In some trees, it is straight and smooth; in others, it is twisted and prominently fluted. Photography by Tomas del Amo, Copyright 2000-2012. This tree was believed to be one manifestation of the major gods, Kane and Ku, and was therefore thought to have great mana (power). The species are readily distinguished from one another by the characteristics of their leaves.[4]. The hardy native ohia lehua is one of the first plants to recolonize otherwise barren lands blanketed in lava, and perhaps because of its ability to thrive in Peles creations or perhaps because of its ashy bark and explosion of blooms that come in bright and fiery orange, yellow, pink and redmany associate the plant with the Hawaiian fire goddess. Culture: Yellow buckeye prefers full to partial sun and deep, rich, moist, well-drained soils. Ohia is the Hawaiian name for species in the genus Metrosideros. Ohia is used for flooring, furniture, cabinetry, and the native Hawaiians used it even for tools. In this way, hia help start the forest and grow with it, with the potential to top out at 100 feet tall and nearly 1,000 years of age, the keystone species of Hawaiian rainforested mountaintops. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. A summary of Information Related to Regulatory Options for Preventing Introduction of Additional Strains of the Rust Puccinia psidii Winter (Guava Rust) To Hawaii, Stewart, J. E., A. L. Ross-Davis, R. N. Graa, A. C. Alfenas, T. L. Peever, J. W. Hanna, J. Y. Uchida, R. D. Hauff, C. Y. Kadooka, M.-S. Kim, P. G. Cannon, S. Namba, S. Simeto, C. A. Prez, M. B. Rayamajhi, D. J. Lodge, M. Agruedas, R. Medel-Ortiz, M. A. Lpez-Ramirez, P. Tennant, M. Glen, P. S. Machado, A. R. McTaggart, A. J. Carnegie, and N. B. Klopfenstein. Monkeypod trees are valued for their timber -- a durable hardwood. Ohia is an ideal hardwood for flooring, woodturning, boxes, cabinets, furniture, and other fine woodworking applications. Chimera. Lava-loving ohia lehua: A pioneer plant in peril By Special to West Hawaii Today | Sunday, November 15, 2015, 11:30 a.m. Share this story One of the wondrous things about visiting a young lava. Today, hia wood is used for flooring, house posts, fencing posts, decoration, framing of traditional hale, and firewood. [6] In native Hawaiian society, it is used in house and heiau construction, as well as to make papa kui ai (poi boards), weapons, tool handles, hohoa (round kapa beaters), and kii (statues and idols). See my page on donating wood samples for more info. Other than in flooring, Ohia posts are used decoratively and for structural posts on porches or other applications in many Oahu homes. He was so good-looking he attracted the gaze of Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire. 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. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils. Davenport, and C.G. In a fit of jealousy, Pele transformed hian into a tree. Referenced in mele (songs), oli (chants) and moolelo (stories), hia trees were used for myriad purposes by ancient Hawaiians. Wood is a good source of energy when used with fuel. One of the basic construction materials is wood. It is very expensive and beautiful as flooring, but is not that commonly used in Oahu real estate. When you are out looking at Oahu real estate, you may hear the term Ohia. It is usually used in the sense of Ohia floors or Ohia posts. This is in large part thanks to the trees superior capacity for extending its root system deep into lava rock crevices, and its capability to close its stomata, or breathing pores, which helps to block toxic volcanic gases that can be blown their way. Scans/Pictures: Stay up to date with The Wood Database (2). Softwoods Soft woods burn very fast, which can be tempting to use when starting a fire, but they also create a lot of smoke - smoke inhalation is not good for anyone, so we . 