Alien grasses such as meadow ricegrass (Ehrharta stipoides) may form an understory that prevents or inhibits natural regeneration of the forests. It is a very dense wood. Some say that if you pick the flower from an hia tree, the two lovers cry, causing the sky to rain down their tears. Avoid injuring hia. Austropuccinia psidiion the move: survey based insights to its geographical distribution, host species, impacts and management in Australia. The color of Ohia Lehua ranges from light brown to redish in color. Mentioned in the Kumulipo, the Hawaiian genesis story, to being a favored flower to the fire goddess Pele, the endemic hia lehua is an important tree and flower in Hawaiian culture. The volcano goddess Pele fell in love with the handsome hia and approached him, but he turned down her advances. [11] By May 2018, infected hia trees were found on the island of Kauai, prompting requests that members of the public limit transportation of hia products within the island. No problem. 7 CFR319.40-5: Logs, lumber, and other unmanufactured wood articles importation and entry requirements for specified articles. In drier areas, M. polymorpha has to compete with silk oak (Grevillea robusta) and fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum). Hawaiian Ohia, Metrosideros spp., is a Hawaiian hardwood that can also be called Pacific Rosewood. Leishman. Related Species: None available. Chimera. The Hawaiian Dictionary (Pukui and Elbert 1986: 199) defines lehua with these words: "The flower of the hia tree also the tree itself [emphasis added]." January 1, 2005 (Title 7, Volume 5). Its flowers were used for medicinal purposes, like easing the pain of childbirth. Though Rapid Ohia Death is currently only found on Hawaii Island, the quickly-spreading disease poses an imminent threat to this significant tree statewide. Special thanks toKim Steutermann Rogers, a Kauai-based freelance writer and hia expert, for updating this story. Ohia Poles-Hardwoods Hawaii (808) 939-7218 Also Known As. Ohia Lehua Wood - Etsy Its among the top concerns hia, as there is currently no cure. In April 2018, the cause of Rapid 'Ohi'a Death was identified as two species of Ceratocystis previously unknown to science: C. huliohia and C. This dense and beautiful Hawaiian hardwood takes a wonderfully high polish! 47-745 Kamehameha Hwy #C - hicentral.com As monkeypod trees tend to have large trunks, they're also a preferred wood for furniture. HARDBOARD FROM OHIA1 - Oregon State University A new and devastating disease, rapid ohia death (ROD), in Hawaii led to a state quarantine that regulates interisland transport of ohia wood and plant material to prevent spread of the causal pathogens. Top Oil-Based Stain Ratings 1. The flowers appear in clusters on the terminal ends of the branches. Allergies/Toxicity: Besides the standard health risks associated with any type of wood dust, no further health reactions have been associated with Ohia. YVONNE JARAMILLO AHEARN (B) - Oahu Real Estate. January 1, 2005 (Title 7, Volume 5). Perfect Hawaiian wedding bands for men and women; the Ohia is the tree that blooms Hawaii's state flower, the Lehua, and is used to make important leis. It produces a brilliant display of flowers, made up of a mass of stamens, which can range from fiery red to yellow. Specific gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .70, .91. Leishman. 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 prized feathersin colors This beautiful Ohia wood has been kiln dried and surfaced on two sides. 2008 Ohia Rust (Eucalyptus Rust) (Puccinia psidii Winter) Risk Assessment for Hawai`i, Loope, L. 2009. Style W1R Any Size 4-10MM Width It is a highly variable tree, being 2025m (6682ft) tall in favorable situations, and a much smaller prostrate shrub when growing in boggy soils or directly on basalt. Oxford PA, 19363 USA, Telephone This dense and beautiful Hawaiian hardwood takes a wonderfully high polish! TWP 100 Series 2. Coring, sanding, splitting, notching, and other services available. See above for USDA hardiness. The lightweight wood of buckeye was used in making artificial limbs before the introduction of lightweight, Space Age materials. Direct and indirect community effects of the invasive plant pathogen Austropuccinia psidii (myrtle rust) in eastern Australian rainforests. These trees are celebrated in chant, song, dance, ceremony, and more by the Hawaiian people. Metrosideros polymorpha - Plant Pono We have a wooden bridge made of this and used a minwax poly-utherethane and it peeled after a few months. How to Grow an Ohia Tree: 12 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow The specific epithet polymorpha, meaning 'many forms', is very appropriate, since individuals of this species exhibit many different morphologies and inhabit a broad range of ecological situations. The hia lehua flower is mentioned in many Hawaiian moolelo; one of the more significant legends tells of its creation. The disease caused by these fungal species has been named Rapid hia Death; trees on Maui, Hawaii Island, Kauai and Oahu have also been infected. (2), A possible cause of the sacredness attributed to the hia lehuamay have been the redness of the wood, which when freshly cut has an appearance strickingly like that of raw meat, thus reinforcing the idea of life and possibly correlating with human sacrifice, which in special cases preceded the carving of an image. In a fit of jealousy, Pele transformed hian into a tree. Common Uses: Furniture, flooring, and turned objects. It is very expensive and beautiful as flooring, but is not that commonly used in Oahu real estate. 