ʻŌhiʻa
Significance
One of the most cherished, storied, and beloved lāʻau central to the Hawaiian culture is the ʻōhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha). A plant so deeply ingrained in genealogy, traditional moʻolelo, and a cultural landscape. The ʻōhiʻa can be found in countless oli, mele, ʻōlelo noʻeau, and moʻolelo that describe its connection to the ʻāina (land) and akua (gods).
Significance
The ʻōhiʻa can be found in countless oli, mele, ʻōlelo noʻeau, and moʻolelo that describe its connection to the ʻāina (land) and akua (gods). The ʻōhiʻa is mentioned in passing in the Sixth Era of the Kumulipo, the Hawaiian genesis story.