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. Produced prior to 1822. Contact us and tell us what you're looking for. hia branches are used to create traditionalklaau, or dancing sticks, and branchesbearing both woody parts and flowers to symbolize the male and female elements adornkuahu(altars) when hula students are in training. Presented to Admiral von Kotzebue by Queen Namahana, wife of King Kamehameha I, 1817. Produced prior to 1822. Carnegie, M.R. This wood is very, very hard, but also known to be unstable if not properly seasoned. Pricing/Availability: Not commonly exported. The volcano goddess Pele fell in love with the handsome hia and approached him, but he turned down her advances. Pegg, A.J. Four. Coring, sanding, splitting, notching, and other services available. Specimens reaching 30m (98ft) high are on record. Warm, rich colors set this wood apart. TWP Semi-Solid Pro-Series 4. Does anyone have any experience in putting a Varnish on this wood? Custom features throughout the home include beautiful Brazilian cherry wood floors, Bose surround sound system, interior Ohia wood pole, artistic stained glass windows, 17 owned PV panels, and tons of storage. Rot Resistance: Rated as non-durable to perishable; good insect resistance. It is used both for the construction of the main structural elements as well as . Janka hardness: 2,040. . (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. hia lehua growing at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii Island.Photo: Getty Images/GeorgeBurba. Hawaiians have an abundance of words for rain, and severallike Ka ua lu lehua o Panaewa (lehua-shedding rain of Panaewa) and Ka ua Noelehua o Waialeale (the misty lehua rain of Waialeale)incorporate the word lehua. Kailua Home for Sale with Ohia Post in Front Entry. Clear finishes tend to make light colored woods look good. A log will sink when placed in water, and this means was used to store and season the material. Though the wood is generally considered difficult to work because of interlocked grain and high density, the amazingly . Related Species: None available. Upgrade your flooring with our huge selection of stunning local Hawaiian hardwood flooring options. [15] It is said that when a lehua flower is plucked from an hia tree, the sky will fill with rain representing the separated lovers' tears. August 2018. The flowers of the Ohia tree are typically bright red, and are large and tufted. Defy Hardwood/Cedar Stain 2019. Aloha Woods is your premier source for all grades of Hawaiian grown Koa Wood on the Big Island of Hawaii. Wash Your Vehicle If you travel off-road in your vehicle, wash the tires and undercarriage with detergent to remove all soil or mud. hia wood is one of the hardest woodsin Hawaii, but it is not widely used on a commercial level. 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 trees are in the myrtle family, related to guava and eucalyptus. (In quarantine inspections of ohia wood leaving the island, Hughes says, about 60 percent is . Its among the top concerns hia, as there is currently no cure. Carnegie, G.S. Color/Appearance: Heartwood is a light to medium reddish brown. Check out our inventory or give us a call to learn more about our plywood and veneer options. This biotype is not known to be present in Brazil. Donating wood samples and pictures of wood items, Fluorescence: A Secret Weapon in Wood Identification, Ash Wood: Black, White, and Everything in Between, Brazilian Rosewood, East Indian, and Other Rosewoods, Genuine Lignum Vitae and Argentine Lignum Vitae. It is essential not to move untreated ohia wood around the state to prevent the spread of rapid ohia death. One principal pathway of introduction is imports of infected plants or plant parts. See more ideas about hawaiian house, hawaiian homes, hawaii homes. P (fencing) was made from the wood due to its availability; kauila (Colubrina oppositifolia or Alphitonia ponderosa), more durable woods when in contact with soil, was rarer. 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). Because an oil finish is amber it makes light colored woods look amber. Aloha Woods is your premier source for all grades of Hawaiian grown Koa Wood on the Big Island of Hawaii. All information on this site is believed to be reliable but is expressly not guaranteed. To celebrate hia Lehua Dayevery year on April 25weve compiled a few things you need to know about this tropical tree. Coring, sanding, splitting, notching, and otherservices available. Colors are rich and warm, ranging from red-brown to light brown with dark gray hues. M. p. var. (Photo by JB Friday) ), You can help support the site by buying one of these resources, designed and published by The Wood Database. 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. Different parts of the hia were used in the practice of lau lapaau or Hawaiian healing medicine. Our state of the art facility is over 15,000 sq. [1] The flowers were used medicinally to treat pain experienced during childbirth. Metrosideros kermadecensis, from the Kermadec Islands north of New Zealand, has recently become naturalized on Maui and may become a pest species. 