ʻŌhā wai  

ʻŌhā wai  is part of the bellflower family. There are no Hawaiian names for many of the species, but generally it is referred to as ʻŌhā wai. You can find it anywhere in the mid level forest up to the summits. During the spring season little flowers blossom, some species have a tinge of colors like purple. 

Background Information

There are 21 endemic species of ʻŌhā wai. Some hikers refer it to its scientific name of clermontia. Again, it is in the bellflower family, the same family as the crown jewel of native species, the cyanea and lobelia.  Ancient Hawaiians used to eat the fruit and cook the young leaves. They also used the sticky sap to catch birds to create their prized feather cloaks. 

ʻŌhā wai

This ʻŌhā wai is called clermontia kakeana. The flower is purple and the start of the flower is tubular kind of like a hook. The blooming period is in January thru May. Out of the 3 species of ʻŌhā wai on Oahu, this one seems to have the largest leaves. 

ʻŌhā wai

This species of ʻŌhā wai is called clermontia oblongifolia. It is common on Oahu, and occurs on Molokai and Maui but more rarer on those islands. The leaves are skinnier than clermontia kakeana. I've seen the oblongifolia species more often while hiking in the mountains. 

ʻŌhā wai

This species of ʻŌhā wai was observed on the Pihea/Alakai Swamp trail. Many ʻŌhā wai do not have a Hawaiian name, but this one does, albeit a really long Hawaiian name. This one is called Haha-'ai-a-ka-manu. The scientific name is called clermontia fauriei.  Clermontia doesn't seem to be as endangered as many of the other species in the bellflower family. 

ʻŌhā wai

This species of clermontia is called clermontia parviflora and occurs on the Big Island. It was observed while visiting the Thurston Lava Tube in March of 2017. The leaves on this species appear stiff. The flower is a beautiful white and purple. The petals of the flower fold back, it is a really attractive flower. 

Oha kepau 

This species of clermontia is called clermontia hawaiiensis and occurs on the Big Island. This photo (below) was taken by fellow OAG member Aprille in May of 2024 at the Thurston Lava Tube. As you can see the picture below, the flower is greenish/purplish. The leaves look like clermontia persicifolia. The leaves are slim and look stiff like a papery feel. 

Sources

• Flowering Plants of Hawaii, 423-437

• Hall, p97

• Hawaiian Plant Life, 73-76

• IUCN Red List

• Studia Mirabilium Clermontia Persicifolia

• Studia Mirabilium Oha Kepau