Distributed throughout Polynesia & a foundational anchor of our native forests, the slow growing Ohia Lehua has for centuries adorned the people of Hawaii in the form of lei. Traditionally revered as a physical manifestation of various Hawaiian dieties, honored in chant and dance, our people recognized the Ohia Lehua’s critical relationship to our entire native ecosystem, and connection to human existence. Our Ohia Lehua are critical to our watershed, responsible for capturing and holding moisture to replenish our streams and recharge the aquifers that supply all of Hawaii’s drinking water and agriculture. In recent years all Ohia Lehua are gravely threatened by a new fungal disease named Rapid Ohia Death or ROD. The disease causes heathy trees that can take 400 to 500 years to reach maturity to die within a matter of weeks. It has been discovered that disease enters the tree through a wound in its bark that can be caused by anything from wild pigs, to wood boring beetles, or even gathering for lei. In an effort to slow and prevent the spread of ROD, practitioners have stopped gathering Lehua from the forests. We offer this pareu as an alternative adornment honoring the Ohia. A soft and sturdy, Kauai designed 100% cotton pareu.