'Ohai Ali'i

'Ohai Ali'i sounds like a royal plant as ali'i means "king" in Hawaiian. But, it is because of the colors that it derives its name. The color red has long been associated with chiefs and god as noted in the color of royal capes and helmets of King Kamehameha. The color yellow was equally treasured as it was rarer to be found among the feathers of the 'O'o bird that were attached into the making of royal adornments. 'Ohai Ali'i is tropical America. Other names of the plant include: Pride of Barbados, Dwarf poinciana, Gold mohur, Peacock flower, Caballero (Guam, Spain), Niikaeee (Chuuk), Rapotin (Kosrae), 'Ova'i (New Zealand), Emenawa (Marshall Islands), Lau pa (Samoa), 'Ohai (Tonga), Bulaklak ng Paraiso (Philippines), Caballero (Spain), Bunga merak (Malaysia), Jin feng hua (China).

'Ohai Ali'i is a small tree that can grow from 9' - 24' tall. The leaves grow in 4-8 opposite pairs with 7-11 shorter oval leaflets of about 2/3" long and 1/3" wide. They can grow up to a foot long and are structured like large feathers (divided into smaller segments). The main branches are green and smooth with scattered prickles.

The wavy-edged flowers are about 1" in diameter with red and yellow coloring, although there are other variations. They differ from royal poinciana flowers in that the stamens stick almost twice as long as the flower itself.

Following the flowers are the seed pods. These are flat and oblong, dark brown in color, and about 4" long and 1" wide. When they split open the pods curl on themselves, allowing the seeds to fall to the ground. There are about 6-8 small brown seeds in the pods.

According to PIER (Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk), 'Ohai Ali'i is considered invasive.

Traditional Cultural and Medicinal Usages

• The 'Ohai ali’i symbolizes prestige and honor, and it is common for it to be given as a gift to honor the recipient for an achievement
• The unscented flower makes a perfect lei for someone with fragrance sensitivity or allergies
• The leis are also worn while dancing the hula
• Leaves used to strengthen liver (Mexico)
• Powdered flowers and leaves used as insecticide, repellent against Aedes mosquitoes (West Indies)
• Leaves juiced for fevers (Amazon)
• Properties: enhances collagen formation in wound healing; anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant