Loko Iʻa Pāʻaiau, a 400-year-old royal Hawaiian fishpond in Kalauao, ʻEwa, is a testament to the wisdom and sustainability of early Native Hawaiian communities. Built during the reign of Mōʻī Wahine Kalanimanu‘ia, who ruled Oʻahu in the 1400s, this 6.34-acre loko kuapā was once part of a thriving ahupuaʻa system that supported hundreds of families through aquaculture, providing ‘ama‘ama, nehu, awa, and other fish for sustenance. Kalanimanu‘ia, following in the footsteps of her ancestors, including her great-great-grandfather Maʻilikūkahi, upheld a legacy of peace, prosperity, and resource management that sustained her people for over 60 years of uninterrupted rule.

By the 20th century, sugar plantations diverted stream water, disrupting the balance of the land and forcing the abandonment of traditional practices. Over time, mangroves and invasive species overtook the pond, obscuring its historical significance. Today, Loko Iʻa Pāʻaiau is undergoing a community-driven restoration, stewarded through a partnership between the U.S. Navy, the Aliʻi Pauahi Hawaiian Civic Club, the ʻAiea Community Association, and local residents. The project seeks to revitalize the fishpond, restore its cultural landscape, and educate the next generation on the principles of aloha ʻāina and mālama ʻāina, ensuring that the knowledge and practices of the ancestors continue to shape the future.

Loko Iʻa Pāʻaiau Workday | Saturday, April 5th @ 9:00 AM