“Ever wonder about the ‘loch’ in Southeast Loch?” I will tell you its story. Southeast Loch is part of Pearl Harbor. It is a place with a rich history. Pearl Harbor was once known as Ke-awa-lau-o-Pu’uloa. This means “the many harbors of Pu’uloa”. Hawaiians also called it Awawa-lei or “garland of harbors”.
The name “Pearl” came from the pearl oysters once abundant here. Hawaiians harvested them for food. In Hawaiian tradition, Pearl Harbor had three main lochs. These are Kaihuopala’ai or West Loch, Wai’awa or Middle Loch and Komoawa or East Loch. Southeast Loch is another area within Pearl Harbor.
So, why the term “loch?” It is a Scottish or Irish word for a lake or bay that is nearly landlocked. The story goes back to King Kamehameha II, also known as Liholiho. In 1823, he and his wife traveled to England. They met King George IV. Sadly, they contracted measles and died.
In 1824, Great Britain sent their bodies back to Hawai’i. The HMS Blonde was under the command of Lord Byron. The British used this trip to gather information about the islands. They included scientists on the ship. Lieut. Charles Malden, a surveyor, charted Pearl Harbor. He took soundings of the entrance channel and the three main lochs.
James Macrae was aboard the Blonde. He wrote in his diary about the survey. He noted that Pearl River was not really a river. It was inlets from the sea. He mentioned the surveyors named the East, Middle, and West Lochs. This is how the term “loch” came to be used.
Pearl Harbor’s history goes back further. It was a key site for fishponds. Ancient Hawaiians harvested shellfish here. The ‘Ewa moku was the political center of O’ahu. Pearl Harbor was an important food resource. They harvested shrimp and bivalves. They grew taro, yams, bananas, and kava.
In 1887, the U.S. gained exclusive rights to Pearl River Harbor. They established a coaling and repair station. In 1908, the U.S. established a naval base at Pearl Harbor. They removed the natural coral reef. They dredged the channels. This allowed larger ships to enter.
December 7, 1941 changed everything. The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. It prompted the U.S. to enter World War II. Today, Pearl Harbor is still an active U.S. Navy base. It is also home to several memorials and museums. These include the USS Arizona Memorial and the USS Missouri Memorial.
Southeast Loch is part of this story. It is a reminder of the history. It is a place where the past and present meet. It is a place of remembrance and reflection. Its name carries a story. This story connects Hawai’i, England, and the sea.