As The Nature Conservancy uses simple tools and raw muscle power to restore an ancient fishpond at Kiholo Bay, the group is making some encouraging discoveries along the way.
Volunteers used bowsaws, brush axes and clippers to clear kiawe, milo and other brush from the shoreline on Saturday, revealing more of a system of rock walls and helping to bring the 3.2-acre Ka Loko o Kiholo back to a more pristine state.
Work begun in 2012 is already benefiting the ecosystems within the pond, said Rebecaa Most, marine coordinator for the conservancy. With a fresh supply of clean water and no development upslope, the pond’s general health is not under assault. But removing the dense, invasive brush helps keep vegetation out of the water and confront a threat that begins with feral goats, Most said.
“The goats eat the native plants, which allows invasives to grow, which drop leaves that smother fish cover and feeding areas,” she said. “We want to put up a fence and restore the entire area back to its original condition.”
During a survey last spring, Most saw the largest moi she has ever encountered. The prized fish was once used as pay for a caretaker of the pond. But surveys after the land was donated to the conservancy in 2011 failed to document any moi — until this past April. Since then, a good recruitment of adult and juvenile moi have been observed in the pond. Striped mullet numbers are also strong, Most said.
“The return of the mio tells us we’re going in the right direction,” said Most.
A significant portion of dense shoreline remains to be cleared. TNC hosts the work days every third Saturday of the month for individual volunteers and school groups, who learn about the biology of the fish and the interconnectivity of the pond system.
The restoration is a partnership of TNC and Hui Aloha Kiholo, an organization of lineal descendants of the area. The work is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Fish and Wildlife Service.
“The volunteer work days are great because everyone gets a chance to learn about this place and we have the manual labor we need to clear the shore,” Most said.
The brackish pond is a fraction of the original 200-some acre waterway, which was created by King Kamehameha and deluged in lava in 1859.
After clearing brush from the shoreline, volunteers piled the wood on a raft and ferried it to a makai area. The wood will be burned next weekend at a three-day fish camp, where children of families connected to the area will learn pono fishing practices.
Channalee Kamanawa remembered the pond from the 1970s when she lived at Kiholo and her father was caretaker of the area. The pond was almost completely covered in brush. She and her brother were tasked with removing the layer of seaweed from the surface so the honu could breath.
“My dad always said if you take care of the aina, it will pay you back,” Kamanawa said. “And I don’t know a lot of these people here today, but today they are all family. For me, it is coming home.”
Will Montgomerie of Papaaloa used a brush axe to take on the stubborn, dense kiawe.
“I always used to come camping here, ever since I was young,” he said. “It’s nice to be helping out for a change. I didn’t know these ponds even existed back here; I’ve always been down by the shore.”
Hawaiian studies students from the University of Hawaii Center, West Hawaii educated volunteers on the cultural significance of the fish species they were working to restore. More than 40 people turned out for the day, including 11 members of the Kona Hiking Club.
“I like to get my hikers out to give back to the land,” said Kathleen Johnson, leader of club. “More people should do this, even if they just do it once. A lot of times if they do it, they get hooked.”
Libby Dingeldein has witnessed a steady transformation of the pond in her four trips back to Kiholo to help out the restoration effort.
“It’s dramatic the difference they have made here,” said Dingeldein, taking a break from subduing kiawe shoots with a hand saw. “You pick away at it a piece at a time and it’s amazing what you can do.”
December’s work day will be held Dec. 13 ahead of the holidays. Contact Rebecca Most at rmost@tnc.org
