Email: maunaluafishponds@gmail.com / WEbsitE: maunaluafishpond.org

Fall 2020 Quarter 3 Newsletter Page 1

IN MEMORY OF LAURA THOMPSON

Mom connected deeply to the spring waters flowing from her childhood home at Kalauha‘iha‘i, Niu. Riding across Maunalua Bay on horseback, she felt great aloha for the cold water that flowed from underground lava tubes. She would fondly recall the limu ‘ele‘ele and clouds of ‘ōpae and mullet. After the spring waters were cut off, she worked tirelessly to return the groundwater that flowed from the mountain to the sea. Our 'ohana would be honored for those who share Mom’s values to continue her efforts.

Mahalo nui loa, Lita, Myron and Nainoa

"He punawai kahe wale ke aloha. Love is a spring that flows freely"

“Water is precious, needs to be honored and protected, nobody denies that. I would very much

like to be on a team to have that happen” Laura Thompson (1925-2020)

For those wishing to support in her memory, donations can be sent to Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center: In Memory of Laura Thompson. Online: https://maunaluafishpond.networkforgood.com By Mail: Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center, 5975 Kalaniana'ole Hwy., Honolulu, HI 96821. Mahalo to those who have already donated: Brenda Asuncion “In honor of Aunty Laura's vision for these waters”

John and Mary Beck “In Memorial of Laura Thompson”

Mary Harbold “In honor and of Laura L. Thompson, from the Harbold family, with deep gratitude”

Jeannine Johnson “For Aunty Laura: Pi‘i aku a kau i ka nu‘u - Ascend to a place of honor. We were very blessed to have

your wise counsel, unwavering support & aloha”

Jack Kittinger “In honor of Laura Thompson”

Linda Krieger “In gratitude for the life and aloha of Auntie Laura Thompson, whose memory we will always cherish and

whose work we must strive to continue”

Kaui Lucas “Mahalo Laura for living effective community stewardship, being real and really positive aloha 'āina in the

practical application with kindness always”

Max Mukai “In honor of Aunty Laura”

Ann Muneno “In Memorial of Laura Thompson”

Omidyar 'Ohana Fund at the Hawai‘i Community Foundation “In Memory of Laura Thompson”

Ed & Cynthia Sorenson “In fond memory of Laura Lucas Thompson”

Jennifer Taylor “With love and deep honor for Laura Thompson, who inspired so many to care for our land and our waters”

Carol Wilcox “Laura set a very high bar for kindness and moral steadfastness. She was a gift from the gods. And still is, for

as long as we remember her in our hearts and minds.”

Fall 2020 Quarter 3 Newsletter Page 2

LONGING FOR FRESH SEAS

In the December 1869 issue of the Hawaiian newspaper Ke Au Okoa, Samuel Kamakau described how, during high tides, fish migrated from the middle of the pond to the mākāhā: “The fish would scent the fresh sea and long for it. I have seen them become like wild things.” On these nights, the kia‘i slept in a watch house beside the gate to guard the fish from being stolen or killed by pigs and dogs. “The keeper would dip his foot into the water at the makaha and if the sea pressed in like a stream and felt warm, then he knew that the sluice would be full of fish. Where the fish had been raised like pet pigs, they would crowd to the makaha, where the keepers felt of them with their hands and took whatever they wanted.”

Filmmaker Ann Marie Kirk was shooting this summer at Kānewai Spring while king tides poured over the kuapā. Just like Kamakau described in 1869, the ʻamaʻama rushed the mākāhā in a frenzy to reach the warm sea.

Coronavirus Shutdown

Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center continues to comply with Emergency Shutdown orders issued by the City and County of Honolulu, due to the novel coronavirus. Re-opening will occur once restrictions have been cleared by the City and County of Honolulu. The latest order can be viewed at the City and County of Honolulu’s website: http://www.honolulu.gov/

Above: Kānewai Fishpond gets an injection of warm ocean water during the king tide.

Below: ʻAmaʻama, Courtesy of Ann Marie Kirk

Fall 2020 Quarter 3 Newsletter Page 3

ALOHA ‘OE TO THE KEEPERS OF THE PONDS Tadayoshi Hara (1925-2020). Mr. Hara was raised in the village of Opihikao near Kalapana. When he moved to Oʻahu he lived in a home with a glass floor built over Kalauhaʻihaʻi Fishpond. Mr. Hara had a special connection with his ̒ aumakua fish in the ocean and the fish that lived inside the pond. He was the last to live at the fishpond before the water was cut by highway widening in the 1990’s. To hear Mr. Hara’s amazing story visit: maunalua.net/kalauhaihai-movie.html

George Tsukazaki (1930-2020). Uncle George was born at the great Maunalua Fishpond, the largest in Hawaiʻi. Uncle George ate fish 7 days a week! His family were the keepers of the 523-acre fishpond and also the 137 acre Loko Eo. Uncle George loved the beautiful days of his youth at Maunalua Fishpond. Joe Lukela, the konohiki of Maunalua Bay would come to his door singing. George’s mom would trade a 100 pound bag of rice for Lukela’s freshly picked ogo. Uncle George’s interview will be available on maunalua.net in early November 2020. Photos courtesy of Ann Marie Kirk, Maunalua.net

COMMUNITY OUTREACH & STEWARDSHIP

Ongoing Community Stewardship Weekly maintenance continues to beautify Kānewai. Stewardship includes management protection for endangered ‘alae ʻula (gallinules) and ae‘o (Hawaiian stilts) and removal of invasive plant and fish species. Site repairs will be ongoing in the coming months. We continue to seek community help with site planning, painting, repairs and brush chipping. Volunteers with all kinds of skills and interests are welcome. Contact the Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center at maunaluafishponds@gmail.com . Upcoming Community workdays are currently on hold due to the pandemic. To register for future opportunities please contact: maunaluafishponds@gmail.com . On 11/5, Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center will visit the Kuli‘ou‘ou Kalani-Iki Neighborhood Board to share our annual community update.

Pictured Above: Tad Hara Pictured Below: George Tsukazaki

Fall 2020 Quarter 3 Newsletter Page 4

YOUR SUPPORT MADE THE DIFFERENCE

Earlier this year, the pandemic slashed critical grant funding keeping the fishponds operational. We relied on this to pay the fishpond expenses and keep school and community programs engaged. The curriculum we are perpetuating is based on practices and ocean knowledge developed in Maunalua over a thousand years. Thanks to your overwhelming kōkua over the past few months, we can keep the loko i‘a operational through the pandemic! We’d like to thank each of the donors for answering the kāhea to assist the fishponds:

cc: Mrs. Elizabeth Reilly, Livable Hawai‘i Kai Hui Ms. Lea Hong, Trust for Public Land Mr. David Penn, DLNR Ms. Sandra Pfund, City Dept. of Land Mgmt. Councilmember Tommy Waters Sen. Stanley Chang Rep. Mark Hashem