and the blooms are so bright.

Today, ‘ōhi‘a lehua blossoms continue to be used in cultural ceremonies and practices, such as lei and hula, though many hula practitioners have begun forgoing the use of ōhi‘a lehua to prevent the spread of ROD and protect this culturally significant tree species. Adapted to the variable and sometimes harsh weather conditions of the Hawaiian islands, ōhi‘a lehua play a key role in watershed protection and water conservation by retaining water following storm events and preventing subsequent erosion and flooding.