Royal Fish Ponds

Along Molokai's south coast, remains of fish ponds can occasionally be seen. At least 58 ponds, a particularly large number, are said to have been constructed here. Today, only a few remain along road 450 near Pukoo. Many of the ponds became filled in with washed-up earth or destroyed by flood tides.

The walls of these fish ponds were built of lava stone and constructed in such a way that small fish could enter through a type of sluice gate (called a makaha). Once fully grown they could no longer pass through the opening in the wall and were easily caught.

The ponds were certainly built in the 15th c. and indicate how well fish farming had developed by then. Fishing was carried out by the "ordinary mortals" exclusively for the ali'i (the upper classes) and was a particularly popular upper-class sport in old Hawaii. Keawanui and Ualapue are two of the largest fish ponds and they have been placed under protection.