K?lia Bay
Fish were easily netted from the ponds near Pi‘inaio Stream.
In ancient times, the
area was home to many Hawaiian families, who enjoyed the offerings in its bountiful waters. It was not unusual to see native men and women fishing, diving, and gathering seaweed here. Originally, the Pi‘inaio was Waik?k?’s third stream, which entered the ocean here where the ‘Ilikai Hotel now stands. Unlike the Kuekaunahi and
‘Apuak?hau streams, the mouth of the Pi‘inaio was a large, muddy delta intersected by several small tributary channels. These three streams fed a natural irrigation system that supported taro fields, fishponds, and migrant waterfowl. After the arrival of the Chinese in the 19th century, rice fields and
duckponds were added. The word ‘Ilikai literally means “the surface of the sea,” a fitting tribute to an area where the ocean was filled with fish, eels, shrimp, lobster, octopus, crab, and limu (seaweed). The fishermen of K?lia caught so much that they became
known as “human fishnets.”
As recently as the 1930s,
residents of K?lia described
the area as “one of the most
productive seafood producing bays
ever known.” In season, they
would see thousands of white
crabs on the beach and catch them
easily by the bucket full. After the
inevitable development of this
area, the abundant fishponds and
reefs of the old K?lia beach settlement, like the simple Hawaiian
lifestyle practiced by its residents, are nostalgic memories. The Paoa‘ohana (family) were well-known residents of the K?lia district, the most famous member being Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, who grew up to be the world’s greatest swimmer. His teenage years were spent in this area, where he practiced the skills that would lead him to the Olympics.
“The whole distance to the village of Whyteete (Waik?k?) is taken up with innumerable artificial fish ponds extending a mile inland from shore. In these the fish taken by net from the sea are put, and though most of the ponds are fresh water, yet the fish seem to thrive and fatten.” —Andres Bloxam, naturalist on the H.M.D. Blonde, 1828.
Marker can be reached from Holomoana Street south of Ala Moana Boulevard.
Courtesy hmdb.org
