Contents:
Common Names | Parts Usually Used | Plant(s) & Culture | Where Found | Medicinal Properties | Biochemical Information
Legends, Myths and Stories | Uses | Formulas or Dosages | How Sold | Warning | Resource Links
Scientific Names
- Metrosideros polymorpha
- Metrosideros collina
- Metrosideros pumila
- Nania glabrifolia
- Nania lutea
- Nania polymorpha
- Nania pumila
Common Names
- `Ohi`a Lehua
- `Ohi`a
- Lehua
- Ohia (without diacritical marks)
- Ohia Lehua
- Lehua Tree
Parts Usually Used
The flowers (lehua), young leaf buds (liko), and bark are the primary parts used medicinally. The flowers are most commonly utilized for their therapeutic properties.
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Description of Plant(s) and Culture
`Ohi`a Lehua is a highly variable evergreen tree or shrub in the myrtle family (Myrtaceae) that is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. The species exhibits remarkable morphological diversity, ranging from prostrate shrubs in bogs to towering trees reaching 30 meters (98 feet) in height on favorable sites. This variation is reflected in its scientific name “polymorpha,” meaning “many forms.”
The tree produces brilliant clusters of flowers made up of masses of stamens that give the blossoms their characteristic pompom appearance. Flower colors range from the most common fiery red to yellow, orange, salmon, pink, and cream. The leaves are oval-shaped and may appear woolly, with distinctive eye-catching young leaf buds (liko) that vary between individual trees. The bark is light gray and rough, becoming twisted as the tree grows.
`Ohi`a is extremely hardy and adaptable, capable of growing from sea level to elevations of 2,500 meters (8,200 feet). It tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and can survive in areas receiving as little as 400mm of annual rainfall or as much as 10,000mm in wet bogs. The tree is typically one of the first species to colonize new lava flows.
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Where Found
`Ohi`a Lehua is endemic to the six largest Hawaiian Islands: Hawai`i (Big Island), Maui, Moloka`i, Lāna`i, O`ahu, and Kaua`i. It is the most abundant native tree in the Hawaiian Islands, comprising 80% of native forests and 50% of all forests in the state.
The species naturally occurs in moist and dry forests, high shrublands, cloud forests, seasonally wet forests, and as a colonizer of recent lava flows. It dominates upper watersheds and can be found in virtually every terrestrial habitat across the Hawaiian archipelago, from coastal areas to high-elevation alpine zones.
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Medicinal Properties
In traditional Hawaiian medicine (lā`au lapa`au), `Ohi`a Lehua has been valued for its therapeutic properties, particularly related to reproductive health and childhood ailments. The medicinal applications are primarily focused on pain relief and treatment of specific conditions affecting mothers and children.
The flowers contain compounds that have been traditionally used for their analgesic (pain-relieving) properties, particularly during childbirth. The young leaf buds (liko) have been utilized for treating childhood illnesses, while the bark has been employed for feeding children with contagious diseases.
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Biochemical Information
While specific biochemical analysis of the medicinal compounds in `Ohi`a Lehua is limited in the available literature, the plant is known to produce nectar that attracts various pollinators and is prized for honey production. The flowers and young leaves contain compounds that have demonstrated therapeutic effects in traditional use, though detailed phytochemical studies are needed to identify the specific active constituents responsible for the medicinal properties.
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Legends, Myths and Stories
In Hawaiian culture, `Ohi`a Lehua holds profound spiritual significance and is considered sacred to several Hawaiian deities, particularly Pele (volcano goddess) and Laka (goddess of hula). The tree is one of five plants sacred to Laka and features prominently in Hawaiian mythology, legends (mo`olelo), chants (`oli), and hula.
The Legend of `Ohi`a and Lehua: According to Hawaiian mythology, `Ohi`a and Lehua were two young lovers. When the volcano goddess Pele fell in love with the handsome `Ohi`a and he refused her advances, she transformed him into a tree in jealousy. The devastated Lehua was then transformed by the other gods into a flower and placed upon the `Ohi`a tree so the lovers could be reunited forever. It is said that picking a lehua flower will cause rain, representing the tears of the separated lovers.
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Uses
Traditional medicinal uses of `Ohi`a Lehua include:
- Relief of severe pain during childbirth (flowers)
- Treatment of muhe`e kea (thrush) in babies (young leaf buds)
- Feeding children with contagious illnesses (bark preparations)
- Numbing sore throats (chewing reddish new leaf shoots)
- General treatment for coughs and colds
- Use as a natural antibiotic
Beyond medicinal applications, `Ohi`a Lehua serves numerous other purposes:
- Lei making using the flowers and leaf buds
- Honey production – one of the few native Hawaiian honey plants
- Traditional construction and woodworking due to its extremely hard wood
- Cultural and ceremonial offerings (ho`okupu)
- Watershed protection and forest ecosystem maintenance
- Habitat for endemic Hawaiian wildlife species
Formulas or Dosages
Traditional Hawaiian medicine did not typically use standardized dosages as understood in modern medicine. Instead, preparations were made according to traditional knowledge passed down through generations of practitioners (kahuna lā`au lapa`au).
Flowers were typically used fresh and prepared as needed for treating childbirth pain. Young leaf buds were similarly used fresh for treating childhood ailments. Bark preparations were made for feeding sick children, though specific preparation methods and quantities are not well-documented in available sources.
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How Sold
`Ohi`a Lehua is not commonly sold as a commercial medicinal product. When available, it may be found as:
- Fresh flowers from lei makers and cultural practitioners
- `Ohi`a honey from local Hawaiian honey producers
- Traditional preparations from Native Hawaiian healers
- Ornamental plants from Hawaiian native plant nurseries
- Cultural and educational materials from Hawaiian institutions
Warning
While `Ohi`a Lehua is generally considered safe in traditional uses, several important considerations should be noted:
- Always consult with qualified healthcare providers before using any plant medicinally, especially during pregnancy and childbirth
- Traditional knowledge should be learned from appropriate cultural practitioners and kūpuna (elders)
- Respect cultural protocols when gathering or using `Ohi`a Lehua
- Be aware of Rapid `Ohi`a Death (ROD), a fungal disease affecting `Ohi`a forests – avoid transporting `Ohi`a materials between locations
- The plant is sacred in Hawaiian culture – approach with proper respect and cultural understanding
- Overharvesting can damage wild populations – gather sustainably if culturally appropriate
Resource Links
Forgotten Pioneer Plants: What Early Settlers Grew for Food and Medicine
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I AT MANOA – Hawaiian Healing Plant Theme
Kapi’olani Community College – ‘Ōhi’a Lehua
Plant Pono – Metrosideros polymorpha (ʻōhiʻa lehua, ʻōhiʻa, lehua)
Wikipedia – Metrosideros polymorpha
ScienceDirect – Metrosideros polymorpha
ResearchGate – Metrosideros polymorpha (‘ōhi’a lehua)
