Mohala Ohia Lehua
The ʻōhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) is one of Hawaiʻi’s most important native trees, found from coastal lowlands to high volcanic slopes. It plays a critical role in native ecosystems—often the first to grow on new lava flows, helping to create the foundation for other species to thrive. In Hawaiian culture, the lehua is strongly connected to Pele, the goddess of volcanoes, through the moʻolelo of the lovers ʻŌhiʻa and Lehua. According to legend, the picking of a lehua blossom will bring rain, as the sky weeps for the lovers separated and transformed into the tree and its flower. It is also associated with Laka, the goddess of hula. In hula traditions, certain plants are considered kinolau (physical forms) of Laka and are used to honor her. Lehua blossoms are among these plants, often gathered and placed on the kuahu (altar) in the hālau hula as offerings for inspiration, protection, and connection to tradition.
Mōhala ʻŌhiʻa Lehua was inspired by the natural growth process of the lehua, showing its journey from liko (bud) to mōhala (full bloom). The artwork begins with the early stage of silvery-green new leaves and tightly closed buds, moves into the stage where flowers start to open, and ends with the lehua in full bloom. Each stage is depicted to clearly show how the plant changes over time.
Today, ʻōhiʻa lehua faces a serious threat from Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death, a fungal disease that has killed hundreds of thousands of trees across Hawaiʻi. This makes protecting and understanding this plant even more important. By showing its full journey in one piece, Mōhala ʻŌhiʻa Lehua not only celebrates the beauty and resilience of the ʻōhiʻa but also serves as a reminder of its deep cultural connections and its vital role in Hawaiʻi’s forests.
Did you love this blog? Read more about the ʻŌhiʻa Lehua here:
