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| ʻŌhelo Kaʻū Lāʻau by Joan Yoshioka |
Description: What did the Nēnē say when she saw her favorite food? ʻŌ-helo! Did you know that Hawaiʻi has an endemic plant cousin to blueberries? Meet ʻōhelo! There are actually three different ʻōhelo species endemic to Hawaiʻi, but this month I want to share with you ʻōhelo kau lāʻau, the largest of the three, earning its nickname of tree ʻōhelo. The species name calycinum is Latin for conspicuous calyx, in reference to the more prominent calyx (or leafy area below the flower) on this species relative to the other two. The name ʻōhelo kau lāʻau can be interpreted as ʻōhelo suspended from trees, but I encourage you to explore other potential interpretations. This partially woody shrub/small tree can grow up to 15 feet tall and 6 feet wide. It has light green, thin leaves that tend to drop for a few weeks during the hoʻoilo (winter) season, making this plant deciduous. The delicate greenish white or pink flowers dangle downwards and really warrant you getting close to them to see and of course smell them. Once pollinated, the flowers produce plump, juicy, reddish orange fruits that - you guessed it - are a favorite snack for the endangered Nēnē. It is likely that ʻōhelo fruits are also an important seasonal food source for the ʻŌmaʻo or Hawaiian thrush, which is a perfect example of how native plant species serve many functional roles within a healthy forest ecosystem. While I encourage everyone to experience the taste of a ripe ʻōhelo berry, please consider leaving most to support the health of our native birds.
Uses: The orange-red liko (new leaves), berries, and flowers of ʻōhelo kau lāʻau are used to make lei, and can also be used medicinally. The leaves can be mashed and strained, and consumed like tea. Today, ʻōhelo berries are used to make jams, pie fillings, and even in salsas. If you intend to explore ingesting any ʻōhelo, please make yourself familiar with the plant first. Some folks confuse ʻōhelo berries with those of ʻākia (Wikstroemia), which are not edible and can make you quite ill. It is not difficult to distinguish the two, so do your homework.Habitat: ʻŌhelo kau lāʻau can be found on all of the main Hawaiian islands but Niʻihau and Kahoʻolawe, at elevations from 1,600 to nearly 6,000 feet. They can be found in wet forests and bogs, and often grow epiphytically (growing on another tree). In Kaʻū, ʻōhelo kau lāʻau can be found growing within parts of the Kaʻū Forest Reserve and in the upper reaches of the Kahuku Unit of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Unfortunately, this is another species that is heavily impacted by feral ungulates and competition by invasive species, so its habitat is restricted to areas that are fenced, ungulate-free, and managed.
Growing and Purchasing: To support your own consumption habits, consider planting some ʻōhelo kau lāʻau in your space, but please be aware of your elevation and climate. There are some small nurseries that grow this species, so if you are interested, please contact me. Your ʻōhelo will need partial shade, so consider planting it under a large ʻōhiʻa or koa, and will thrive if it is offered ample water. You can also increase its productivity by offering it a diluted foliar feeding of fish emulsion. Remember that it may drop its leaves in the winter, so do not be alarmed. You will soon learn its nuances and come to love all of the intricate beauties of ʻōhelo kau lāʻau!
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.
For the JV game the Trojans hosted St. Joseph which took the first set with 19-25 and second set with 17-25 for the win.
Pahoa comes to Kaʻū on Wednesday, Sept. 11. Trojans go on the road to Waiakea on Friday, Sept. 13 and again to Kamehameha on Tuesday, Sept. 17. Hilo comes to Kaʻū on Thursday, Sept. 19. Kea'au comes to Kaʻū on Tuesday, Sept. 24. Kaʻū travels to Christian Liberty on Saturday, Sept. 28 and again to LCPCS/SIS on Monday, Sept. 30. Ka Umeke comes to Kaʻū on Saturday, Oct. 5. Kaʻū travels to Hilo on Saturday, Oct. 12 and again to Pahoa on Monday, Oct. 13. Kamehameha comes to Kaʻū on Wednesday, Oct. 16, followed by Big Island Interscholastic Federation playoffs.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.
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| Saturday, Sept. 7 |
