FiSH POND (LOKO KUAPA)

The loko kaupa is the only Hawaiian fishopond completely filled with sea water and tides do not affect this loko. The loko kuapa was built to take advantage of the ocean currents, nearby streams and local fish and invertebrate population. The fishpond was also built to raise food to feed the people. Fishponds were built and used by ancient Hawaiians to harvest fish, and other marnine resources. Construction of the fishpond was reserved for males because woman were considered unclean after they reached puberty. The males would do all of the fishopnd work and the women were in charge of cleaning the fish and preparing it. But women and children also went and wokred in the sea gathering limu for the wall. The makaha or gate helps define the characteristics of the fishpond. Many speiceis of larval fish were able to enter the pond throught hte gate, but as the fish grew larger, were unable to escape. The larval fish were drawn into the fishpond by the brackish water, the amount of algae, plankton and other food sources supplied byt eh care taker of the pond. The fish could be harvested whenever requested by the fuling ali'i. Basically, a fishpond consist of a wall and a sluice gate. For a loko kuapa type of fishpond, the wall was made of boulders and stones of all sizes and was known as the kuapa. A sluice gate or makaha was placed at precise locations where currents occured.

Speices:

Aholehole:(Flag Tail Fish)
Is one of the "sea pigs" used as a subsitute for pig for certain ceremonies, or for any ceremonies where pig are not avaliable."

Moi:(Thread Fish)
Hawaiians believed that the fish ate lehua blossoms, which are a deep red, and derived color from the flowers.

Papio:(Jack Fish)
Women and could not eat this fish.

Kaku:(Great Barracuda)
Eaten broiled but not eaten raw.

Limu:(Seaweed)
In the loko kuapa, the limu was the only specie a women could touch and harvest.