Alakoko Fishpond

Cradled in a bend on the Hulēʻia River in Kauaʻi, an ancient fishpond built 600 years ago ripples and glints in the sun. It is said to be one of the most significant examples of early aquaculture on Kauaʻi.

Also known as the “Menehune Fishpond,” Alakoko demonstrates the engineering brilliance of the Menehune people, with its 2,700-foot-long kuapā (fishpond wall). Steeped in rich Hawaiian culture, legendary ancient history, and remarkable engineering feats, natives have admired and relied on Alakoko for 600 hundred years, specifically as a sustainable food source for fish and limu (seaweed).

For decades, mangroves engulfed the fishpond due to years of neglect, which hindered native natural systems and species. In a healthy state, endangered Hawaiian water birds and native coastal vegetation thrived and coexisted with the fishpond.

In 1973, Alakoko Fishpond was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2009, it was designated one of Hawaiʻi’s most endangered historic places by the Historic Hawaiʻi Foundation, selected for its vulnerability to environmental degradation and development.

The Alakoko Fishpond and surrounding 102 acres faced imminent development when the private property was on the market in January 2021. Community members illustrated how vital Alakoko is to their culture, history, and survival through powerful grassroots efforts. Over 5,500 community members signed a petition to permanently protect Alakoko Fishpond.

Trust for Public Land, Mālama Hulē‘ia (a community-based nonprofit), and loyal donors raised funds to purchase the land and protect the pond in perpetuity.

“The ability to steward Alakoko for generations to come is a testament to the community’s aloha and generosity,” says Reyna Ramolete Hayashi, Aloha ʻĀina project manager at Trust for Public Land. “The Kaua‘i community was steadfast in their commitment to protecting Alakoko, and their vision and leadership are why we’re able to celebrate Alakoko’s return to community hands.”

Alakoko will be restored as a working fishpond to grow and harvest fish and seafood, providing food security for Kaua‘i. Under Mālama Hulē‘ia’s new ownership and continued stewardship, it will serve as an outdoor classroom where students can learn traditional Hawaiian aquaculture science, history, and culture.

“Kaua‘i means so much to our family, and we’re humbled to be a part of efforts to protect and preserve Alakoko Fishpond. We’re happy that Alakoko will continue to be a place for education, community gathering, environmental restoration, and cherished cultural traditions,” says generous Alakoko donor Priscilla Chan of the Chan Zuckerberg Kaua‘i Community Fund of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation.

“For more than six centuries, Kaua‘i residents have stepped up to care for this pond, to learn from it, and to draw inspiration and sustenance. In this century, it’s our turn. This is kuleana—it is our obligation and our honor. It took a village to get to this point, and we are deeply thankful to everyone who has helped us carry this tradition forward,” says Jan TenBruggencate, board president, Mālama Hulē‘ia.