Here at the Kuapa PD-Moanalua Bridge we stand at a place where history meets modern life. This bridge is one of three in Hawaii Kai currently undergoing rehabilitation. These bridges are more than 50 years old. They cross the man-made waterways of Hawaii Kai.
But this isn’t just about the Kuapa PD-Moanalua Bridge itself. It’s also about the story of Kuapa Pond. Kuapa Pond was once the largest loko kuapa on O’ahu. It spanned approximately 523 acres.
Kuapa means wall of a fish pond. A loko kuapa is a fishpond made by building a wall on a reef. This wall was impressive. It stretched about 5000 feet long.
The pond’s creation dates back to the end of the ice age. Rising sea levels caused the shoreline to retreat. Erosion formed sediment. This created a natural lagoon. Early Hawaiians used this lagoon as a fishpond. They reinforced the natural sandbar with stone walls.
Mullet thrived here. The combination of freshwater and shallow flats was ideal. It grew the algae mullet loved to eat. Kamehameha I even participated in restoring the Maunalua fishpond. He encouraged chiefs and commoners to raise food. He worked at the fishponds himself.
In 1826 missionary Levi Chamberlain documented his trip around Oahu. He noted a large pond spanning hundreds of acres. It was near a settlement called Keawaawa. Chamberlain walked along the pond. He saw a narrow strip of land. It acted as a causeway between the sea and the pond. Sluices allowed seawater to replenish the pond.
Legend says the Menehune helped construct the pond. They were a legendary race of small people. The pond was connected to Kaʻelepulu fishpond in Kailua through a tunnel. Some say mullet would mysteriously disappear from Kuapa Pond. Then they would appear in the Kailua pond.
Ownership of Maunalua passed to Bernice Pauahi Bishop. It then went to the Kamehameha Schools.
In the 1960s Henry J Kaiser developed the area. Kuapa became known as Koko Marina. In 1961 Bishop Estate leased a large area including Kuapa Pond to Kaiser Aetna. This was for subdivision development. This development is now known as Hawaii Kai.
Kaiser Aetna dredged and filled parts of Kuapa Pond. They built retaining walls and bridges. This created the Hawaii Kai Marina. They deepened the channel and created accommodations for boats. The sluice gates were eliminated.
Today the pond serves as a marina. It provides open space for the community. Groups like Mālama Maunalua are working to protect and restore the waters.
So as we stand on the Kuapa PD-Moanalua Bridge let’s think about the past. Think about the fishponds and the people who cared for them. Let’s also appreciate the present. Appreciate the efforts to preserve this unique space for the future.