Benton Sen

Aug 23, 2023 | mauimagazine.net | Serene Gunnison |Benton Sen |Cynthia Sweeney

In 2022, the hardy o‘hi‘a lehua tree was named the official ‘Hawaii State Endemic Tree’ by Governor David Ige, who called the woody perennial a “symbol of Hawai‘i.” The selection was apt. O‘hi‘a lehua, which can develop into a towering tree or scraggly shrub, is a tenacious emblem of resilience. O‘hi‘a trees are typically the first saplings to spring from fresh lava flows, their spindly stalks and vibrant, powder-puff blossoms erupting from the hardened earth with unstoppable force.