Hawaiian fishponds (loko iʻa) are traditional structures built along Hawaiian coasts between roughly 1200 and 1600, consisting of low volcanic stone walls enclosing shallow water. Nearly 500 sites have been identified across the islands, featuring sluice gates called mākāhā that allowed young fish to enter and grow in brackish water enriched by mountain streams.
Hawaiian fishponds called loko iʻa were constructed between 1200 and 1600 using stacked volcanic stone walls along the coasts. Nearly 500 of these traditional aquaculture structures have been identified across the islands, featuring sluice gates called mākāhā that allowed tidal flow to bring young fish into brackish waters enriched by mountain streams for cultivation.