele liʻiliʻi i ʻōʻā i ka ʻula poni. He mau hua ʻeleʻele liʻiliʻi.
Kolea lau li’i is endemic to the islands of O’ahu, Moloka’i, Lana’i, Maui and Hawaiʻi. It primarily occurs in wet forest and bogs but can occasionally be found in mesic forests.
He lāʻau ʻāpaʻakuma no nā mokupuni ʻo Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Maui me Hawaiʻi. Ulu ma ka wao maʻukele a me ka naele.
The bright yellow-green liko with purple mid-vein and margins are highly sought after to make lei. Liko lehua is not the only type of liko that looks good in lei kolea lau li’i is right there next to it.
Wili ʻia nā lau me nā liko i lei. Kūlike paha ka nani o ka liko kōlea me ka liko lehua.
If you are ever able to get your hands on one of these plants get it, plain and simple. They do however require regular watering at least three times a week even once established in the ground. These plants are a little more finicky than most and they are very slow growing so don’t be disappointed if its not growing as quick as you would like, that’s just how it is. Rich, well drained soil is best for this one.
Inā ʻike ʻia ke kōlea lau liʻi, e aho e kiʻi. Pono naʻe ka hāinu ʻana ʻekolu manawa o ka pule. Lohi nō ka ulu ʻana o ke kōlea lau liʻi, no laila, mai hopohopo inā lohi ka ulu ʻana; pēlā nō. ʻOno ke kōlea i ka lepo ʻākeke a momona.