Judy. After Ted’s last post, my dear friend Jackie, who lived in
Hawaii for several years, sent us this beautiful legend:
Did you hear the legend of the Ohia Lehua
tree?
Madam Pele (Goddess of the Volcanoes) fell in love with a handsome young Hawaiian
warrior named Ohia. He was in love with a beautiful Hawaiian maiden, Lehua.
When Madam Pele approached Ohia, he turned down her advances and told
her of his love for Lehua, the maiden. Madam Pele, unused to being denied her
wishes, angrily used her power and turned him into an ugly, gnarly tree. A
heartbroken Lehua went every day to cry at the tree. The other Hawaiian gods
could not undo Madam Pele's curse, so they turned Lehua into the beautiful red
fringed flower on the tree, so that the lovers would never be separated. It is known as
the Ohia lehua tree, and when someone picks a beautiful blossom from the tree,
it is said that it begins to rain, signifying the gods crying for lovers who
are separated.
Thanks, Jackie! Makes that lovely tree
even more beautiful.
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