Just a Thought about Agriculture in Maunalua - ʻUala

There was much more sweet potato (ʻuala) farming in the ahupua'a of Maunalua in ancient Hawai'i, and little or no kalo production due to the dryer environment of Maunalua. If an inland or ma uka type Hawaiian cultural & agricultural learning center were to be located somewhere in Maunalua in the future for the education of our keiki, community members and others, wouldn't it be befitting to have a focus or concentration on a crop that has much historical significance to this area such as ʻuala (see keiki ʻuala piko vines in pictures above).

Other wetter type ahupua'a in the islands revolve there activities & learning around kalo rightly so if that was a known location for kalo in the past and the environment is suitable for kalo growing. Maunalua could be a very unique and different learning place with the emphasis on ʻuala cultivation in which the valleys of Maunalua were once known for.

ʻUala was the second most abundant starch in the diet of the people of Hawai'i after kalo. There is rightly so, much emphasis on kalo today for many reasons including the religious & spiritual reasons which I will not go into in this post. The point being made here is that a place to learn about ʻuala cultivation and it's importance in old Hawai'i as an emphasis and in addition to other Hawaiian cultural and agricultural topics would be ideal in Maunalua. ʻUala cultivation is much less common to see and hear about as compared to kalo throughout the islands. Maunalua could play an important part in making ʻuala visible again in front of the community and in also developing a greater appreciation among many more of us for this important & culturally significant food item of old.

Although, Maunalua has been exposed to over-development of housing in recent years, there are still lands available where a learning center & possible community kitchen could be located that could allow for teaching of Hawaiian culture, cultivation & agricultural methods, proper ahupua'a based land usage & management, community gatherings and farmers open markets for the existing farmers and agricultural businesses in our community.

Maybe this is just the concept that will assist in keeping agriculture in our community for the long haul, bring the community closer together and help keep our last remaining pockets of rural Hawai'i alive and well in Maunalua.

Click here to learn more.

Read This!

Nice article was written in this last Sunday's Honolulu Advertiser newspaper about Kalauha'eha'e fish pond in Niu. Go to article.

Travels of the ʻAmaʻama & Awa

Kuapā fish pond (Keahupua o Maunalua) is the largest fish pond of the kuapā type in Hawaiʻi. Kuapā is a fish pond separated only by a wall built on the reef. Kuapā type fish ponds were more common than the Puʻuone type fish ponds discussed in a previous post. Puʻuone type fish ponds were near shore; however, separated by a section or strip of land from the ocean or body of water. Not just by a wall.

Kuapā fish pond was said to be connected to Kaʻelepulu fish pond in Kailua on the Koʻolau side of Oʻahu. ʻAmaʻama and awa were known to travel between these two ponds on the opposite sides of the Koʻolau mountain range via an underground tunnel.

When the ʻamaʻama fish disappeared from Kuapā pond they appeared in Kaʻelepulu pond. At the same time, the awa fish disappeared from Kaʻelepule and appeared in Kuapā. When the ʻamaʻama reappeared in Kuapā, the awa would disappear.

This same observation was made in more recent years by some of the Japanese fisherman who leased Kuapā pond. McAllister, Archeology of Oʻahu

Invasive Algae Huki for Pōʻalua - ʻOkakopa 28

Aloha kākou,

Todayʻs tally was 4213 lbs of invasive algae pulled off Paiko Beach. Mahalo nui to all of the combined Mālama Maunalua and Nature Conservancy Crew for their good work.

The cleared plots are growing larger with each pull. We are only approx. 10 feet away from an area of native sea grass (Halophila hawaiiana) which is endemic to Hawaii. It will be interesting to monitor the cleared areas as we get closer to and meet the sea grass beds and see if the sea grass starts to take hold in the clearings.

Big mahalo to Glenn Nii and the Nii family for allowing us to drop pulled avrainvillea at their plant nursery in Kamilonui Valley (bottom picture). Also, big mahalo to Mark & Brooke Loughridge for allowing us to use one of their kayaks.

Similarities Between Lokoea & Kanewai Fish Ponds

Lokoea fish pond is an ancient fish pond with a rich history. Lokoea is located just north of Hale'iwa town on the north shore of Oʻahu just a little ways to the Kahuku side once you pass over the old Anahulu River bridge which is a famous landmark in Haleʻiwa.

