Ancient Hawaiian aquaculture

[1] Hawaiian fishponds were typically shallow areas of a reef flat surrounded by a low lava rock wall (loko kuapa) built out from the shore.

Several species of edible fish (such as mullet) thrive in such ponds, and Hawaiians developed methods to make them easy to catch.

"The full-scale development of loko i‘a (fishponds) from mauka (the mountains) to makai (the ocean) dates back over half a millennium.

[3] The porous lava walls let in seawater (or sometimes fresh or brackish water, as in the case of the "Menehune" fishpond near Līhuʻe, Kauaʻi), but prevent the fish from escaping.

[3] At the time of Captain James Cook's arrival, there were at least 360 fishponds producing 2,000,000 pounds (900,000 kg) of fish per year.

However, these ponds were still connected to the ocean via small canals which would allow seawater fish to enter the fishpond during the rising tide.

"[5] These ponds were constructed by a seawall, usually made of coral or lava rocks, with lengths of these walls ranging from 46 to 1,920 meters (151 to 6,299 ft).

Three different styles of fish ponds are being reconstructed at the Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi.

[7] The Kāneiolouma Complex, an ancient village on the south shore of the island of Kauaʻi, has a fishpond within the 13-acre archaeological site (5.3 ha) that includes taro patches, heiau, and a makahiki sporting arena.