A massive rock seawall over 40 feet wide stands about 6 feet high and stretches more than one-eighth mile. Its clever design and placement allows water to flow in and out through the wall, while fish are trapped inside the pond for harvesting. Although the pond is no longer "worked", it now serves as a waterbird sanctuary for endangered Hawaiian Stilt and Hawaiian Coot. The seawall was dry stacked by hand. No cement was used and the stones were not shaped to fit. The work is described by Hawaiian masons as "Listening to the stones". ~ "The stone will tell you where it wants to go." ~
There are two informational plaques in the area.To get credit for this virtual geocache, find the correct plaque that has a statement in the upper right corner written in six words of Hawaiian. Beneath it is an English translation. Email the quote, in English, to us (the Cache Owner). Do NOT include the answer in your log nor post photos of it..
NOTE: Park gate opens at 8:00 am and closes at 5:00 pm.
If you are up for a very interesting hike, the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail head in this area leads to a second pond, The Aimakapa Fishpond about a mile south. Here the Ancient Hawaiians stored live fish they wanted to keep for food. They dug channels from the pond to the ocean to allow water to flow in and out with the tides. The trail continues approx a half mile further to Ai 'Opio Fishtrap where early residents raised a natural lava wall on the bay side and place nets cross the openings to trap fish flowing in and out with the tides. The Pu'uoina Heiau (temple) nearby signifies the importance of the fish trap and the two fish ponds.
Virtual Reward - 2017/2018
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.