Yellow 'Ōhi'a

Yellow 'Ōhi'a

Red, or Ula, 'Ōhi'a Lehua trees are common here on the Big Island.  With their Red flowers and their ash colored bark, seemingly unremarkable, until you look closer.  The wood is hard and good for flooring and furniture.  The plant has many forms, from tall trees to low shrubs.  The leaves are roundish and are clumped together with large woolly like flowers.  It is rare to see the flowers any other color, than Red.

'Ō'hi'a Lehua

The 'Ōhi'a Lehua is said to be the domain of the Goddess Hi'iaka, sister of Madam Pele, the goddess of the Volcano.  Hi'iaka, is one of twelve younger sisters of the goddess Pele.  Throughout the island, the 'Ōhi'a Lehua can be found in forests, and standing alone in a lava bed with nothing else growing around it.

Hi'iaka-i-ka-poli-o-pele

We are blessed to have a Yellow 'Ōhi'a growing in our yard.  Hawaiians gave us advice when we were preparing the land to build a house.  "If you take down the trees, leave at least one 'Ōhi'a standing to honor the goddess Hi'iaka and her sister Pele".  "If you find a Yellow 'Ōhi'a, then preserve it".

A Treasure in the Forest 

Even rarer are the 'Ōhi'a that have white flowers.  I've not seen any of those trees yet, but I am always on the lookout for these rare gems.  I am overjoyed by this blessing in our yard.  We have a variety of trees growing in our yard, many of these trees I have no idea what there names are.  Other trees we recognize are the more popular and common varieties of trees; like the Banyon, the Norfolk Pine, and all of the fruit trees scattered on our property.  Of all of those, this Yellow 'Ōhi'a is most special to me.

Aloha