Envision a vast expanse of green. This is Kawai Nui Marsh. It is not just a pretty view. It is a place teeming with history and ecological significance.
Kawai Nui Marsh is the largest remaining wetland in Hawaii. It is also Hawaii’s largest ancient freshwater fishpond. The marsh is a designated Ramsar Convention wetland. This means it is recognized internationally for its importance.
Imagine Kawai Nui as a wide bay thousands of years ago. Coral grew. A barrier reef formed. This separated the bay from the ocean. The bay became a lagoon. It became shallower and brackish.
Polynesians arrived around 500 CE. They settled near the lagoon. They cleared forests for farming. Kawai Nui was one of the first settled areas in Hawaii.
By 1750, native Hawaiians had transformed Kawai Nui. It became a 400-acre fishpond. Mullet and other fish thrived. Irrigated taro patches provided additional food. At least three heiau or temples were built nearby including Ulupō.
Then came James Cook in 1778. This marked European contact. Diseases devastated the Hawaiian population. Maintaining the fishpond became impossible. Kawai Nui fell into disuse.
In 1848, the Great Māhele changed land ownership. Most Hawaiians did not claim land. Land went to aliʻi or chiefs. Crops continued to grow but the marsh expanded.
American lawyer Charles Coffin Harris bought the land in 1870. Water was diverted to Waimānalo for sugarcane irrigation. Rice cultivation began. Chinese farmers used Kawai Nui for rice paddies.
Harold Kainalu Long Castle bought the land in 1917. Water was drained for sugarcane. Ranching replaced rice. Invasive plants were introduced to feed cattle.
During World War II, the U.S. military used Kawai Nui for training. In the 1950s, a rock crusher operated here. The city used part of the marsh as a trash burning site.
In 1956, water was pumped out to make the area usable for grazing. Kawai Nui was officially designated a marsh in 1982.
Today Kawai Nui Marsh is a wildlife sanctuary. It is habitat for endangered Hawaiian water birds. These include aeʻo and ʻalae kea. Migratory birds also use the marsh.
Hawaiian legends speak of lepo-ʻai-ʻia or edible mud in Kawai Nui. The story says Kauluakalana brought the mud. It fed Kamehameha I’s warriors.
Kawai Nui was believed to have a guardian spirit. This was a moʻo named Hauwahine. She ensured enough food for the people. Pollution insulted Hauwahine. This motivated Hawaiians to keep the fishpond clean.
Nonprofit organizations are restoring Kawai Nui Marsh. They are using traditional practices. They want to honor the history. They want to protect the wildlife. They want to preserve the culture of Kawai Nui Marsh. Take a moment to appreciate the delicate balance of nature and history here. It is a treasure worth protecting.