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available and sustain them for future generations. Currently, there 

 is a strong Hawaiian resurgence of cultural activities and practices 

 being rediscovered and enhanced. 



My personal interest and professional involvement has led me to 

 the area of lokoia, traditional Hawaiian fishponds, unique in the 

 world. While many other peoples have practiced a form of aqua- 

 culture, Hawaii provided a uniquely sophisticated version. Al- 

 though not an open ocean fishery resource, it played an important 

 part in the wellbeing of the fishery and it's nearshore environment. 

 Traditional Hawaiian fishpond systems and its associated activities 

 have been my passion for almost 20 years. 



Lokoia were ecologically-balanced environments that were uti- 

 lized for the cultivation and production of fish, shellfish and sea 

 plants. This was accomplished by the observation, transfer and de- 

 velopment of low impact, extensive aquaculture systems developed 

 over 700 years by Hawaiians. Natural elements of tides, lunar 

 phases, fishing seasons and other phenomena indicated times to 

 harvest, stock, rest and rebuild walls. 



The methodology of Hawaiian fishpond aquaculture should not 

 be misconstrued as modern intensive aquaculture practices. These 

 systems are very different. Modern aquaculture looks at intensive 

 production to make a profit, usually above 2,000 pounds per acre 

 per year. In order to do this in a Hawaiian fishpond, which has 

 very little internal control, you would have to impact the harmony 

 of its ecological and environmental balance through external inputs 

 like paddle wheels, aeration, feed, et cetera. 



The Hawaiian fishpond itself is on a biologically deteriorating 

 process called eutrophication. Eutrophi cation is the progression ana 

 evolution of an open-pond system into a wetland swamp, eventually 

 becoming a marsh, then a pasture. A prime example of this is 

 Kawainui Marsh, once a large productive fishpond, it is in its final 

 stages of evolution as a result of not being actively managed and 

 used. To compound this, developments of all kinds, introduced spe- 

 cies such as mangrove and tilapia, and mud/silt run-off have accel- 

 erated the eutrophication process. 



I am educated Native Hawaiian aquaculturist with a university 

 degree, yet I never fail to be amazed and humbled at the genius 

 involved in the creation and development of the lokoia system, and 

 the degree of intelligence with which it was managed and operated. 

 The rehabilitation of traditional lokoia practices and methodologies 

 should be recognized for its merits, and incorporated into aspects 

 of our culture as we live it today. 



Lokoia systems are capable of being used toward the rehabilita- 

 tion of native species through fishery enhancement. Fortunately for 

 modern aquaculture research, we can aquaculturally produce fish 

 stocks, thereby, improving fish stocks of Hawaii's fisneries. This is 

 just an example of the blend of traditional and modern which we 

 see as securing this future fishery. 



There are several Hawaiian fishponds that are being used in 

 nursery systems for stock enhancement activities already. 

 Aquaculturally produced seedstocks leave larval rearing facilities 

 and are nursed to fingerling size in fishponds until they can be 

 tagged and released for the recreational fishermen. Tagging these 

 fish allows fishery population dynamics to be researched and iden- 



