Data from recently deployed beacons is to be used to assist the restocking of a centuries-old Hawaiian fishpond with native mullet and milkfish.
Through its partnership in the Xylem Innovation Labs’ Incubator Programme, Aquasend placed three of its Aquasend Beacons across the Waikalua Loko l’a fishpond. Over a period of three months, they will monitor the amount of biomass the pond is equipped to support through dissolved oxygen (DO) levels and temperature data collected, and the data will be utilised by the non-profit Pacific American Foundation (PAF) to determine how to start safely inhabiting the pond.
Ultimately, the research will help enable the growth of Waikalua Loko l’a and other ponds across the Hawaiian Islands to generate income and sell products locally.
“We are thrilled to be part of the Waikalua Loko l’a pond regrowth and have the opportunity to expand Aquasend water technology operations through our partnership in Xylem’s Incubator Program. It’s our goal to support this industry with data and solutions,” Aquasend CEO Kristin Elliott said.
Prior to Hawaii’s statehood, there were nearly 500 fishponds across the Hawaiian Islands, but as time has passed this number has decreased to less than 100. Efforts to preserve the remaining Hawaiian fishponds are increasing with the help of PAF.
Located in Oahu, Hawaii, the Waikalua Loko l’a fishpond was constructed more than 400 years ago by early Hawaiians after studying the water and tides. The fishers realised creating water barriers would lead to more consistent and abundant fish harvests.
The pond’s brackish water consists of North Pacific saltwater from a bay that actively circulates the pond while surrounding freshwater streams, Kawa and Kane`ohe, percolate the soil to enter the pond.
Waikalua Loko l’a operates with stationary gates called makahas, which are located in the canal and built into the seaward wall of the pond.
Maintaining the original design created by Hawaiian ancestors, these gates are designed with small vertical standing wood poles held together with rope to let smaller fish into the pond. The fish would be fed, grow and become trapped in the fishpond due to their larger size.