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. It is a very dense wood. Saturday / 8am-4pm EST Metrosideros polymorpha is the most common native tree in the Hawaiian Islands, tolerating a wide range of soil conditions, temperature, and rainfall. While hia lehua flowers most commonly bloom scarlet red, they also blossom in salmon, garnet, yellowand on very rare occasionswhite. Once there was an attractive man named Ohia, and Pele liked him. This dense and beautiful Hawaiian hardwood takes a wonderfully high polish! We are excited to offer a flitch to you. Built in 2001, this multi-generational oceanfront home is constructed of high quality materials and has been meticulously maintained. The wood I used is dark. Please contact Yvonne Jaramillo Ahearn at 808-721-8088. Good Fun! 7 CFR319.40-5: Logs, lumber, and other unmanufactured wood articles importation and entry requirements for specified articles. Most poly-urethanes that I have worked with are for interior applications. Copyright 20082023 Eric Meier. This dense and beautiful Hawaiian hardwood takes a wonderfully high polish! Endgrain: Diffuse-porous; exclusively solitary;medium to large pores in no specific arrangement, moderately numerous; parenchyma not visible;narrow rays, spacing fairly close. 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 We deliverislandwide and ship off island via the Department of Agriculture and Young Brother Hawaii. Sunday / Closed, View Our Products Total length: 15 inches Handle width approximately: 5/8" Mahalo and Aloha Pictured below is a feather cape belonging to King Kamehameha I. hia trees grow easily on lava, and are usually the first plants to grow on new lava flows. Handcrafted reclaimed Hawaiian Ohia wood flooring rescued from Re-use Hawaii. If you see hia with its crown turning brown, seemingly overnight, take a picture and send it to that islands Invasive Species Committee. Direct and indirect community effects of the invasive plant pathogen Austropuccinia psidii (myrtle rust) in eastern Australian rainforests. So why was ohias reduced presence at the festival such a big deal? The lightweight wood of buckeye was used in making artificial limbs before the introduction of lightweight, Space Age materials. 73-4770 Kanalani Street, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. Employment, Hearne Hardwoods Inc. Let's take a look at some of the popular uses for the monkeypod tree. In various stories, the plant is a kinolau, or physical manifestation, of several Hawaiian gods and goddesses including Ku, Hiiaka, Kane, Kapo as well as, some say, Laka, the goddess of hula. Its wood was used askapacloth beaters, as boards for poundingpoi, and for building structures and statues. Related Articles: None available. New plant records from the Hawaiian Archipelago. Style W1R Any Size 4-10MM Width Business Hours Leishman. Our exceptionally friendly and knowledgeable staff coupled with our vast selection of in-stock inventory make it easy for you to find exactly what you need for your next home or business renovation project. pumila M. p. var. A titanium ring with Hawaiian Ohia wood inlay; beautiful tree preserved in the strength of titanium. Monday-Friday / 8am-5pm EST Ohia (pronounced Oh-he-a) is a dense, native Hawaiian wood with beautiful, warm, color variation. Catalog Number: HALE 198 . Ohia also has a rather large movement in service, as evidenced by its high shrinkage values. This dense and beautiful Hawaiian hardwood takes a wonderfully high polish! 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. We also carry many exotic woods from around the world, such as Bloodwood, Ebony, Wenge, Purpleheart, Padauk, Cocobolo, and Zebrawood. We supply plywood and veneer panels for contractors, homebuilders, renovation projects, and more. This beautiful Ohia wood has been kiln dried and surfaced on two sides. With our help trees fallen for agricultural and urban development are rescued and re-purposed. Comments: Ohia is a very common species in Hawaii. Small pin holes may be present only in sapwood areas. All information on this website believed reliable, but not guaranteed. gilkey vs champion windows; mary j blige sister jonquell; picrew female character maker; July 4, 2022 ohia wood usesdispensary manager job descriptiondispensary manager job description Ohia (pronounced Oh-he-a) is a dense, native Hawaiian wood with beautiful, warm, color variation. Medeiros, A.C., C.F. [13] Throughout Oceania, there are many similar-sounding words that were also derived from the same