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Ahihi at Mount Kaala
Posted: May 26, 2008
When I climbed to the summit of Mount Kaala in the Waianae Mountains, I hiked through a grove of ahihi trees — a distinct species of ohia lehua endemic only to the island of Oahu.
The Waianae-Kaala Trail exploits the upper portions of Kamaileunu Ridge to reach the summit of Mount Kaala at 4,025 feet elevation, the highest mountain on Oahu.
The narrow ridge is home to a grove of ahihi (Metrosideros tremuloides) — one of the five species of ohia lehua. In this photo of Kamaileunu Ridge from the slopes of Mount Kaala, ahihi trees thrive in the foreground.
Ohia lehua are highly variable and can assume strikingly different forms. They can be tall straight trees in the dry forest, stunted shrubs in the bog, or giant trees with multiple legs in the rain forest. The second part of its scientific name — “Metrosideros polymorpha” — means “many forms” after the myriad of forms it can take. Some of these forms have strayed so far away that botanists have classified ohia lehua into five different species. Ahihi (Metrosideros tremuloides) is one such species of ohia lehua.
The foliage of ahihi differs from other species of ohia lehua. Ahihi has pointed leaves and red leaf stems (petioles) that do not form leaf rosettes. Ahihi also has supple branches that grow long and often hang from the top of the tree like a weeping willow. In the photo above, the pointed leaves of ahihi contrast against the ohia lehua leaves in the background whose leaves form a geometric pattern — a rosette.
Another difference bewteen ahihi and other species of ohia lehua are its flowers. Ahihi flower buds are often spread apart and are not tightly clustered with each other like other ohia lehua.
Because its buds are often spread apart, ahihi flowers are unable to form a full pom-pom when the flowers open. Instead, the pom-pom shape is incomplete with multiple “holes” that prevent the classic pom-pom shape of lehua from forming.
The slopes of Mount Kaala is a great place to see the graceful weeping branches and distinctive flowers of ahihi – a unique sight found only in the native forests of Oahu.
wow these are huge. how was the weather / view up there?
Aloha kakou,
Heidi
Yes… the ahihi trees on the slopes of Kaala are quite large. The day I climbed up to Kaala to take these photos it rained on me. The top of Kaala is often covered in clouds. When not socked in by clouds, the view from the summit of Kaala is spectacular.