Kaua‘i nonprofit to host community workday to restore 600-year-old Alakoko Fishpond

Hawaiian nonprofit Mālama Hulē‘ia will host another community event to restore the 600-year-old Alakoko fishpond.

Hawaiian fishpond specialists, kūpuna, key partners, trained staff, and alakaʻi (guides) will partner on Oct. 18 to lead community members of all skill levels in rebuilding and capping a section of the 2,700-foot wall.

This upcoming workday is part of the nonprofit’s continuing multi-year effort to restore the Hulēʻia watershed and stabilize the fishpond’s kuapā (rock wall).

The event follows the 2023 gathering, E Kū Ana Ka Paia (The Wall Will Stand), when a wave of community members from across the pae ʻāina came together to set stones and breathe new life into the fishpond. This year’s event also coincides with Mālama Hulē‘ia’s tenth anniversary, marking a decade of cultural and ecological restoration.

“About two years ago many hands came to help raise the foundation of the fishpond’s kuapā. With some minor setbacks due to flash floods and ground logistics, we have since regrounded our efforts for another push with a call out to our community to bring the wall up to the capstone,” said Peleke Flores, Director of ʻĀina & Community Engagement.

For more than 60 years, invasive mangrove roots and storms damaged the wall, causing two large breaches and instability. Seven years ago, Mālama Hūleʻia began working on the Alakoko fishpond restoration project, removing overgrowth of invasive species and preserving remnants of the fishpond to restore its original function.

This group leads community and educational stewardship programs that perpetuate Hawaiian practices and values. Their vision is to bring back a free-flowing, healthy and productive Hulē‘ia ecosystem.

Participants on Friday will experience the ancient Hawaiian practice of stonework—passing, selecting, and setting pōhaku side by side—while others join in a native planting activity to further restore the surrounding ecosystem, according to a news release from Mālama Hulē‘ia.

“We’re thrilled to gather once again with our community to care for this special place,” said Sara Bowen, Executive Director of Mālama Hulē‘ia. “From longtime volunteers to first-time families, from students to community partners—everyone has a role in lifting these stones. Guided by alakaʻi and kūpuna, we are learning and practicing the skills passed down through generations, ensuring that Alakoko continues as a place of resilience and abundance.”

Participants will also have an opportunity to participate in educational activities, listen to local music, and enjoy a complimentary lunch. To ensure a safe and comfortable experience, volunteers are urged to bring a water bottle, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, gloves, covered shoes and clothing suitable for getting wet and dirty.

This restoration effort is crucial to preserving the unique heritage and environmental significance of Alakoko fishpond, the nonprofit stated. Pōhaku Ka Pāpale provides another opportunity for the community to unite, to learn, lift our efforts higher, striving to do even better than before.

Those interested in participating are asked to meet at 7 a.m. at the Kauaʻi Community College parking lot to take a shuttle to the fishpond. Work ends at 3 p.m.

To learn more about the Pōhaku Ka Pāpale community workday and to further support Alakoko fishpond and Mālama Hulēʻia, visit malamahuleia.org.