ancestral protoform and, in most cases, they are names for the "mountain apple", or "Malay apple" tree, Syzygium malaccense. January 1, 2005 (Title 7, Volume 5). In a sort of compromise, they decided the lovers should be forever united and so transformed Lehua into an adornment on the Ohia tree, the lehua blossom. It blooms the red Lehua flower which is the official flower of the Big Island of Hawaii. It is very expensive and beautiful as flooring, but is not that commonly used in Oahu real estate. URL: http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/pi/files/2013/01/npa05-04-ohiarust.pdf, Loope, L. and A.M. LaRosa. However, if we can find some sort of use for the . 10 Ohia Logs 5-7, 8-10 and 11-13 diameters . 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. 7 CFR319.37: Nursery stock, plants, roots, bulbs, seeds, and other plant products prohibitions and restrictions on importation: disposal of articles refused importation. Just because the hia lehua flower looks dainty and delicate, the plant itself is incredibly durable and can grow in rugged, barren environments. It grows from sea level right up to the tree line at elevations of 2,500m (8,200ft) and is commonly found in moist and dry forests, high shrublands, and is a colonizer of recent lava flows. Proudly created with Wix.com. The pandemic biotype introduced to Oceania, Asia and the Pacific, including Hawai`i, Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, and Florida. An occasional end or surface check may be present. Ho, R.J. Ganley, C.E.A. There are no comments for this journal entry. According to folklore, Ohi'a was the name of a warrior that was transformed into a tree. Wood Inlay Descriptions O to Z. Ohia Wood from the Ohia Lehua tree is one of the most cherished trees in Hawaii. Some are killed, others survive; some hosts support spread of the infection. Costa da Silva, A; PM Teixeira de Andrade, A Couto Alfenas, R Neves Graca, P Cannon, R Hauff, D Cristiano Ferreira, and S Mori. The tree has flowers of white, yellow, orange or red. Vocabulary: Ecosystem: A complex set of relationships among the living resources, habitats, and residents of an . Lumber; Plywood; Ohia Posts; Flooring; Shipping; Specialty and Supplies; Contact; Get in touch. Hawaiian Ohia, Metrosideros spp., is a Hawaiian hardwood that can also be called Pacific Rosewood. Jessica Else / The Garden . Preferred soils are acidic to neutral (pH 3.6-7.4) and either a Histosol, Mollisol, Podsol, Oxisol, Ultisol, or Alfisol. 5. 2019. [8], hia lehua is one of the few honey plants that is native to the Hawaiian Islands. |. And, indeed, there is a well-known Hawaiian story that tells the tale of their intertwined fates. Berthon, A.J. Code of Federal Regulations. For instance, the flex of the ohia wood is different from the flex of the imported and invasive albizia. Are Rosewoods (and Bubinga) really banned by CITES? Step 5 It is found throughout the world and can be sustainably managed as a renewable resourcein contrast to coal, ores, and petroleum, which are gradually exhausted.By means of its harvesting in forests, its transportation, its processing in workshops and industries, and its trade and use, wood provides jobs and supports economic development and . Use tab to navigate through the menu items. [16], "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families", "Auwahi: Ethnobotany of a Hawaiian Dryland Forest", "A History of Honeybees in the Hawaiian Islands", "Two new species of fungi that kill hia trees get Hawaiian names", "Pele's Revenge: A Hawaii legend from Native American folklore", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Metrosideros_polymorpha&oldid=1136288302. Austropuccinia psidiion the move: survey based insights to its geographical distribution, host species, impacts and management in Australia. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information. We welcome you to explore our inventory selection and to learn more about our business. For more information on our Hawaiian wood products, reach out to a member of the Aloha Woods team today. Common Uses: Furniture, flooring, and turned objects. Whether you're a barbecuer or a griller; whether you cook on a grill or smoker, over charcoal or propane, hardwood chunks will make your food taste better. (M. collina, M.polymorpha), Tree Size:65-100 ft (20-30 m) tall, 2-4 ft (.6-1.2 m) trunk diameter, Average Dried Weight:57 lbs/ft3 (915 kg/m3), Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .70, .91, Modulus of Rupture:18,260 lbf/in2 (125.9 MPa), Elastic Modulus:2,269,000 lbf/in2 (15.65 GPa), Crushing Strength:9,170 lbf/in2 (63.2 MPa), Shrinkage: Radial: 6.9%, Tangential: 12.1%, Volumetric: 19.1%, T/R Ratio: 1.8. Looking for quality Hawaiian lumber products on the Big Island? This blog does not give legal or tax advice and readers are encouraged to check with licensed professionals for advice on any specific topic and to verify any information herein. All rights reserved. This beautiful Ohia wood has been kiln dried and surfaced on two sides. 