On Friday, September 25, starting at 9:30am, join us for our next Aloha Friday Live as we explore the lua wai kai (brackishwater pool) Waiaʻelepī, located on the southern end of Kīholo bay. Join Hoa ʻāina, Lehua Kamaka, in our invasive fish removal efforts for this unique ecosystem.
Pre-registration is required for this webinar. Please click below to register on Zoom. The event will also be streamed on Facebook Live (no registration required) .
WAIAʻELEPĪ
At the southern end of Kīholo bay lie two naturally occurring anchialine pools, or wai ʻōpae. These pools carry the name Waiaʻelepī, which may be interpreted as “waters of the ʻelepī (crab)”.
Many Waimea and North Kona ranching families frequented Kīholo in the late 1800s and early 1900s as the coastal destination for their cattle drives. They built rock wall holding pens for cattle next to Waiaelepi, which was used as a watering place prior to hoʻau pipi, the swimming of cattle to ships, for exportation to off island markets.
Schools and community groups volunteer at Waia’elepi, helping to remove overgrown vegetation from around the pond edge and capture and remove invasive species.
Today the Waia’elepi ponds remain, as do the rock walls of the historic cattle pens. Sadly, since that time many foreign species have been released into and around the ponds, such as mosquito fish, talapia, mollies, and guppies. Mosquito fish are predators which predate on ‘opae ‘ula, and the combined excrement from all species increase the nutrient levels and add sediment to the substrate. Other more recent introduced species include snapping turtles and bullfrogs. The sediment deposited on pool substrate is increased by overhanging vegetation, covering and blocking fresh water springs, creating saltier, and warmer water temperatures. In combination, the addition of foreign species into and around the ponds have caused a shift in the functioning of the ponds, and in one pond, the shift was such that ‘opae ‘ula are no longer present.
Annually, schools and community groups volunteer at Waia’elepi, helping to remove overgrown vegetation from around the pond edge and capture and remove invasive species. Using handheld nets, literally tens of thousands of invasive fish can be removed in each effort.
Hui Aloha Kīholo also is part of a Statewide network of fishpond and anchialine pool practitioners called Hui Malama Loko I’a, as well as the smaller islandwide network, Hui Loko. This learning group shares trials, successes, and learning lessons with each other to increase our collective ability to restore these very special ecosystems.
We appreciate everyone's positive contributions to Waia‘elepi's health and our on-going restoration efforts.
We appreciate everyone's positive contributions to Waia‘elepi's health and our on-going restoration efforts.
This event is free. You just need a mobile device or computer and an internet connection. We’ll go live on Friday morning a little before 9:30am.
Registration is required for Zoom or you can stream live on Facebook. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Camping at the Kīholo State Park Reserve will be closed starting September 24, 2021 until further notice due to COVID-19 guidelines set by the State and/or County.