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!