Preservation and Restoration with Purpose:

Malama Aquaculture

From the design and construction of fishponds for aquaculture to preservation of coral reefs and the marine life within them, the Native Hawaiian culture has for centuries pioneered, created and maintained sustainable food ecosystems in the Islands. Between 600 and 800 years ago, early Hawaiians began constructing loko ia (fishponds) throughout the Islands, engineering an enclosed estuary environment combining spring and ocean water to farm a bountiful fish supply for food. Coral reefs were cared for and gathered from sustainably as they fed, sheltered and provided habitats for fish and other marine life. Today, there are multiple nonprofits and community organizations statewide dedicated to caring for and preserving Hawaii’s beaches, marine ecosystems and remaining centuries-old loko ia, and always welcome volunteers to help. If you have clients interested in giving their time to assist these groups as they malama (“take care of”), restore and preserve these cultural and environmental treasures of Hawaii, suggest they reach out to the organizations below to learn about their volunteer and community workdays. Please note, however, that workdays for some of these organizations may be on hold due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Maui

Are your clients visiting Maui? Encourage them to participate in a community workday with the caretakers of Koieie Fishpond, a Hawaiian loko ia built between 1400 and 1500 A.D. and located in what is now Kalepolepo Beach Park. Aoao O Na Loko Ia O Maui, a nonprofit dedicated to revitalizing the fishpond for educational, archaeological, cultural and recreational purposes, is leading ongoing restoration of Koieie. It welcomes volunteers to assist in workdays and offers tours to fund their efforts. On Molokai, suggest your clients contact Ka Honua Momona, a nonprofit aiming to be a mountain-to-sea model of sustainability, which offers a tour of restored, 500-year old Alii Fishpond on the island’s south shore to help fund its ongoing mission. The tour offers a unique glimpse into the island’s past as the nonprofit works to restore its programs put on hold by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Oahu

Oahu-bound clients can inquire about volunteer workdays with the Aiea Community Association, a nonprofit dedicated to the ongoing malama of Paaiau Fishpond. Located on the shoreline of Pearl Harbor — which was once home to 22 enclosed loko ia — Paaiau is one of three remaining fishponds in the area. In addition to participating in fishpond cleanup and restoration workdays, your clients can participate in the association’s Native Hawaiian protocol and Paaiau educational briefings. On the island’s North Shore, Malama Loko Ea Foundation offers your clients a hands-on tour of its 400-year-old Loko Ea Fishpond. On the tour, your clients will learn Loko Ea’s legends and stories, do some fishing, give back to the landscape and restore the fishpond through meaningful and fun work activities. The three-hour tour includes a history-filled walking tour, bamboo-pole fishing, stone gathering and throw-net demonstrations.

Island of Hawaii

If your clients are traveling to the Island of Hawaii, the Edith Kanakaole Foundation hosts a monthly volunteer cleanup at Haleolono fishpond, a 3-acre loko ia on the island’s east side just outside of Hilo. Haleolono is still home to the many different fish species raised in it by early Hawaiian residents of the area. The foundation welcomes volunteers for restoration days at Haleolono. Keep Puako Beautiful hosts family-friendly community beach cleanups near resorts along the Kohala Coast. With a goal of inspiring local communities to care for their coastlines through its fun and critical beach cleanups, the environment-focused community organization focuses on motivating better consumer behavior and continued coastal stewardship through education and volunteer community workdays.

Kauai

Clients looking to help Kauai malama the ocean and shoreline while visiting can check in with the Surfrider Foundation, Kauai Chapter. The nonprofit recently launched its Ocean-Friendly Visitors Program, which provides visitors with recommended ways they can protect shoreline flora and fauna as well as marine life. Suggestions include self-directed beach clean ups, using only reef-safe sunscreen and dining at ocean-friendly restaurants. These efforts go a long way toward not only helping keep the island’s beaches and ocean clean, but also helping protect marine life such as highly endangered Hawaiian monk seals, green sea turtles and coral.