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 color of Ohia Lehua ranges from light brown to redish in color. The flowers can also be found in yellow, pink, and white. Marc Hughes, part of the rapid response team that hiked into Moloa'a Forest Reserve Wednesday, explains to the rest of the team the characteristics of rapid ohia death. The nectar of its flowers helped to feed Hawaiis menagerie of native birds, such as theapapane(Hawaiian honeycreeper) and the now-extinctmamo(black Hawaiian honeycreeper), whose colorful feathers were often used for creatinghulaadornments. I found some 6-year old Ohia Lehua (57 lbs/ ft3) at a hardwood supplier in Berkeley, and Id been thinking about Iiwi & Apapane birds on a fretboard for a couple of years. Produced prior to 1822. (2), The wood is easily carved with a sharp tool when it is freshly cut or if it is kept wet. [1] On moist, deep soils, hia grows to 2025m (6682ft) high. Native birds were prized for their feathers in the creation of ahuula (feather cloak) that were worn by high ranking alii (rulers). All rights reserved. Look for them at the Merrie Monarch, televised in March. Warm, rich colors set this wood apart. The plant is self-fertile. Host species and genera include the dominant tree genera in Hawai`i (hia) Oceania (. The flowers appear in clusters on the terminal ends of the branches. Step 4. An occasional end or surface check may be present. The hia lehua come in a variety of shapes and sizes, all five species endemic to Hawaii. This beautiful Ohia wood has been kiln dried and surfaced on two sides. These trees are known to attain great height, and can grow as tall as 40-60 feet (12-18 meters). Ohia trees grow to heights of 60-100 ft. with diameters of 2-3 ft.;some can reach as large as 4 ft. in diameter. Boards over 36" may have a slight 1/8" bow or twist but most do not. Several cultivars of M. excelsa, the pohutukawa tree of New Zealand, have been sometimes planted as ornamentals in Hawaii but are not reported to have naturalized. Boards over 36" may have a slight 1/8" bow or twist but most do not. Although most types of wood used for building of furniture are non-toxic, the glues, stains, and pesticides furniture wood is treated with can be harmful if inhaled. Don't Move Firewood. The best woods for turning include Maple, Ash, Cedar, African mahogany, and Hickory. My hands feel like I rubbed lotion all over them after handling the wood for about an hour. Unfortunately for Pele, Lehua liked Ohia in return. Temple image figure made of 'hia wood, probably represents Kukailimoku, the god of war. Dominant in cloud forests above 400m (1,300ft), the tree is also common in seasonally wet forests, where it may be dominant or form mixtures with the native Acacia koa. 2020. Our boards are live edge and a few show crotch or light flame figure. Dont transport hia wood interisland and dont move hia wood or vegetation, especially from areas known to have ROD. These become impenetrable places. Ohia Poles-Hardwoods Hawaii (808) 939-7218 Also Known As. TWP 1500 Series . Grayish sapwood is not well defined. For flooring, it is seen on Oahu mostly in luxury real estate. It is a very dense wood. Ohia posts and poles are soldbased on bottom diameters. Oxford PA, 19363 USA, Telephone Jeho charta byla obnovena a zmnna v roce 1845 a stavba trati byla zahjena v listopadu 1847. We use to let it bake in the sun until it oxidizes then apply a thin layer to fill the cracks after drying then sand it down if natural look was the desired effect .then re apply a top coat that will give you two years before a re application.Read more . All inhaled wood dust is hazardous to your long-term health. SEE ALSO:5 Pretty Ways to Wear Your hia Lehua Love on Your Sleeve, An apapane, a Hawaiian honeycreeper endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, in an hia lehua tree at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.Photo: Getty Images/Gerald Corsi. It is relatively slow growing. Though some of those words describe the nature of the rain falling on lehua blossoms, the same Hawaiian legend also eludes to an additional relationship between lehua blossoms and the rain, the tears of the two lovers, Ohia and Lehua, when they are separated. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers 79:20-30. The stomata of the leaves are able to close up in the presence of harmful gases, which gives it an advantage over many non-native trees. With over 100 species of domestic and exotic hardwood lumber in stock, Hearne Hardwoods is one of the largest specialty lumberyards in the world. At Aloha Woods, we proudly ship our high quality hardwood products and supplies everywhere in the United States. Typically, halau collect their adornments from the forest and return them after the competition. 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. The wood is easily carved with a sharp tool when it is freshly cut or if it is kept wet. There is much more wood in our warehouse than on our website. 808-329-5189. sales@alohawoods.com . The nectar of its flowers helped to feed Hawaii's menagerie of . glaberrima M. p. var. Avoid injuring hia. macrophylla M. p. var. The disease can also spread from tree to tree on machetes or other tools. They are found in the tropical areas of the Hawaiian islands. [10] While hia itself remains extremely abundant, some species that depend on it such as the akekee (Loxops caeruleirostris) and longhorn beetles in the genus Plagithmysus have become endangered due to shrinkage of forest areas. [4], The derivation of the word lehua is more obscure, and while there are many opinions regarding its origin, there has been, to date, no historical linguistic study of the word to provide convincing evidence for any particular etymology. 2018. Vacuum steam (VS) was evaluated for its ability to eradicate the pathogens, Ceratocystis lukuohia . [4] The Hawaiian language word hia is thought to have been derived from the ancestral Proto-Oceanic word, *kafika. 1.888.814.0007 / Toll Free (USA) Comments: Ohia is a very common species in Hawaii. Loope. The IUCN Red list already includes 338 species in the family before determining impacts of the rust (CABI), The Myrtaceae family is particularly prominent in Australia, New Zealand, and other forested areas associated with the former supercontinent of Gondwanaland. Ohia Hawaiian Hardwoods for Luxury Home Decor &Improvement, Kailua Real Estate | Enchanted Lake Sales 2013 (First Half), Kailua Real Estate | Beachside Sold Homes (First Half) 2013 . Plant Uses: Cultural significance Cut flower Fragrant Lei flower Medicinal Ornamental Specimen Woodworking Plant Dangers: No dangers The leaves are heart-shaped and round, from 2 to 12 inches in diameter. A very hardy versatile tree that is said to be the first to grow after the lava flow . YVONNE JARAMILLO AHEARN (B) - Oahu Real Estate. A distinct biotype has been introduced to South Africa (Toome-Heller, infected or contaminated planting material, nursery stock, plant cuttings, flowers and germplasm, contaminated plant waste, timber, wood packaging and dunnage, contaminated equipment and tools used on or around plants (e.g. More than a million hia on Hawaii Island have become infected by one of two fungal species,Ceratocystis huliohiaandCeratocystis lukuohia, and died. However, slabs, lumber, and smaller craft blanks can all be found on occasion. All Rights Reserved. Colors are rich and warm, ranging from red-brown to light brown with dark gray hues. This dense and beautiful Hawaiian hardwood takes a wonderfully high polish! Top Water-Based Stain Ratings 1. More recently, a strain of fungus initially identified as Ceratocystis fimbriata has attacked the hia forests of the Big Island, causing Rapid 'hi'a Death. lukuohia. The most adventurous cooking activity one evening was barbecuing pork ribs over Ohia wood coals. 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. ! Hawaiian Ohia, Metrosideros spp., is a Hawaiian hardwood that can also be called Pacific Rosewood. These are: Metrosideros polymorpha, M. macropus, M. rugosa, M. tremuloides, and M. waialealae. The lehua (flowers) and liko lehua (leaf buds) are used in making lei. The wood has a straight grain and a coarse texture that makes it easy to carve and less likely to dry out and crack. The Ohia tree, commonly referred to as the Ohia Lehua, is a native to Hawaii. Traditionally, the wood of the hia was used for the construction of weapons, kapa beaters, papa kui ai (poi pounding boards), kii (statues), and for housing.