Lokoea is a fish pond of the Puʻuone type. Kanewai fish pond in Kuliʻouʻou is also of the Puʻuone type. The Puʻuone type fishponds are rare on Oʻahu. Puʻuone can mean "divination" or "pond near the shore".

A Puʻuone type pond is described of as a type of pond that is located near the shore. It's fresh water originates from streams or underground springs. Lokoea receives its water from an upwelling of springwater near Kawailoa which fed an adjacent fish pond called ʻUkoʻa. The water from ʻUkoʻa than flows into Lokoea. Kanewai receives it fresh water from underground springs that flow into the pond from Kuliʻouʻou Valley and Kuliʻouʻou ridge mauka of Kanewai.

These brackish water ponds are connected to the ocean by ʻauwai kai or salt water ditches. The ʻauwai of Lokoea is connected directly to the ocean and this ʻauwai extends beneath Kamehameha highway today where it connects to Waialua Bay. The ʻauwai of Kanewai is connected to Paiko Lagoon which inturn is connected to Maunalua Bay by an inlet in which I am guessing is approximately 50 feet wide.

The fresh water flow to both of these ponds has been reduced in more recent years by the diversion of water. In Lokoea's case, by Waialua Sugar Company when the land above Haleʻiwa was in sugar cane production. Kanewai fish ponds fresh water flow has been reduced by the widening of Kalanianaʻole Highway a few years back just as the neighboring Kalauhaeʻhae fish ponds fresh water flow has in Niu.

Invasive Algae Huki for Pōʻaono - ʻOkakopa 11

Big mahalo to all Malama Maunalua volunteers who came out on Saturday to pull invasive algae at Paiko Beach. Grand total pulled was 6335 lbs (give or take a few lbs). Over 3 tons......Amazing job by everyone!!!

Nui nui mahalo also to our regular Nature Conservancy Crew of Marion, Russell, Koa, Manuel, Janice & Pauline for all their support and in arranging this event. Also, big mahalo to Eric Co for getting us started on the whole seaweed removal project several months back and for his continuing support.

It was an honor to have the Nature Conservancy board members come out and visit us. Mahalo nui to all TNC board members for their hard work weighing and loading bags of algae on to the truck during their visit.

Mahalo to Kevin Mulkern for use of his companies truck and Holy Trinity School & Church for providing parking for Saturdays event. Mahalo to all who supplied food & drink during the day.

ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi at the Beach

Not language lessons in anyway, but 1 hour informal talk-story sessions in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi at Kuliʻouʻou Beach Park on Sunday mornings. Topics would be open and free flowing. Just a group of friends talking story in a circle on beach chairs under a tree or at a picnic table. This would be for novices and fluent speakers alike. The individual intent for novices being to use Hawaiian regularly and become comfortable using it so that fluency can be obtained. For fluent speakers, to have others to speak Hawaiian with and to mentor novice speakers with your knowledge. The wider intent being to hear Hawaiian spoken more often in the public places of Hawaiʻi.

The only rule being that Hawaiian is spoken as much as possible and English is kept to a minimum. More fluent speakers can help novices express words in Hawaiian as necessary. Itʻs all for fun and for using ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi as it should be used in Hawaii nei.

No shame for novices, myself being one. Just come and speak the best you can. Thatʻs how we all get better at speaking and listening. It is preferred that some Hawaiian language basic skills and usage be known. Many of us have this but lack people to speak to regularly. Another intent of this endeavor is to help fill that void.

Hawaiian language usage should expand more widely above and beyond the schools and mānaleo speaking communities of Hawaii. There should be informal groups accessible to all who want to use Hawaiian language in every ahupuaʻa and district of Hawaii. With that being said, wouldnʻt spoken Hawaiian spread throughout our communities and be common and vibrant again as it was pre-1900ʻs. What do you think? Please post a comment or email your thoughts or interest in participating.

Holomua ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi i ka lehulehu!

Seaweed Huki Tally for Pōʻalima, Kepakemapa 26

Fridayʻs seaweed pull tally was 2905 lbs. Mahalo nui to all from Mālama Maunalua & The Nature Conservancy who participated.

I believe the invasive algae that has been smothering out the native Hawaiian types of limu such as the nasty mudweed (avrainvillea) that we are pulling out is not deserving of being called "limu". So I call it "seaweed" and save the word "limu" for the maikaʻi native types of limu of Hawaiʻi.

If you look at the two bottom pictures, you can see the borders of where we have removed invasive seaweed and where it is still growing (top left corner of Pic. 1 & middle of picture in Pic. 2).

