The Legend of the 'Ohi'a Lehua
as told to us by a tour bus driver from Hilo
Many years ago in the days of the early Hawaiians there lived a couple who were very much in love.
The husband was named 'OHI'A. he was very handsome and a skilled hunter. His wife was named LEHUA.
She was very beautiful.
One day 'Ohi'a went out hunting for wild pig, as their supply of meat was getting low.
The land near their hale (home) had few wild pigs, so eventually he found himself in an area he did not know.
Here he found a large herd of wild pig and quickly cornered one. As he drew his knife and was about to kill a
large boar, he noticed a woman watching him.
The woman called to 'Ohi'a saying, "What brings you to my lands? Did you not know I am Pele (goddess of the volcano) and it is KAPU (tabu)
to be here? For breaking the Kapu, I should put you to death!"
Now it is a fact that Pele was quite attracted to 'Ohi'a, for he was a VERY handsome and skilled hunter. So, she continued saying, "If you will
consent to come and be my husband, I will spare your life!"
Although 'Ohi'a was very honored that Pele wanted him as her husband, he replied that he already had a beautiful
wife named Lehua, whom he loved very much. Pele was both angered and touched by 'Ohi'a's devotion to Lehua.
Pele said, "I will still spare your life because you are so handsome and you are so devoted to your wife. Go now, never to return
to my land, for if you do, I will not be so generous a second time!"
'Ohi'a knew he was indeed a lucky man! He quickly fled and returned to his hale and to Lehua. The hunting got better for a time and 'Ohi'a
had no need or desire to return to Pele's land. But after a while the hunting grew worse and 'Ohi'a and Lehua grew hungry.
So hungry that 'Ohi'a began to remember the herd of pigs, and where to find them. He also remembered the warning Pele gave him, but he was hungry and so was Lehua.
'Ohi'a thought that if he was quick and quiet, he could sneak onto Pele's land, kill a pig and get out without being seen.
So, he decided to try, for his hunger was great and he and Lehua had not had meat for many days. Soon he found the herd
of wild pigs again, living on the Kapu land of Pele.
It was the misfortune of 'Ohi'a to be seen sneaking onto the land by Pele herself. Pele was quite angry at this mortal for having the
nerve to return after she had spared his life. But, Pele was also very much in love with 'Ohi'a, so she spared his life again.
This time she did not let him leave, but she turned him into a scraggly, gnarled tree.
Back at their hale, Lehua became worried when 'Ohi'a did not return from the hunt after many days. Lehua spent many hours crying and
praying to the gods for 'Ohi'a's safe return to her. But he could not return as he had been turned into the 'Ohi'a Tree, which she did not know.
So, Lehua, loving him very much,
began to search for her beloved 'Ohi'a. As misfortune would have it, Lehua eventually wandered onto the Kapu Lands of Pele, and was spotted by the goddess.
Pele was quite angry!
"Why do you dare enter the lands of Pele? For this I shall put you to death!!" screamed Pele.
"Oh! Pele, I am sorry! I know it is kapu to enter your land, but I am full of grief! I look for my husband, 'Ohi'a, who left to hunt wild pigs many many days ago, and has not returned.
I fear he is dead and I shall never see him again!" sobbed Lehua at Pele's feet.
Now this touched Pele's heart and it made her sorry for turning 'Ohi'a into a tree. Although she had been jealous of Lehua
since she was the wife of 'Ohi'a, whom Pele wanted as her own, she took pity on Lehua.
Pele said, "You have broken the kapu, and I must not let you free. Because of the great love there is between you and 'Ohi'a, I will make it so you will
never again be parted. From this day on you shall be known as the Lehua which will be the flower of the 'Ohi'a tree!"
And thus it came to pass that to this day, you will see the beautiful Lehua flower adorning the scraggly 'Ohi'a tree!
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