right|thumb|250px|Alekoko "Menehune" fishpond|alt=Photo of woods-surrounded pond

Before contact with Europeans, the Hawaiian people practiced aquaculture through development of fish ponds (), the most advanced fish-husbandry among the original peoples of the Pacific. While other cultures in places like Egypt and China also used the practice, Hawaii's aquaculture was very advanced considering the much smaller size of the area of Hawaii compared to other aquacultural societies.

The Hawaiian fishpond was primarily a grazing area in which the fishpond-keeper cultivated algae; much in the way cattle ranchers cultivate grass for their cattle. The porous lava walls let in seawater (or sometimes fresh or brackish water, as in the case of the "Menehune" fishpond near Līhue, Kauai), but prevent the fish from escaping. Fishponds were located next to the mouth of a stream, so by opening a sluice gate the pondkeeper provided the fish with water rich in nutrients that had passed through inland, terraced pondfields and returned to the stream.

Types of fishponds

There were four basic types of fishponds developed within the Ahupua'a known in ancient Hawaii. The four types of fishponds were freshwater taro fishponds (loko i'a kalo), other freshwater ponds (loko wai), brackish water ponds (loko pu'unone), and seawater ponds (loko kuapa).

Taro fishponds (loko i'a kalo) were usually seen inland and were used to cultivate taro as well as fish, such as mullet, silver perch, Hawaiian gobies, freshwater prawn, and green algae. Planting between the wetland areas would also help provide green manure, medicines and other products. and Kāneohe Bay on Oahu, and along nearly the entire south shore of Molokai. Few remain today, although Molokai offers the best opportunities to view a Hawaiian .

Three different styles of fish ponds are being reconstructed at the Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park on the Big Island of Hawaii. The non-profit is restoring Kalepolepo Fishpond also known as Koie - i.e. in Kīhei on Maui - using a mixture of volunteers and skilled stonemasons. On Oahu, the private non-profit organization ("Threshold of Heʻeia") is rehabilitating the roughly 600-to–800-year-old Heeia Fishpond, which is a walled (kuapa-style) enclosure in Heʻeia covering of brackish water. The Kāneiolouma Complex, an ancient village on the south shore of the island of Kauai, has a fishpond within the that includes taro patches, heiau, and a makahiki sporting arena.

These fishponds have been found to increase overall fish stocks in nearby waters, serving as a nursery that protects fish from predators.

See also

  • Clam garden
  • Fish farming
  • Stew pond

Notes

References

  • Farber, Joseph M (1997) Ancient Hawaiian fishponds: can restoration succeed on Molokaʻi? Cornell University. .
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