Learn about Koa wood
Ohia Wood
Ohia (Metrosideros collina/var./polymorpha)
Ohia is the most abundant of the remaining endemic species in Hawaii’s forests. Ohia is found in forest locations from sea level to 9000’. There are numerous varieties, and they often establish themselves as pioneer growth over lava flows. In a noncompetitive environment they can grow into tall trees with long trunks, however their branches divide many times and in crowded competitive forest they can have a shrub like appearance.
Ohia trees bear flowers which are named separately and are known as Lehua. The blossoms are usually red but occasionally range through orange to yellow. It is said that Lehua are the flowers of the fire Goddess, Pele, and that when they are picked the rain that follows is her tears. The flowers and the liko, the tender new shoots of the Ohia, are both highly prized in making haku (woven) leis.
The wood has a greyish red hue with purple highlights and can develop a long and beautiful curl. It is very hard, but with only fair stability, it is not popular in complex joinery. When dry it tends to be very difficult to work. In early times it was used to carve tikis, for poi boards, gunwales of canoes and for enclosures around temples. Contemporary applications include railroad ties, posts, flooring and construction lumber.