The Red Lehua Blossom

Origin:
Hawaiian



The Ohia tree is often the first plant to grow on new lava flows, but don't even think of picking it's beautiful, r ed Lehua blossom as a souvenir. Both the tree and flower are rooted in Hawaiian legend. Ohia and Lehua were young lovers: he was a handsome trickster and she was the most beautiful and gentle girl on the island. But, one day Pele came across Ohia and wanted him for herself. When he refused her, she turned him into a twisted, ugly tree. Pele ignored Lehua's pleas to change him back, but the other gods felt sorry for the young girl. They couldn't reverse Pele's magic, but they did turn Lehua into a beautiful red flower and placed her on the tree so that the two young lovers would never again be apart. It is said that as long as the flowers remain on the tree, the weather is sunny and fair. But when a flower is plucked from the tree, rain falls like tears since Lehua still cannot bear to be separated from her beloved husband Ohia.

Source:Huffington Post

Ties with the Story
This story really works as reinforcing the theme and for foreshadowing.

Jae's Dream
This is simple foreshadowing. In his dream, the magnolia tree represents the ugly tree and the magnolia flower is the Lehua blossom. It foreshadows that Rani will leave, and the tears on her cheeks are showing that things will begin to go downhill. The flower behind her left ear also signifies that they will become a couple. <3

Rani's Backstory
When Rani was young, she went on a class field trip to Hawaii's volcanoes. Her supervisor causght her trying to pick a red lehua blossom from a tree, and tells her of the ancient legend. Since then, Rani has realized how easily beautiful things can be destroyed, and doesn't like picking flowers. Not picking "flowers" also is apart of other aspects of her life and personality, like how she prefers not to take precious things from people unless it's necessary. And if she does take it away, she usually gives it back.

Rani believes that she picked her family apart, and that's why her parents treated her the way they did. She believes that she deserved it for taking away the precious flower that was her brother.