Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 7, 1 July 1989 — Progress on fishponds [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Progress on fishponds

By Clarence F.T. Ching Trustee, O'ahu

It is a sad fact that Hawaiian fishponds have been filled in and used for modern land development or been allowed to deteriorate by non-use and nonmaintenance. According to the s'tories, some fishponds were built over the span of a single

night by those legendary menehune. Other fishponds were built in the hard, traditional way by men in long lines passing rocks from hand to hand from wherever the rock naturally occurred. Either way, nowhere else in the Pacific were fishponds developed to such a high degree as in Hawaii. In those days, fishponds were worth a treasure. Because of the amount of labor involved they must have taken the efforts of entire communities to build. Regardless of how they were built, the larger fishponds belonged to the ali'i. The fishponds provided an efficient means for converting nature's raw materials into the prized delicacies of freshly-caught, fat fish. •

Fishponds were designed to provide maximum nutrition for the fish.' The flora and fauna the fish fed on was a combination of the rich nutrients circulating through the ponds with the flow ofeach tide and the sun's radiation penetrating the fairly shallow depths of the ponds. Because they were not affected by seasons or weather, fishponds were like self-repienishing refrigerators from whieh fresh, ono food flowed whenever there was a need. The development of the makaha (the device that allowed young fish to enter) retained the fish to fatten and provided a plaee to catch the fish. It was the key to the whole system. If recent past history continues, the fishponds will deteriorate and eventually be filled in because of siltation and the uncontro!led growth of vegetation. Of course, most developers would give their eye teeth for such possibilities. After all, money ean be made by exploiting these prime seashore locations. To have such cultural treasures, educational resources and potential eeonomie entities turn into disfunctional archaeologic or geologic features or used as homesites for unknowing insensitive individuals would surely be a waste. Despite the problems in operating such ponds economically, activities that hint at a better future for fishponds seem to be going on. A project to restore Ualapue Fishpond on Molo-

ka'i has been initiated by Hui O Kuapa, a non-profit organization. The project was started by ex-OHA trustee Walter Ritte. He is the eeonomie development coordinator for the Department of Business and Eeonomie Development. The project is headed by Hanchett Kalipi as chairperson. The goai of the project is to develop a model for the production of mullet and awa, and iong range plans are being made to include .!aining and education to stimulate a cottage industry utilizing such fishponds. Because of past neglect, restoration and revitalization of the rock walls and makaha are being planned. It is unfortunate that more projects such as the restoration of Ualapue Fishpond haven't taken plaee. The numerous fishpond sites on Moloka'i ean be the initial development of an industry on the island. It surely is a project that supports a traditional lifestyle overflowing with Hawaiian values. The restoration of derelict fishponds has been a topic of thought and discussion for some time in the Hawaiian community. It surely is a Hawaiian activity that is long overdue. We hope, Hui O Kuapa will be able to overcome the roadblocks that will surely materialize and be able to demonstrate that such a project is indeed feasible. Good luek and may the akua be with you.