Hawaiian Hau Flower #1

by Heidi Fickinger

Title

Hawaiian Hau Flower #1

Artist

Heidi Fickinger

Medium

Photograph - Photographic Print

Description

The Hawaiian Hau is one of the canoe plants brought to Hawai'i by the Islands' orginal settlers. Hau (Hibiscus tiliaceus) was brought because of its many very important uses by the ancient Hawaiians. Hau grows in wild profusion, with beautifully curved branches. The wood is very light weight and floats on water indefinitely. For the curved shape and the floating capability, the wood has been used for sailing canoe outriggers. Sometimes the branches were purposely bent while growing to get the exact curve wanted. Bark from the Hau was stripped, soaked in salt water and further cut to be made into cordage. Sap was used as a medication as a laxative.
In the old days this plant was so highly valued that permission to cut it was required of the village chief. One Hawai`i legend says that hau is a sister of the goddess Hina, changed into a tree. The people of Tahiti say hau is the grandchild of heaven and earth. Some people equate the brief span of the hau flower as representative of the transitory nature of human life.
Hau flowers bloom in bright yellow. As with most hibiscus, the flowers only last one day. As the day progresses, the flowers slowly turn from yellow, to peach to caramel-colored brown and then drop off.

Featured in the following FAA group galleries:
* FAA Portraits
* Hibiscus Macros
* Light Marvels
* Macro Marvels
* Flower on Black
* Promote Your Work Here & Get Noticed
* Your Dolls, Soft Toys & Flowers
* Only Blooms & Flowers Photography
* Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
* Your Story of Art
* Global Flowers Photography
* Black Background & Color
* Digital Art & Photography for a Simple Imagination
* 10 Plus
* All Stars
* Positive Energy

Uploaded

July 21st, 2020

Statistics

Viewed 606 Times  -  Last Visitor from Fairfield, CT on 04/26/2024 at 2:21 AM

Colors

Embed

Share

Sales Sheet

Tags