Pele and Ohia

"Pele and Ohia"

There are a few versions of the Pele, Ohia, and Lehua story.  The short version is that Pele was attracted to Ohia, but he was in love with Lehua.  Pele, who is known to be jealous decided to punish Ohia, and turned him into a twisted tree.  This decision was apparently not well accepted, and Lehua was then turned into the lovely blossoms that adorn these picturesque trees so abundant in the Puna district where we live.

There are other stories that Pele, in a peak of anger and retribution, poured lava down throughout the Puna district.  What is amazing, (as we have mentioned previously on the blog) is how these trees are one of the first things to shoot up through the expanses of acres of cooled lava.

Phil created this carved koa piece (mounted on mahogany) showing Pele, adorned with Ohia leaves.  He will be taken it in to Hilo's amazing ONE Gallery on Hilo's picturesque bay front.