Page 6 - MidWeek - Oct 26, 2022

6 MIDWEEK OCTOBER 26, 2022
Most Oʻahu fishponds and springs have been destroyed. When Hawai‘i’s largest an- cient fishpond at Maunalua was destroyed in the 1960s, the end looked near. By 2007, remaining fishponds at Kānewai Spring and Ka- lauhaʻihaʻi Fishpond were in ruins and nearing destruc- tion. There was no access for community. Maunalua’s keepers of a legacy dating
It’s uplifting to see the shifts. Today, everyone gets it. Healthy water resources means healthy us. Thousands of volunteers have contrib- uted to the effort to restore
last keeper of Kalauhaʻihaʻi Fishpond located in Niu, Oʻahu. He lived in a glass floor home over the pristine spring full of fish. He would tap the water and three fish would amazingly greet him and let him pet them. Hara often spoke of a spirit at the fishpond that made him hap- py. He would have loved to see the day the fresh water returns. The state Depart- ment of Land and Natural Resources is now repairing the water conduit through
For more information, vis- it maunaluafishpond.org or email maunaluafishponds@ gmail.com.
James Hijirida fishes at Kānewai Spring in Kuli’ou’ou, which is overseen by Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center. PHOTO COURTESY JOEL HIJIRIDA
The Work Goes On To Restore Precious Water Sources
M By Chris Cramer, executive director of Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center
aunalua Fishpond to menehune times were in these springs. It’s especial- Heritage Center’s their 80s and 90s. That year, ly meaningful since access mission is to per- the Maunalua Fishpond to these community water
early 2024.
Currently, the Maunalua
petuate the last fishponds Heritage Center was born, sources was denied for de-
Fishpond Heritage Cen- ter roof is deteriorated and leaking. Volunteers are wel- comed to kōkua, especially with trade skills such as car- pentry and roofing. The orga- nization relies on grants and donations from the commu- nity to continue educational and stewardship programs. Corporate sponsorships are available. A benefit auction goes live Nov. 9 and lasts through Nov. 10. The center gladly accepts donated items for the auction.
in Maunalua and see them thrive. Community members are welcome to join the effort to perpetuate these Hawaiian treasures.
with dreams of restoring the fishponds and their damaged water sources. Six years lat- er, stewardship access was gained for Kalauhaʻihaʻi Fishpond and its destruction was prevented. At Kānewai Spring, we partnered with the Trust for Public Land in 2017 to purchase the spring for community stewardship and education.
cades.
Tadayoshi Hara was the
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