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Aloha nō e Leighton

Bradda Leighton was reunited with the ocean yesterday off Maunalua for the first since his prolonged illness over the last 4 years after suffering from a diving accident. Family and many friends were at Maunalua Beach Park to celebrate his life.

As a well know waterman, Leighton Look was remembered for his many talents including being an expert paddler and steersman, founder and coach of Hui Lanakila Canoe Club, expert carpenter, canoe builder and paddle maker, commercial fisherman, UH Manoa civil engineering graduate, Kalani High School football team linebacker in the early 1970's and many other things.

Leighton and his younger brother and my good friend Les helped me put in a nice big driveway at my folks house in Niu several years back. They also hosted many crazy parties including the biggest New Years eve parties with more fireworks than one could imagine. Leighton always would let my kids have as much fireworks as they wanted after their supply ran out. He always had coolers full of them. He would dive and fish days in advance of the parties and have the best food available with every imaginable seafood on the table.

Leighton will be really missed by his family, the paddling community & all the gang from Niu Valley who knew him since small kid time.

Aloha nō e Leighon a hui hou kākou i ka palekaiko o ko kākou Hakulani.

Yesterday's Limu Huki Tally

2000 lbs of invasive algae were removed from the reef flat in front of Paiko yesterday. Big mahalo to all the volunteers for your kokua and big mahalo to the gang from The Nature Conservancy for your on-going support of this effort.

Ke Kuahiwi o Hawaii Loa

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Hawaii Loa ridge between the Ahupua'a o Niu and the Ahupua'a of Wailupe still displays many native plant species from the original native Hawaiʻi dryland type forests which once covered much of the land in this area.

Koa (pic. 3), Maile (pic. 5), ʻIlima (pic. 7), ʻŌhiʻa Lehua (pic. 6), Lama, Naupaka Kuahiwi (pic. 4) & ʻIliahi or Sandalwood (pic. 1 & 2) are just some of the native plants & trees that can still be found here.

The Sandalwood trade, the introduction of foreign plants and trees and the introduction of cattle in the 1800's changed the landscape to a drastic extent. For example, the Kiawe tree which was prevalent in the valleys and lower hills of this area before homes were built was brought in to Hawaiʻi. It was quickly spread all over the place by the cattle which ate the Kiawe beans. The amount of invasive guava on the ridge is alarming as it is in many other areas.

The park and trail head on Hawaii Loa ridge is now at a place in which we once as kids called the dust bowls. The dust bowls were giant eroded out areas of red dirt. The dust bowls were our final destination as kids after hiking up the ridge from the highway and up through where all those million dollar homes are now, or up the side of the ridge where the gorge is above Niu Valley Intermediate School and tennis courts.

In those days Pheasant could be seen flying from the bushes and wild dogs were in the mountains and deep in the valleys which made it quite spooky wondering if you would ever run into them while hiking. Our weapons of choice were pellet and BB guns to defend ourselves and shoot at stuff. I never ran into the wild dogs; however, my family saw them on occasion from a distance in the Niu Valley school grounds and adjacent hills in the 1950ʻs and early 1960ʻs. I did see large dog foot prints in the dust bowls periodically though. Also, the dogs would dig into the deep piles of ironwood needles and make dens for the pups. We saw these ironwood needle dens often in the dust bowls and surrounding areas of the mountain.

There was no trail than behind the dust bowls as there is today that leads up to the top of the Koʻolau mountains (top picture) where you can look over to the windward side of the island to Waimanalo & Kailua.
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Limu Huki

Another nice harvest of invasive algae was completed on Friday, August 29 by members of Mālama Maunalua and with the support of The Nature Conservancy.

Approx. 3540 lbs of invasive algae were pulled from the reef in front of the Kuliouʻou/Paiko area. Cleared areas are slowly growing bigger; however, the work is only in the beginning stages.

We load bags of seaweed on the Kayak and push it to shore where we unload the bags, than wheel barrow it to the road and load it on trucks. The work is labor intensive but we always have lots of fun. Maybe at some point, we can get the Seaweed Super Sucker back on the reef and use that again to see how it compares to hand pulling.

Avrainvillea amadalpha (mud weed), Gracilaria saliconia (gorilla ogo) and Acanthophora spicifera (prickly seaweed) are especially thick types of invasive algae in this area. After the removal of the invasive algae, the goal is to restock this area with native limu like "Limu Manauea" and other native species in which many areas in Maunalua Bay were once famous for.

