Originality by Design: The Hawaiian Legend of the Lehua Blossom ~ by Jacquolyn McMurray

The Hawaiian Legend of the Lehua Blossom ~ by Jacquolyn McMurray

In keeping with my post from last month, I'm sharing my version of another Hawaiian love story through the Legend of the Lehua Blossom.

It is said...

Lehua, a favorite child of a southern Hawaiian village, blossomed into one of the most beautiful young woman of her time. Many of the young men swarmed around her and begged for her attention, but Lehua was enamored with Ohi’a, the strongest and most handsome fisherman.

And even though Ohi’a only had eyes for Lehua, he was too shy to approach the beauty.

Lehua used every charm she knew—she brushed her long black hair and applied coconut oil until it shone like the sun and pounded taro into the finest poi to serve to Ohi’a. Lehua prayed to the love goddess that Ohi’a would profess his love for her and her alone.

After many starlit nights of waiting for Ohi’a to speak to her, Lehua took the fisherman’s hand and led him to the forest where they picked flowers and strung them into lei. She sang the sweetest songs to him, and after a time, Ohi’a shared his own stories with Lehua.

Ohi’a waited more than three full moons before he made Lehua his wife. Only days after the young coupled settled into their own hut, Ohi’a was on the shoreline fishing when a beautiful young woman called his name. He turned to face the woman and recognized her as Pele, goddess of the volcano, whom he’d seen in human form many years prior. She beckoned him to walk with her, but he refused.

Disheartened, Pele retrieved into a lava cave. The next day, she called to him again and told him she had watched him from afar for many years as he grew into a man and she had fallen in love with him. Again, she beckoned him to join her. Ohi’a proclaimed his love for his mortal wife and sent Pele away.

Many days later, Ohi’a walked with Lehua along a forest path. Pele stopped in front of the young couple and commanded Lehua to leave Ohi’a so that she could have him as her own. Fearful of Pele, Lehua clung to her husband.

When Ohi’a refused Pele again, she surrounded him with hot lava. Anxious to protect his wife from the lava, he held her above his head while his own feet were covered with the molten rock. No longer able to move, Ohi’a realized there was no escape and he and Lehua would die together. They vowed their love would keep them united for all eternity.