624 I'oniaiidcr Collection of Hazuaiian Folk-lore. 



This ohia has a large trunk. It is a hard wood. Other trees may grow on its 

 trunk; if a httle soil gathers on this tree other trees would grow thereon. The wood 

 is hard like the aalii;^'- it can resist the strong wind. That is all that I have gathered 

 about this wood. 



CHARACTERISTIC OF THE OIIIA All I 11 1.'" 



The ohia ahihi is like some other plants that we know of, such as the maile en- 

 tangled with the huehue; some people mistake it for maile, but it is hard to lose its 

 identity, because its bark is white, and it is also tough. The place of its possible or- 

 igin I do not know, but 1 surmise it is from some people. That is, however, the 

 characteristic of this tree. 



WHERE THE TREE CAME FROM. 



Some people say that these trees are indigenous to Hawaii nei." Perhaps it 

 is so, according to the ancient history of Hawaii nei ; but there are some who say that 

 these trees came by the mouth of Ukeke ; a bird which came from Kahiki bringing 

 them here to Hawaii. The bird, however, belonged to Hawaii nei. Some say that 

 these trees were obtained by Koea from the throat of Waia; this tree, however, was 

 hidden by Waia in his throat, but because Koea was provoked on account of the con- 

 tinual breaking of the wood that he would get, he turned to Kawau the oldest man and 

 said: "Say, what are the oldest trees that you know of from your youth to your old 

 age?" Kawau answered: "There is still a tree, but you can not get it, because Waia 

 is a strong man though somewhat secretive." "And how can it be obtained?" asked 

 Koea. "Here is how you may get it: should you go and he should ask you, then you 

 reply, 'I came to get me some wood;' that is how you must answer." Koea went until 

 he came into the presence of Waia, and Waia asked, "Why are you here?" Koea an- 

 swered, "I came to get my wood, because I began to cut down all the other wood, but 

 they do not last; so I asked Kawau, and he directed me to you, and that is why I came 

 to you." Waia said, "There is some wood if you will consent to my desire." Koea 

 answered, "I consent." Waia then said to him, "Hold my throat. After you have 

 Iield it for some time, should some women a])pear, catch hold of them and you will be 

 benefited. If 1 should die, do you take care of my throat." So he went and held 

 fast to the throat of Waia for quite a while. The women appeared, so he grabbed 

 them and held them fast ; he also at the same time still held the throat of Waia. That 

 was one of the methods of securing this plant: from the throat of Waia. 



1 do not know of anything further. This is all I ha\'e learned from some of my 

 friends. 



W. B. Kaupena. 



"Ohia lia (Eugenia Saiidivicensis) is the tallest of its "Known also as lehua ahihi, a variety of the Mctro- 



spccics, attaining at times some 60 feet. A very hard sidcros polymorl'hij. 



wood when seasoned. '*Hawaii-nei, here in, or of Hawaii. 



'".\alii (Dodoiiaca I'iscosa) vahicd as a close hard- 

 yrained, dark wood. 