Kalauhaʻehaʻe

Kalauhaʻehaʻe also called Lucas Spring is located in the Ahupuaʻa o Niu (above). It is a historic site and a wahi pana. The Maunalua Fish Pond Heritage Center, the community and the University of Hawaii at Mānoa are actively working together at this time to preserve this site.

The goal besides saving the site is to restore it to its original pristine quality as a fish pond and to use it for cultural and educational purposes through the University of Hawaiiʻs Hawaiian Studies Department.

Much of the fresh water flow to the stream was cut off during the widening of Kalanianaʻole Highway approx. 10 years ago. Upon restoring the below ground fresh water flow from the mauka side of the highway, the pond could become productive again.

Also, it would also create a vast improvement in the adjacent Maunalua Bay area where efforts are ongoing by Mālama Maunalua. Data collection, fish monitoring, invasive algae removal and other community projects administered by Mālama Maunalua are underway to stop degradation and restore the pristine quality of the bay.

Ka Lae o ka ʻŌʻio

Ka Lae o ka ʻŌʻio is the point that extends out into the ocean as you round the turn on Kamehameha highway at the end of Kualoa and enter the beginning of Kaʻaʻawa (as you head towards Kahuku -top picture above).

Ka Lae o ka ʻŌʻio not only separates nā ahupuaʻa of Kualoa and Kaʻaʻawa. It also separates nā moku (districts) of Koʻolaupoko and Koʻolauloa.

Kanehoalani hill or ridge directly above Ka Lae o ka ʻŌʻio is steeped in legend (bottom picture). The famous burial cave of aliʻi called Pohukaina located in this ridge is said to have once had many entrances and extend through out the Koʻolau mountains.

There was also a spring above Ka Lae o ka ʻŌʻio called Kaʻahuʻula. Kaʻahuʻula spring was reportedly destroyed by the US army during WWII when a gun site was built above and earth and rock from the gun site area covered the spring. The gun site can be seen to this day.

I am not positive as to the exact meaning of Ka Lae o ka ʻŌʻio except that with the kahakō over ʻŌʻio it means "The Point of the Bone Fish". Without the kahakō over ʻOʻio, ʻOʻio means "procession of ghosts of a departed chief and his company" per the Pukui/Elbert "Hawaiian Dictionary". I have seen it labeled in some texts as "The Point of the Bone Fish"; however, if you read about Pohukaina Cave and Kanehoalani ridge above, possibly "The Point of the Departed Chief" would be accurate also?

Hawea Heiau

Hawea heiau is located at the foot of Kaluanui Ridge (Mariners ridge) in the ahupuaʻa o Maunalua.

Remnants of the ancient site are where the coconut grove is located (see pictures above). This grove is near marshy land. Water holes in this area once provided fresh water when it rained to people living or passing through the area. Also, in ancient times there was a spring in this area called Waiakaʻaia which provided fresh water (History of Hawaii Kai & Maunalua - pg 34).

According to Levi Chamberland, a missionary who traveled through the Maunalua area in the early 1800ʻs, there was a village near where the Hawaii Kai Recreation Center is located now. This village according to him was called Keawaʻawa.

He counted nearly 100 huts in this area in which my guess would be that they were a combination of hale pili (thatched huts) and pāpaʻi lawaiʻa (fishermens huts). The inhabitants were mostly kānaka lawaiʻa (fishing people).

Nā Manu Kamaʻāina

Just a couple of pictures shot today while returning from a job on the Koʻolau side of Oʻahu. I stopped to shop in Kailua at a place near the Hamakua wetlands. Saw an ʻAlae ʻUla (Common Moorhen - bottom) and an ʻAukuʻu (Black-Crowned Night-Heron - top) at close range. The Hamakua wetlands are a good place to view wetland type birds native to Hawaii.

The ʻAukuʻu is often seen in Maunalua in the canals behind Kuapa pond. I have not seen the ʻAlae ʻUla in Maunalua though. Often the Aeʻo (Hawaiian Stilt) is seen in Maunalua around the pond areas and also in Kamiloiki Park.

The Hamakua wetlands are very much like what the wetlands of Maunalua and Kūapa pond looked like before Hawaii Kai was developed (below).

If you have not already noticed, the Kōlea (Golden Plover) has returned within the last couple of weeks. Also, the ʻŪlili (Wandering Tattler) should be returning also at this time. You can often see ʻŪlili around Kuliʻouʻou Beach Park (on the beach) and around the Paiko Lagoon area.

