Loko Kuapa

This is a picture of a Loko Kuapa.

Ancient Hawaiians built this fish pond by hand for the harvesting of food and resources. Between the Kuapa- the rock walls was the opening for the stationary makaha. The makaha of the Loko Kuapa was built by vertical wooden pieces with one inch gaps in between. This allowed for small fish to enter, get bigger, then cannot escape. The height of the Kuapa was designed with lava rocks from the mountain, coral, and limu. This was designed to allow water to continuously circulate this pond. Makahas were placed in precise locations where currents occurred. They were designed to take full advantage of currents, streams, local fish, and invertebrates populations.Construction of this type of pond could take a year or more to build.

This type of pond is found at the shore on the coastlines all over Hawaii.

• Between 2 close points of land
• The mouth of a small bay
• A barricade along the shoreline to form a semicircular figure

The men worked in the Loko Kuapa. Traditionally women were not allowed to work in the Loko Kuapa.

The three most common ways of harvesting in the Loko Kuapa.

• Spearing
• 2 guys would hold a net and 1 guy would hit the water
• 2 guys stands on the wall puts a net by the makaha and waits till he tide goes out

8 species that can be found in a Loko Kuapa

Barracuda (kaku)

• It was sometimes eaten
• Difficult to get rid of

Plankton (oula ula)

• Provides nutrients

Crab (papa'i)

• They were known to be up upon the fishpond walls.

Coral (puna)

• Helps to build fishpond

Mullet ('ama 'ama)

• Most important fish
• Longest in numbers

Algae (Limu)

• Helps to build fishpond

Shrimp ('opae)

• They were known to live in the walls.
• Hard to harvest

Milkfish (awa)

• Believes to be born from human parents
• Gifts for the gods
  
  This is a picture of how all these species all help each other live.