Day 70: Huilua Fishpond, Oahu, Hawai’i

📌APIA Every Day (70) - Huilua Fishpond, situated in Kahana Bay on Oahu, is one of the six existing fishponds that still remains on the islands coast. The date of its construction is unknown, but typically ponds were built between 1200 and 1600 and were used for aquafarming practices. Hawaiians advanced from tide-dependent trapping to controlled fishponds, making their aquafarming the most advanced in the Pacific.

The fishpond had smaller pua ponds for raising fingerlings before releasing them into the larger pond, primarily for feeding and growth. A kia'i loko oversaw pond maintenance and fish care, with assistance from locals who received harvested fish in return. Huilua had religious significance, with stone shrines (ko'a) and rituals performed to attract fish. Legend spoke of mo'o, lizard-like water spirits protecting the pond.

Despite protection from waves, powerful tsunamis damaged Huilua in the 20th century, the worst being in 1946 when a tsunami hit the island, filling the pond with large amounts of sand and silt. Efforts to repair the pond included mortar, metal grates, and additional gates. However, a 1960 tsunami caused irreversible damage, leading to neglect, declining water quality, and structural decay. The Hawaii Division of State Parks began restoration in 1993, with the Friends of Kahana, an organization of Kahana residents, now leading the project.

Recognized as a National Historic Landmark, Huilua Fishpond stands illustrates early Hawaiian technological innovation, with the indigenous population being the first people to develop aquafarming in the Pacific. Located in Ahupua'a 'O Kahana State Park on Oahu, it continues to serve as a cultural and historical site.

LEARN MORE:

National Park Service: Huilua Fishpond, HI

Only In Your State: Peaceful Scenery And History Collide At Hawaii's Huilua Fishpond

On-Walkabout: PLACES ON OAHU: HUILUA FISHPOND

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