ʻOama Season

No work scheduled for today (or actually had work but never did any). Went fishing instead...
So it is for me! I take little mini-vacations when I can since I usually don't take long ones.

Went ʻoama fishing at my favorite ʻoama fishing spot at Waiʻalae Beach (above). After catching about a couple dozen went home for a break. Than went to spot near Makapuʻu late in the day to see if there were any pāpio to be had. ʻAʻohe! Used about have my bait. Took the rest home. Will fry um tomorrow for snack. Hopefully, will have time to catch more ʻoama in a few days and try again for pāpio somewhere else.

Pu'u o Hulu

If you listen to Hawaiian songs you often will hear place names mentioned in the mele.

The Waiʻanae coast has many majestic and beautiful ridges extending from the Waiʻanae mountain range towards the sea. Take note of the beauty of these ridges next time you drive or visit the Waiʻanae coast.

One of these ridges is called "Puʻu o Hulu" (pictures above & below). This is the ridge near the sea that separates Nānākuli and Māʻili.

This ridge is mentioned in the well known paniolo mele called "Kaula ʻIli". This song consists of two versus with the lyrics of the second verse being more often heard. The second verse starts with " "Hoʻomākaukau kou kaula ʻili".

The third line in the lesser heard first verse goes "Eia aʻe ʻo Puʻuohulu" which says "Puʻuohulu hill draws near".

Take note of the beauty of this hill next time driving Farrington highway between Nānākuli & Māʻili and the "hill is drawing near".

New Web Sites

Congradulations to Mālama Maunalua, Maunalua Fish Pond Heritage Center & Hui Maunalua in the launching of there new web-sites (shown below) which are now up and running. Please be sure to check them out!

These organizations are surely among those at the forefront of bringing the community of Maunalua and adjacent ahupuaʻa together in preserving the past and in working towards the future for the betterment of our community and local environment.

Mālama Maunalua: www.malamamaunalua.org
Maunalua Fish Pond Heritage Center: www.maunaluafishpondheritage.com
Hui Maunalua: www.maunalua.net

Keahupua o Maunalua

"Keahupua o Maunalua" is the original name for Kuapā Pond in the ahupuaʻa o Maunalua.

In old Hawaii, the Keahupua o Maunalua was "kapu" for most makaʻāinana (commoners) to enter or take fish from. The penalty for violating this kapu would be death. Kuapā pond in its original state (which of course has been transformed into what is called Koko marina more recently) was a fine example of Hawaiian engineering and construction.

Approximately where Kalanianaʻole highway is located now and extending along the makai side of Maunalua is where the makai side pond wall stood. The top of the wall was very narrow (only a few feet) as compared to the amount of fill land that separates the ocean and marina today.

The wall extended from the east edge of Kuliouʻou to mauka of Kawaihoa (Portlock) and was fitted with several mākāhā (sluice gates) to regulate the fresh and salt water flow into and out of the pond. This original pond wall probably stood for hundreds of years before it was demolished around 1960 when the development of what is now called by many Hawaii Kai started.

Keahupua o Maunalua at 523 acres was the largest or one of the largest fish ponds in Hawaii.

Ke Kula o Kamauwai

In the old days the ahupuaʻa o Maunalua was famous for itʻs sweet potatos (ʻuala) in addition to itʻs fish (iʻa) from Kuapa Pond.

The ʻuala growing land that stretched from Kamiloiki to Kealakipapa was called "Ke Kula o Kamauwai". Beside growing on the plains/open lands (kula) of Maunalua, ʻuala were also grown in certain valleys (awāwa) such as Kamilonui.

The Hawaiians traded ʻuala from "ke kula o Kamauwai" with early English ships and with whaling ships that anchored offshore in Maunalua Bay during the late 1700ʻs to the mid-1800ʻs.

Outside Hawaii TV Show on OC 16

Kudo's to Cal Hirai on his great work on segments about Mālama Maunalua Makai Watch in OUTSIDE HAWAIʻI shown on OC 16. This is a great show which is very entertaining and educational. It discusses many environmental issues and cultural topics which should be of great interest to us all (thanks goes to Mahi for sending the schedule out to us earlier!)

