What does the lehua flower represent?
It’s for that reason, when we speak in Hawaiian and we speak of people who are skilled, strong, and beloved, they’re often referred to as pua lehua, or lehua flowers. They, like the lehua, have a kind of resilience, a strength and a grace about them.”
What is the meaning of Ohia Lehua?
o·hi·a le·hu·a. (ō-hē′ə lā-ho͞o′ə) n. An evergreen tree or shrub (Metrosideros polymorpha) of the Hawaiian Islands, having hard wood and showy red flowers with numerous long stamens.
Who is the Hawaiian goddess of flowers?
Laka (Goddess of Beauty, Love, Fertility) The flowers as well as the songs sung during the hula dance are dedicated to Laka. She is married to Lono and some Hawaiian folklore say she is also the sister of Pele.
Is lehua native to Hawaii?
ʻŌhiʻa lehua is one of the few honey plants that is native to the Hawaiian Islands.
Why is the ʻōhiʻa lehua important?
These trees are home to many native insects and even rare native tree snails! The ʻōhiʻa lehua flowers are an important food source for birds, they sip the nectar from the red blossoms and glean insects in bark and leaves.
Why is OHIA important?
Ohia are the most abundant, ecologically important, and culturally significant plants in Hawaii. As a foundation species[1], forming the largest portion of the canopy in native wet and mesic forests, they provide food and shelter for many native animals, including our native forest birds and insects.
Who is the most powerful Hawaiian god?
Kaulu is known for being extremely powerful and strong, both physically and with magic, and he had many adventures in Hawaiian mythology.
Where does the lehua flower grow?
Hawaii
Ohia lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) is endemic to the six largest islands in Hawaii, where it can be seen just about anywhere up to 8200 feet above sea level. It’s a tough plant, part of the Myrtle family, and well-adapted to its environment.
Why is Ohia important?
What did the ancient Polynesians use the ʻōhiʻa lehua for?
As such, the abundant plant had many uses for early Hawaiians: Ohia’s sturdy wood was used to create weapons, kapa cloth beaters, boards for pounding poi, enclosures and statues; its leaves were used as a medicinal tea; and its flowers and its seeds fed native birds like the apapane and the now-extinct mamo, whose …
What is the Hawaiian Lehua flower?
It’s a flower born from legend. The ʻōhiʻa lehua flower is mentioned in many Hawaiian moʻolelo; one of the more significant legends tells of its creation. According to the well-known Hawaiian tale, there once was a beautiful man named ʻŌhiʻa. He was so good-looking he attracted the gaze of Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire.
Why did the gods turn Lehua into a flower?
Lehua was heartbroken, of course. The gods took pity on Lehua and decided it was an injustice to have Ohia and Lehua separated. They thus turned Lehua into a flower on the Ohia tree so that the two lovers would be forever joined together.
What is the story of Lehua and ʻōhiʻa?
According to the well-known Hawaiian tale, there once was a beautiful man named ʻŌhiʻa. He was so good-looking he attracted the gaze of Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire. Unfortunately for Pele, ʻŌhiʻa had his eyes set on a woman named Lehua, who also happened to fancy ʻŌhiʻa.
Why is lehua a flower on the ohia tree?
They thus turned Lehua into a flower on the Ohia tree so that the two lovers would be forever joined together. So remember, Hawaiian folklore says that if you pluck this flower you are separating the lovers, and that day it will rain.