Uses Metrosideros polymorpha

lehua blossoms (ʻōhiʻa lehua), hawaiʻi

the reddish brown heartwood of m. polymorpha hard, fine textured, , has specific gravity of 0.7. in native hawaiian society, used in house , heiau construction, make papa kuʻi ʻai (poi boards), weapons, tool handles, hohoa (round kapa beaters), , kiʻi (statues , idols). although trunk of ʻōhiʻa not used make kaʻele (hull) of waʻa (outrigger canoes), used nohona waʻa (seats), pale (gunwales), , pola (decking). wae (spreaders) made curved stilt roots of ʻōhiʻa. pā (fencing) made wood due availability; kauila (colubrina oppositifolia or alphitonia ponderosa), more durable woods when in contact soil, rarer. wood burned hot , cleanly, excellent wahie (firewood). lehua (flowers) , liko lehua (leaf buds) used in making lei. flowers used medicinally treat pain experienced during childbirth.

ʻŌhiʻa lehua 1 of few honey plants native hawaiian islands.