Lehua mamo is a rare, yellow-flowered variety of the native Hawaiian ʻōhiʻa lehua tree. While most ʻōhiʻa lehua trees produce red blossoms, the lehua mamo’s golden-yellow flowers make it especially distinctive and culturally significant in Hawaiʻi. The name lehua mamo is historically associated with the prized yellow feathers of the now-extinct mamo bird, once reserved for Hawaiian aliʻi.
As part of the ʻōhiʻa lehua species, lehua mamo plays a vital ecological role in Hawaiian forests. It is considered a keystone plant, supporting native ecosystems by aiding forest regeneration, protecting watersheds, and maintaining long-term environmental balance.