Family: Myrtaceae

ʻŌhiʻa lehua is the most common native tree in the Hawaiian Islands. It tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, temperature, and rainfall. As a pioneer plant, ʻōhiʻa are the first trees to sprout from new lava. As such, it is associated with Pele. Hawaiian legend says that anyone who picks a flower in the mountain will cause rainfall, due to the sad parting of the lovers, ʻŌhiʻa and Lehua. Therefore, the tree itself is referred to as an ʻōhiʻa tree, and the blossoms are called lehua flowers. This distinction comes from Hawaiian mythology, in which Ohia was a handsome warrior, and Lehua was his beautiful lover. They were transformed into a tree and its flowers, respectively, by a jealous Pele. The plant is used most commonly for haku lei but also woodworking and Hawaiian medicinal uses. It’s also a great ‘honey plant’ as it attracts many pollinators due to its abundance of nectar. Ohia nectar honey is silky and is prized around the state. ʻŌhiʻa wood is one of the hardest woods in Hawaiʻi, but it is not widely used on a commercial level. It is essential not to move untreated ohia wood around the state to prevent the spread of rapid ohia death.

Plant Uses:

• Cultural significance
• Cut flower
• Fragrant
• Lei flower
• Medicinal
• Ornamental
• Specimen
• Woodworking

Plant Dangers:

• No dangers