ʻŌhiʻa Lehua Mamo - Olivier Koning 8x10 Print

ʻōhiʻa lehua mamo

Metrosideros polymorpha

The yellow variety of ʻōhiʻa lehua is far less common than the more familiar red and orange varieties. Native Hawaiians use the bark of ʻōhiʻa to make kapa (cloth) beaters, poi boards, spears, and more.

The First Hawaiians Series features work from this remarkable, ongoing photographic series of flora native to the Hawaiian archipelago. 

8x10 prints on Hahnemühle 100% cotton photo rag premium paper with 11x14 Mat

The First Hawaiians was originally conceived of as a photo essay for Honolulu Magazine. For the series, Hawaiʻi-based photographer Olivier Koning worked with botanist Rick Kaponowaiwaiola Barboza to source Native Hawaiian plants and flowers - many of them are rare and hard to find. Some are also endangered, and many are not found anywhere else on Earth (endemic). Most of these plants were incorporated into the medicine, spirituality, and the everyday lives of Native Hawaiians.

Photographed in a small studio, the images capture a sense of drama and heightened clarity to emphasize the unique characteristics of each species.