Page 3 - MidWeek Windward - March 30, 2022

“The pond was maintained until sometime in the early 20th century before fall- ing into its current decrepit state,” Gardner says. “Both the remaining wall and the
Gardner, who aims to pur- sue a major in biology and continue on to pre-med in addition to maintaining an interest in environmental
science. “I consulted with a local kupuna, Lee Wright, and the camping specialist at Kualoa Regional Park, Alec Vierra. The Damien
MARCH 30, 2022 3
High Schooler Sets Sights On Restoring ‘Apua Fishpond
BY KYLE GALDEIRA
a reservoir, fed by high tides that wash in fish that remain trapped for cultivation.
metal fence that surround the pond are in disrepair due to erosion from the tides. There are invasive species that have taken over large por- tions of the pond, but there are still many native plants there. Native birds also nest in the area.”
Honors Society Chapter members have been doing these cleanups a few times each month, and I plan to open this project up to the public at some point in the future.”
For Damien Memorial School junior Alexander Gardner, Kualoa Regional Park at Kāne‘ohe Bay has become a “second home” as the student heads there to relax whenever he gets a well-deserved break from school.
The student explains that while the fishpond has not been maintained, it still con- tains an abundance of fish. With a maximum depth of 4 feet, he notes that there are likely larger fish in the pond. ‘Apua Fishpond is situated just east of the much larger Moli‘i Fishpond and can be accessed by following the beach park’s main road to the end; the fishpond sits just beyond a low stone wall behind a swath of trees and brush.
After discovering the fish- pond, Gardner did some re- search and decided it would be a positive step to help restore the fishpond both for his continued enjoyment of the area, and so others could realize its role in the ecosys- tem there.
Through this effort, Gardner has learned how to motivate people to volun- teer as part of the ongoing project. While the process seemed overwhelming at first, he learned to devel- op step-by-step plans for cleaning up the site.
The Mā‘ili resident has found the area to be very special, and began to take an interest in the massive ‘Apua Fishpond that sits adjacent to the park, yet relatively hid- den, on the mauka side of the large public gathering space. According to Gardner, the brackish water pond is fed by an underground spring and is unusual because it was naturally formed with land on all sides, essentially
“I hope that this project will help others understand some aspects of the Hawai- ian culture, environmental awareness and local issues like Hawai‘i’s struggle to be self-sustainable,” says
The Damien Honors Society Chapter members participate in a recent cleanup at Kualoa Regional Park at Kāne‘ohe Bay. PHOTO COURTESY ALEXANDER GARDNER
“I strategized first to pick up trash and then re- move invasive species,” he says of the monumental effort. “Over the past year, Damien students removed 285 pounds of trash, in- cluding discarded PVC pipes and a 50-pound tire.”
Ramy Badawi, MD
Interventional Cardiology
Albert Ing, MD
Cardiology
Gautham Kanagaraj, MD
Cardiac Electrophysiology
Jamalah Munir, MD
Interventional Cardiology
Made for more beats
We’re proud to provide expert heart and vascular care
We proudly feature a team of experts, providing the widest range of care, from prevention through diagnosis and treatment using the latest breakthroughs in cardiovascular care.
Take a quiz to learn more about your heart health: AdventistHealthCastle.org/MyHeartAge