8 Best Varnish for Wood- Reviews & Buyer's Guide One principal pathway of introduction is imports of infected plants or plant parts. The flowers are gorgeouscoming in a variety of colors from red to yellow and even whiteand have played muse for many local clothing and accessory designers. At the 2016 Merrie Monarch Festival, for the first time in its more than half-a-century history, many hula halau (hula schools) opted to forgo traditional lei and adornments from the ohia lehua tree in order to stem the spread of a blight known as Rapid Ohia Death (ROD). Wood Inlay Descriptions O to Z. Ohia Wood from the Ohia Lehua tree is one of the most cherished trees in Hawaii. OHIA LOGS. The wood and lashing that he uses to create these items are usually Native Hawaiian plants, however in modern times, he has dabbled in using invasive plants to see how they would fair. Oil finishes tend to bring out the greens, reds, browns, etc. My flooring in my home is Ohia and weve had our varnished a few times with a matte and shiny finish on separate occasions both do great, (This is a monthly update, and your email will be kept private. Aloha Woods is a locally owned and operated supplier of high quality flooring and lumber serving the Big Island in Hawaii and everywhere else in the United States. Code of Federal Regulations. A possible cause of the sacredness attributed to the hia lehuamay have been the redness of the wood, which when freshly cut has an appearance strickingly like that of raw meat, thus reinforcing the idea of life and possibly correlating with human sacrifice, which in special cases preceded the carving of an image. Rainfall of 1,0003,000mm (39118in) per year is favored, but hia can grow in dry forests that receive as little as 400mm (16in) or bogs that get more than 10,000mm (390in) of rain. And, indeed, there is a well-known Hawaiian story that tells the tale of their intertwined fates. Many . The piece I have is old and dry. Plant Uses: Cultural significance Cut flower Fragrant Lei flower Medicinal Ornamental Specimen Woodworking Plant Dangers: No dangers Humidity and the cure of the wood has everything to do with a good finish. Chasing myrtle rust in New Zealand: host range and distribution over the first year after invasion. While hia lehua flowers most commonly bloom scarlet red, they also blossom in salmon, garnet, yellowand on very rare occasionswhite. lukuohia. View Our Woods All inhaled wood dust is hazardous to your long-term health. I just used some figured ohai on a knife after I stabilized it & it is gorgeous! Its wood was used as kapa cloth beaters, as boards for pounding poi, and for building structures and statues.Its flowers were used for medicinal purposes, like easing the pain of childbirth. Aloha Woods is a locally owned and operated supplier of high quality flooring and lumber serving the Big Island in Hawaii and everywhere else in the United States. The color of Ohia Lehua ranges from light brown to redish in color. Presented to Admiral von Kotzebue by Queen Namahana, wife of King Kamehameha I, 1817. Ohia is used for flooring, furniture, cabinetry, and the native Hawaiians used it even for tools. The trees are in the myrtle family, related to guava and eucalyptus. hi'a (Austropuccinia) Rust - Don't Move Firewood But Pele isnt the only god associated with ohia lehua. However, all woods produce fine dust when worked, which in turn can damage your lungs and cause a number of other adverse health reactions. It blooms the red Lehua flower which is the official flower of the Big Island of Hawaii. Pearson, B.J.R. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils. The flowers can also be found in yellow, pink, and white. One of the basic construction materials is wood. FOLLOW @oahu_real_estate_life ON INSTAGRAM. macrophylla M. p. var. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Ohia Lehua or just Ohia is a specific type of very dense Hawaiian hardwood. O'o (digging stick) had many uses for the farmer and was usually 5 to 7 feet long, either pointed and sharpened on the edges or with flat blades. INCLUDES 1 WOOD BLANK (several blanks are shown to indicate the range of color/grain to expect). To evoke or inspire the Gods and enhance their storytelling, hula dancers traditionally wear lehua blossoms or buds in lei headbands, around wrists and ankles. The loss of the tree would be catastrophic not only to native forests, but also to Hawaiian tradition and storytelling.