9 Years of Connecting Communities to Ohia
Posted on Aug. 23, 2023 / Native Species / Subscribe 0
By: JC Watson
When you drive through a neighborhood, what flowers do you often see? Hibiscus, gardenias and plumeria are fairly common, and we can’t forget the colorful bougainvillea. As for trees, mango, shower trees, and a plethora of palm types are standard fare. But on occasion, if you happen to be in the right neighborhood at the right time you might get a chance to see something special; an ʻōhiʻa lehua tree in full bloom.
The flowers of ʻŌhiʻa are not only a beautiful addition to any landscape but also provide a valuable source of nourishment for native birds. Photo by JC Watson
ʻŌhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) trees are the backbone of the Hawaiian forest, and once ranged from the mountaintops to the coastal plains. As a pioneer species, it is among the first plants to grow across the cooled lava fields of our islands, and its many forms are suitably adapted to the varying climates and conditions found throughout the state. Their trunks and leaves not only create habitat for countless other species but also effectively capture rain which recharges our aquifers. From a cultural perspective, ‘ōhi’a is very important and has a multitude of traditional uses. For example, the colorful flowers and leaf buds are used in lei making, the bark can be used for laʻau lapaʻau (traditional medicine), and the wood was used to make kiʻi (religious objects) and a variety of tools. There are also innumerable stories and relationships that cannot be so easily described. Tragically, following a long history of detrimental land use practices such as industrialized agriculture and the rise of urban development, this keystone of our native ecosystems is now largely restricted to the upland forests and is an exceedingly rare sight in urban areas.
The ‘Ōhi’a Legacy Initiative (OLI) is a local grass-roots non-profit organization that aims to transform local communities, build cultural connections, increase forest resilience, and develop awareness of native Hawaiian plants by reestablishing ‘ōhi’a trees in urban Hawaiʻi. It was founded in 2014 by three best friends who wanted to make a difference and leave a positive biocultural legacy for future generations. Since its formation, OLI has been taking innovative steps to realize their goals.
With a primary mission of increasing the number of ‘ōhi’a, OLI has worked to develop a decentralized community propagation network which is comprised of organizations, individuals, and local nurseries that share the kuleana of growing and caring for new ʻōhiʻa seedlings until they are large enough to be distributed. Once the trees are about 1-2 feet tall and have filled out a 1-gallon pot they are ready to go to new homes. Though smaller trees are capable of surviving being planted, larger trees have a better survival rate and are much easier to avoid with a mower or weed-whacker. Their next step is to amass the trees by hundreds and coordinate mass-giveaways to provide ‘ōhi’a to the community at no cost. As of the beginning of 2023, OLI has provided over 3,000 ‘ōhi’a trees to communities across O’ahu with hundreds more distributed via partners across the State. Giveaways are promoted via their social media and email list.
A keiki ‘ōhi’a ready for a new home.
To create a lasting educational component within the organization and continue engagement while trees are growing out, a standardized propagation method was developed which can be used to effectively grow ʻōhiʻa from seed. This technique is intended to be simple, repeatable, and result in high germination rates. Using this technique, OLI has partnered with over 120 organizations, schools, clubs, and businesses to hold ʻōhiʻa workshops. During these events, participants learn about the ecological and cultural significance of ‘ōhiʻa, how to grow it using OLI’s method, and leave with a seeded ʻōhiʻa set and the knowledge on how to care for ʻōhiʻa at their own homes. To date, over 5 million seeds have been sown at their workshops and tabling events across the State.
Participants learning to grow ‘ōhi’a
‘ōhi’a propagation
Over the course of their 9-year history, OLI has slowly continued to set down its roots, strengthen people/plant relationships, and have notable impacts in the community. Make sure to stay tuned as they have some big plans for their 10-year organizational anniversary in 2024. For more information, or to learn how to get involved with the ʻŌhiʻa Legacy Initiative, please visit www.ohialegacy.org or check out their social accounts @ohialegacy.
JC Watson is a life-long conservationist and the President of the ʻŌhiʻa Legacy Initiative he lives in Mōiliʻili with his family and plants.
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