03-02-2006, 07:06 PM
Aloha Dave and all,
The ohia is certainly one Hawai'i's beautiful native trees. There is a legend about it too. Pele met a handsome young man named Ohia and, as Pele often does, wanted him for her lover. Ohia was already in love with a beautiful young girl, Lehua, and refused Pele's offer to make him her lover. This made Pele angry and she used her powers to turn Ohia into an ugly gray tree. Lehua was heartbroken and begged Pele to return Ohia back to human form. Pele refused so Lehua asked the other gods to help her be reunited with Ohia. Instead of changing Ohia back to a human, the gods transformed Lehua into a lovely red blossom on the Ohia tree. It is said if you pick a Lehua blossom, it will rain (tears) because the lovers have been separated.
Linda in CO
The ohia is certainly one Hawai'i's beautiful native trees. There is a legend about it too. Pele met a handsome young man named Ohia and, as Pele often does, wanted him for her lover. Ohia was already in love with a beautiful young girl, Lehua, and refused Pele's offer to make him her lover. This made Pele angry and she used her powers to turn Ohia into an ugly gray tree. Lehua was heartbroken and begged Pele to return Ohia back to human form. Pele refused so Lehua asked the other gods to help her be reunited with Ohia. Instead of changing Ohia back to a human, the gods transformed Lehua into a lovely red blossom on the Ohia tree. It is said if you pick a Lehua blossom, it will rain (tears) because the lovers have been separated.
Linda in CO