In the serene setting of Hale‘iwa on O‘ahu’s North Shore, a vibrant community of surfers, paddlers, and visitors awakens as the sun rises over the horizon.
Yet, beyond the bustling surf shops and palm-fringed eateries lies a remarkable initiative rooted deeply in Hawaiian culture and environmental stewardship: Mālama Loko Ea.
This nonprofit organization has dedicated over 15 years to the restoration of loko pu‘uone, isolated fishponds that play a crucial role in the Indigenous Hawaiian food system and are foundational to the health of the local ecosystem.
Mālama Loko Ea brings together locals and visitors alike every third Saturday of the month for community workdays, allowing participants to engage in hands-on restoration efforts.
The fishponds, Loko Ea and Ukoa, were once vital components of a sustainable food system for Native Hawaiians, crafted many generations ago.
Constructed near the shore to capture both fresh and saltwater, these ponds use rock walls and sluice gates, or mākāhā, to manage the flow of young fish into their nurturing environment where they can grow until ready for harvest.
Originally sustained by spring water from the Ko‘olau Mountains, these ponds are part of the Kawailoa ahupua‘a and now occupy legacy lands owned by Kamehameha Schools, remaining safe from the rampant commercial development encroaching upon the surrounding areas.
The visionary founders of Mālama Loko Ea, James Estores and Benson W.K. Lee Jr., have spearheaded efforts to reconnect the ponds with their mountain spring origins, a process expected to span the next decade.
One of the significant challenges faced by the organization is maintaining the depth of the ponds, which has been compromised since the construction of the Hale‘iwa Boat Harbor in 1966.
Changes in wave patterns have led to sand accumulation in the channels that connect the fishponds to the ocean.
Such issues have resulted in a channel that should ideally be two to four feet deep sometimes reducing to just six inches, necessitating regular dredging to restore proper flow.
During community workdays, volunteers often tackle this task alongside essential maintenance of the mākāhā to ensure the necessary salinity and tidal flow exchange between the ocean and the fishponds.
Invasive species pose another significant threat to the ecosystem.
The removal of invasive guinea grass, known for its rapid growth and tendency to overcrowd native plants, has become a primary focus for volunteers.
Standing at heights of up to ten feet, guinea grass flourishes throughout Hawai‘i, and constant efforts are needed to keep it in check.
After removal, the grass is repurposed into weed mats, mulch, and chicken feed, contributing to a circular economy on-site.
According to volunteer coordinator Honu‘āina Nichols, a task that could ordinarily take the staff a month to accomplish can often be achieved by eager volunteers in just an hour, enhancing the work that can be done to restore the local environment.
“Loko Ea thrives when people are brought back as an integral part of a functioning ecosystem.
Without people, our ecosystem is incomplete,” Nichols emphasizes.
In a pivotal move last year, Mālama Loko Ea invested in a dredge machine, designed to vacuum sediment from the bottom of Loko Ea, restoring it to a proper depth of five to six feet.
Sediment removal allows for natural redistribution along the fishpond banks, contributing to the health of the ecosystem.
Once dredging is completed, the subsequent task involves the reconstruction of the historic rock walls surrounding the ponds, along with the installation of five mākāhā.
Achieving these goals will pave the way for Loko Ea to function efficiently, ultimately projected to yield as much as 500 pounds of fish per acre each year, according to executive director Rae DeCoito.
For travelers seeking more intimate connections with a new environment, volunteering with an organization like Mālama Loko Ea offers invaluable insights into local customs and the importance of environmental stewardship.
Each volunteer day begins with an oli, or chant, through which participants are introduced to the land and extend their permission to engage with it, honoring the land as one would a guest in their home.
Many Native Hawaiians view themselves as stewards of the land, embodying the belief that caring for the ‘āina will, in turn, provide sustenance and connection.
As Nichols articulates, “Every time we engage with ‘āina, our connection grows and our understanding of that connection roots deeper.”
This relationship makes issues affecting the land more personal, cultivating a shared responsibility for its well-being among all who participate.
Monthly volunteer workdays at Mālama Loko Ea occur every third Saturday, located at 62-540 Kamehameha Highway, Hale‘iwa.
For those interested in joining this vital effort, registration is available online at lokoea.org.
image source from：https://www.hawaiimagazine.com/malama-cultural-connections-at-loko-ea/