OC 16 OUTSIDE HAWAIʻI Schedule:

• Monday @ 12 am, 11am, 9:30pm
• Tuesday @ 2:30 pm
• Friday @ 1:30 PM
• Saturday @ 4am, 11:30 am
• Sunday @ 6pm
  

Sending Out a Kāhea

Sending out a call to all, if any one knows of any families or individuals who lived on Maunalua Pond or in the Ahupua'a o Maunalua prior to development of Hawaii Kai starting in the early 1960's, please reply to this post.

There is much interest to talk story with these individuals or families and document as much as possible of the old history of Maunalua. Kupuna who lived in this area with any knowledge or insights into the Ahupuaʻa o Maunalua and its history would be of great value to the community and community members who are working to restore and preserve the environmental health & cultural knowledge of this area.

Kaʻapuni Oʻahu

Today, many hard working volunteers came to Maunalua Beach Park to kokua in pulling a large amount of invasive alien seaweed from the bay. Others picked up ʻōpala along the shoreline and in the boat ramp parking lot.

The event was in celebration of Hui Nalu Canoe Clubs 100th birthday and was called "Kaʻapuni Oʻahu" in which the canoe club paddled around the island of Oʻahu. Duke Kahanamoku who was born in 1890 was one of the founders of Hui Nalu in 1908 (he would have been 18 years of age) and was a classmate of one of my aunties (my grandmothers sister) at Kaʻahumanu School in the late 1890ʻs and early 1900ʻs.

As a side note, I knew Dukeʻs brother, Sarge Kahanamoku and his wife when I was in high school and I worked at the Niu Valley Shopping Center hardware store (called "Handyman") in the mid 1970ʻs. He would come in and ask for me when he needed assistance. I would sometimes deliver stuff out of the back of my old yellow Datsun pick-up truck to his townhouse in Maunalua when he lived on Spinnaker Isle on the marina. He was a super nice guy and would always give me a nice tip after delivering stuff to him.

Also included in the celebrations and in partnership with Hui Nalu Canoe Club, Mālama Maunalua and other groups in the community were environmental, cultural & educational awareness activities in conjunction with the "International Year of the Reef" campaign.

Community service projects on this Memorial Day weekend included working with "Paepae o Heʻeia" and their Heʻeia fish pond restoration project, "Nani o Waiʻanae" and their Nānākuli Beach clean up & finally today finishing up at Maunalua with "Mālama Maunalua" and their alien algae removal and beach clean up.

Hui Nalu canoes shuttled volunteers back & forth and brought in bag after bag of alien seaweed to be loaded into trucks, disposed of or used for mulch. According to Eric Co who spearheaded the alien algae removal effort, 3705 lbs of alien algae was removed or nearly a half acre was cleared of the invasive seaweed. Quite an accomplishment I would say!

Mahalo nui to all for all your good work.

Maunalua Talk Story with Uncle Fishy

Mahalo nui to Tokio "Fishy" Jodoi and Annie Inouye for meeting with us this past Sunday at Kuliʻouʻou Beach Park to talk story about the Maunalua of days gone by.

Uncle Fishy is nearly 90 years young and told us about the old days of living in the ahupuaʻa of Maunalua. His parents had lease rights to Maunalua fish pond from 1915 to 1938 with a couple other families.

Uncle Fishy grew up working on the pond with his family. He had to restock the pond with baby ʻamaʻama (mullet) which they would catch in the bay outside of the pond in front of Maunalua, Kuliʻouʻou, Niu, Wailupe and Waialae. The would catch the ʻamaʻama with nets and raise the pua (baby fish) in the pond until market size and than sell them.

They could control water flow and fish entering the pond by operating several mākāhā (sluice gates) at the entrance to the pond. Other fish besides ʻamaʻama that would enter the pond included, ʻawaʻawa, āholehole, awa, pāpio and kākū.

Uncle Fishy told us of how he would study by kerosene lamp at night and they would have to get there drinking water from town.

He remembers being able to see the glow of the big volcanic eruptions on Hawaii island during the 1930ʻs from the Kalama Valley and Sandy Beach areas.

Uncle Fishyʻs family lived in a structure that was approx. 50 yards from where Hawaii Kai drive meets Kalanianaole Hwy now. To get to town and back home, you would have to cross the May Way bridge which was just a single lane wood bridge. This bridge, Uncle Fishy said was plenty sufficient in those days because you would only have maybe 3 or 4 cars per day travel the bumby coral rock road to come all the way out to Maunalua which was than considered the "sticksʻ or "boondocks".

More about Uncle Fishy later.