Restoration
Kū Hou Kuapā literally means to “Let the Wall Rise Again”. This program is responsible for all of the restoration and rehabilitation of the kuapā – fishpond wall – and the fishpond contained within it. The goal of this program is to restore the ancient wall in order to preserve the integrity of the fishpond and support our unique cultural, educational, and aquacultural programs.
Kuapā is the Hawaiian word referring to the fishpond wall. The root word of kuapā is “kua” meaning backbone or support. This is fitting as the kuapā is the backbone of our fishpond and is the very essence of Hawaiian fishponds. He‘eia Fishpond is a loko kuapā – walled fishpond – with a unique 7,000 foot wall that completely encircles the pond.
Mangrove Removal
Step one in the restoration process at He’eia Fishpond is removal of the introduced and invasive mangrove. Several species of mangrove exist in Hawai`i but the most prevalent on our kuapā is Red Mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) which grows in thick forests with tangles of aerial roots. Introduced to the He‘eia wetlands in approximately 1922 to control erosion and stabilize sediment, mangrove spread quickly through all parts of the fishpond and accelerated the process of silt buildup. Also, as the plant grows within the wall, its many aerial roots loosen the rocks and coral destroying its structural integrity.
Mangrove removal efforts began in the late 1990’s with the former lessee, Mary Brooks, and students from UH-Manoā. Paepae o He‘eia began removing mangrove in earnest in 2001 with simple handsaws, loppers, and later chainsaws. Literally thousands of volunteers and tens of thousands of labor hours has gone into the removal of mangrove over the years. As of 2018, we have physically removed mangrove from approximately 4,800 feet of the 7,000 foot long kuapā.
Kuapā Rehabilitation
Step two in the restoration process involves working with the original materials which create the kuapā – pohaku pele (volcanic rock) and ko`a (coral). All invasive plants such as mangrove, pluchea, pickleweed, and other weeds are removed to expose the bare wall. In some areas, the wall is broken down to the niho (foundation) stones and in other areas only one or two rocks have fallen off the top.
The method of Hawaiian dry-stack wall building is called Uhau Humu Pohaku and utilizes no mortar to keep the wall upright and intact. Wall sections in need of repair are restacked with pohaku pele on the outer edges to protect against wind and waves and the inner portions are filled with ko’a. The most impressive part of this process is imagining the line of hundreds, maybe thousands, of people passing the very rocks we touch from the valleys to the shoreline to create the kuapā.
Internship Opportunities
Made possible by support from Kamehameha Schools, Paepae o He’eia offers paid internships to youth and young adults throughout the year. The two internships that are offered are the Ma Ka Hana Ka Ike internship offered every summer and the Ku Hou Kuapa internship offered during the Fall and Spring. Both internships provide the opportunity to learn wahi pana, about our numerous kiaʻi loko, fishing techniques, about invasive species, and experience other place specific learning opportunities.
During the summer we offer the Ma Ka Hana Ka ʻIke internship, eight weeks long, that provides a unique opportunity to work outdoors and learn skills important to the restoration and maintenance of Heʻeia Fishpond. Interns also get to learn from working at various fishponds in Koʻolaupoko. It is a very high paced opportunity to learn while doing physical work at Heʻeia Fishpond.
In the Fall and Spring we offer a 16-week internship called the Ku Hou Kuapa internship. This in-depth internship will dive deeper into learning what it takes to restore, manage, and maintain Heʻeia Fishpond. Interns will learn and strengthen skills such as wall building, lashing makaha, and will help to clear invasive mangrove. This internship is labor intensive but a fulfilling experience which allows participants the opportunity to observe, move and grow here at Heʻeia Fishpond.
