Loko Ea Fishpond in Hale'iwa
Loko Ea fishpond in Hale'iwa is a perfect example of natives making an effort to restore traditional Hawaiian practices to be sustainable and protect the 'āina. Originally, Loko Ea was used to cultivate native Hawaiian fish which was then distributed along the north shore. Their main goal is to return to that way of living. Our Mālama 'Āina Field School felt so honored that they could be a part of this endeavor.
For now, their primary focus is to clear the fishpond of any unattractive invasive weeds. The major problem is the California grass. We got into the mud with our pick axes and shovels and went to work, pounding its sides and extracting it from the roots. This was to prevent any future sprouting. The rest formed an assembly line, passing down the hefty lumps of grass mixed with mud and tossing it into a pile that would then be used to make compost. Getting dirty in the mud and yanking out invasive species was a blast! To many of us, this was by far the best field trip yet.
Later, Ms. Napua and Mr. Ikaika gave us a lesson on how to properly throw a fish net into the pond. This was important because it is a traditional method of catching fish, rather than the modern way. We practiced on the ground and found that it was much more difficult than it seems. But with a little practice, we got the hang of it. Mr. Ikaika gave us a preview of what it would actually look like by throwing the net near the shore so we could observe . We were ecstatic when we found that he caught two invasive tilapias.
Our visit to Loko Ea really inspired us. It made us aware that there are many people who not only care about the environment but also involving the Hawaiian culture and setting that example and mindset for their entire community. It was enlightening to see that these people have so much passion towards the things they do and how they pass their knowledge on to the younger generations.
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