This printable phenology scavenger hunt guides learners through six different developmental stages—or “phenophases”—of the ʻōhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha), ranging from flower buds to dried seed pods. The resource includes labeled photos of each stage to support field observation and botanical learning.
Phenophase field hunt: Students get outdoors to find and check off stages such as: ʻōpū lehua flower buds, mohala (blooming), kukuna (stamen fallen), immature fruit, mature fruit, and ʻanoʻano (seeds).
Seasonal tracking: Repeat observations over time to monitor when each stage occurs and build a phenology calendar.
Data journal: Record dates, weather, location, and observations—prompting scientific note-taking reflective of seasonal changes.
Climate link discussion: Compare seasonal timing year-over-year to explore possible climate influences on flowering and seed production.
Plant phenology: stages of flower-to-seed development in ʻōhiʻa lehua
Field science methods: scientific observation, data recording, seasonal monitoring
Bilingual vocabulary: integrating ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi terms with English (e.g., mohala, kukuna)
Climate–ecology connections: phenological records as indicators of environmental change
