Fishponds were originally created by ali'i (chiefs) as stocking ponds to raise fish and provide for easy access to fish during the winter months when deep sea fishing was dangerous. There were many different types and sizes of fishponds, depending on the resources available for construction and the amount of people that the pond had to support.

He'eia Fishpond is a unique natural resource that was constructed over 600 years ago by the residents of the He'eia ahupua'a.

Specifics of He'eia Fishpond are:

Location: ahupua'a of He'eia, district of Ko'olaupoko, O'ahu, Hawai'i

Size: 88 acres encircled by a 1.3 mile seawall (kuapā) made of basalt and coral. For more on the kuapā, click here(link to kuapā page).
Depth: 2-5 feet, depending on tide

Water type: brackish environment, fed by He'eia Stream and Kāne'ohe Bay Pond life:

Fish: pualu, moi, 'awa, kaku, papio, 'ama'ama Crabs: Sāmoan, mo'ala, kuhonu, ala'eke, 'alamihi

Limu: gracilaria salicornia, acantophera spicifera,

Plants: red mangrove, kukunaokalā (white mangrove), silver buttonwood, hau, milo, mau'u, aki, ahu'awa, naupaka Among the many impressive features of He'eia Fishpond are the 6 mākāhā (sluice gates) that control the flow of both fresh and salt water into the pond. Like any living organism, the pond itself must breathe and these mākāhā are the veins that bring oxygen to fish living in the pond. The 6 mākāhā of He'eia Fishpond are divided equally between the mauka (mountain-side) and makai (seaward) sides of the wall, to bring in salt and fresh water to a brackish environment, ideal for the cultivation of fish.

Goal: To grow the knowledge necessary to manage He'eia Fishpond in a sustainable manner.

Previous Research Conducted:

• Water Quality Mapping (Hui Konohiki)
• Nutrient Diurnal Study (Lynn Ngo)
• Sediment Depth (Nitta Wolfgramm)
• Nutrient Analysis of Gracialria salicornia from He'eia Fishpond (UH Hilo)
• Herbicide Concentrations for Invasive Terrestrial Weed Control (Army Environmental)
• Water Quality Makaha Fluctuations (Paepae o He'eia)
• Marketing Plan for G. salicornia (UH MBA)

Ongoing Research:

• Biogeochemical Study of Sediment at He'eia Fishpond(Rebecca Briggs-UH)
• Acclimation Study of Moi (Polydactyluys sexfilis) (Paepae o He'eia-'Aina Momona)
• Acclimation Study of 'Aholehole (Kuhlia sandvicensis) (Paepae o He'eia-'Aina Momona)
• Acclimation Study of Manauea(G. coronopifolia) (Paepae o He'eia-'Aina Momona)
• Acclimation Study of Ogo (G. parvispora) (Paepae o He'eia-'Aina Momona)
• Water Quality Makaha Fluctuations (Paepae o He'eia)
• Samoan Crab Abundance and Correlations with the Lunar Cycle(Paepae o He'eia- Ka 'Ai Kamaha'o)
• Predator Abundances and Correlations with the Lunar Cycle(Paepae o He'eia- Ka 'Ai Kamaha'o)
• Kuhonu Abundance and Correlations with the Lunar Cycle(Paepae o He'eia- Ka 'Ai Kamaha'o)
• Kuhonu Abundance within He'eia Fishpond as Compared with Kane'ohe Bay Abundance(Paepae o He'eia- Ka 'Ai Kamaha'o)
• Water Qualtiy (Paepae o He'eia- Ka 'Ai Kamaha'o)

The resources that we are currently sharing include:

• G. salicornia limu : Farmers have used this invasive limu that grows in the fishpond as mulch to fertilize their gardens or lo'i with very productive results.

• Acantophera spicifera limu: Another invasive limu found in the fishpond that works well as mulch and fertilizer.

• Mangrove firewood: dense, hard wood similar to Kiawe, good for BBQ’s, imu, smoke houses, bonfires

• Mangrove wood: dense, hard wood, resistant to termites and bugs, ideal for hälau construction, hula implements, picture frames, lomilomi sticks, etc. Pictures of resources with captions describing them.

Paepae o He'eia also has a variety of products from the pond that are for sale. Please contact our office if you are interested in the purchase of any of these items:

• G. salicornia limu: close cousin to Ogo, great for poke or limu salad!! Click here to view the POH limu salad recipe.

• Mangrove seedlings: the seedlings of this invasive plant are useful as decorative potted plants around the home and as aquarium water filters. We provide seedlings ranging in size from 4 to 20 inches. These are NOT for sale in Hawai'i.

• Moi (Pacific Threadfin) fish: at various times of the year, we will be selling moi for consumption. Availability is seasonal. Please contact our office for details.