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’Oha wai is
great for leis

’Oha wai / Clermontia kakeana

Description: These elegant shrubs have long, elliptical, light green leaves that droop gracefully, giving the shrub a palmlike appearance. Flowers are greenish white with either a dark red staminal column or purple anthers. Each flower is shaped like a curved tube and on an inflorescence of seven or more flowers. Once pollinated, the flowers develop into fruit measuring about 1 1/2 inches around.

Distribution: This endemic member of the lobelia family is usually found in the mesic forests of Oahu, Maui and Molokai.

Cultural uses: The flowers of this plant look great and are durable, which makes them great for lei-making. Usually, the flowers are strung together or combined with other plant material to be woven into a lei.

Clermontia species, along with other species in the family of native lobelias, are host plants for bird catchers who apply sticky glue made from the papala kepau (Pisonia spp.) tree to the stem at the base of the flowers. When the birds come in to suck nectar from the flower, they stick to the branch, making them easy for the bird catcher to retrieve.

Landscape use and care: These plants do great in pots or planted in full sun or partially shaded areas. Try planting it with some palapalai fern at the base, or with other natural plant companions such as the native white hibiscus, maile, 'ohi'a or koa.

If you live in a dry area, you might have to water the plant daily, but for those in wetter areas, watering can be kept to once every two to three days once the plant is established. Watch out for slugs because they can munch on the stem, often killing the plant. Spider mites and flat mites also suck the life out of the plant, so if you notice numerous tiny yellow spots on the leaves, try looking underneath to see if there are any mites or webbing, another indicator of spider mites, and immediately wipe them off with your fingers or shoot them off with a water hose. Pesticide can be applied after you squish the majority of those nasty little bugs. Just be sure to follow the directions on the bottle.

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