Next-phase restoration of Alakoko fishpond on Kauaʻi

Alakoko loko iʻa, a Hawaiian fishpond built more than 600 years ago in the Hulēʻia watershed on Kauaʻi, represents an extraordinary legacy of Hawaiian engineering, aquaculture, and resource management. More than a historic landmark, Alakoko is a living cultural landscape with the potential to once again support traditional food production, healthy aquatic ecosystems, and community stewardship.

Mālama Hulēʻia seeks to advance the next phases of restoring Alakoko as a functioning Hawaiian loko iʻa. This work includes restoring traditional fishpond features such as the mākāhā and makawai that support water circulation and fishpond management, stabilizing the kuauna and areas affected by erosion and recent storms, and continuing the restoration of the fishpond's centuries-old stone wall.

These interconnected elements are essential to the fishpond's long-term ecological health, structural integrity, and potential for traditional aquaculture. Their restoration will build on years of community-led efforts to recover Alakoko and strengthen its connection to the surrounding Hulēʻia watershed.

The project will also perpetuate traditional Hawaiian knowledge and practices through hands-on restoration involving cultural practitioners, kūpuna, students, and community members. Caring for Alakoko provides opportunities to pass on the knowledge and skills that sustained Hawaiian fishponds for generations.

Restoring Alakoko is an investment in both Hawaiʻi's natural and cultural resources. It supports native aquatic ecosystems, strengthens local food system resilience, and preserves a remarkable Hawaiian cultural landscape that enriches the lives of residents and visitors alike.

Through continued restoration and stewardship, Alakoko can once again become a productive loko iʻa that nourishes the community while carrying Hawaiian knowledge and traditions into the future.