e ku i ka ohia lehua: culture significance of a dominant hawaiian tree

E Kū i ka ʻōhiʻa lehua

An introduction to the biocultural significance of our dominant tree Metrosideros polymorpha

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Sam ʻOhukaniʻōhiʻa Gon III

The ‘ōhi‘a lehua is the dominant tree in Hawaiian wet forest on all islands.

Its nectar-rich flowers provide the mainstay for Hawaiian honeycreepers, such as this ‘apapane.

ʻŌhiʻa lehua carries immense significance in native Hawaiian culture.

Kinolauphysical

manifestationof:

• Kū• Laka• Pele• Hiʻiaka• Kāne• Kapo

Noho ana

Laka i ka ulu-wehiwehi, ka ʻōhiʻa kū i luna o Mauna Loa

Kuahu a Laka

kiʻi akua(god images)

An ʻōhiʻa tree carved into the

likeness of Kū

Possessed such high mana (spiritual power)

that it required a human sacrifice to take it from the wao akua

(upland sacred realm)

ʻŌhiʻa lehua was the preferred wood for the lele (offering platform)

and the ʻānuʻu (oracle tower)

on the heiau (temple)

It was considered the best wood

for the pā (exclosure)

surrounding sacred sites & structures

• lehua is the first warrior

• to fall in battle

lehua is the fiery symbol of Pele

lehua is the term

for a paramount expert

Lehua ʻāpane = ʻapapane = red

Lehua mamo = mamo = yellow

He kumu lehua muimuia i ka manu(A lehua tree crowded with birds)

A lehua tree in bloom draws birds as an attractive person draws the attention of others

E ola i aʻu, ka pouhana o ke aupuni, a me nā aliʻi ā pau(Life to me, the support post of the government, and all the chiefs)

ʻōhiʻa lehua is a preferred wood for weapons such as

lāʻau (clubs) and

pāhoa (daggars)

In

hulaʻōhiʻa wood

creates fine

kālāʻau (dancing sticks)

In the realm of

ornamentationLei lehua among the most exalted of lei

In lāʻau lapaʻau (medicine)

Liko lau & aʻa lewa

No Puna lehua ʻula i ka papa, i ʻula i ka papa ka lehua o Puna…

Ua-kani-lehuaMoaniani-lehua Līlī-lehua

Lāʻau ʻohi wai(Forest that gathers water)

mahalo!