In our earliest maps and photos of He`eia Fishpond, we noticed that hale kia’i were erected at each of the makahā. These hale kia`i, loosely translated as guard houses, were multi-purposed structures. Guards were strategically set near the makahā to fend off poachers. The structure itself provided shelter for the guards to ward off the harsh elements and unfriendly weather. The hale was not used exclusively by the guards. Those who were responsible for catching or recruiting fish also utilized the hale. Storing supplies at these various hale was also another practical use for the structure.
The goal of Paepae o He`eia is to restore the loko i`a kuapā and the makahā. As we restore each makahā, we will also be restoring a hale kia`i at each of them, so that the pond will be fully restored to its original state. There are six makahā on He`eia fishpond, so we plan to build six or more hale kia`i along the wall. I was fortunate to have been taught traditional hale building techniques by Palani Sinenci, of Hāna, Maui. He assisted and guided us through the building of our first hale kia`i restoration and now we are in the process of preparing to build our second hale kia`i. We are excited to apply our newly acquired knowledge and skills of hale building to the test and we hope to make our kumu proud.
We are lucky to have a large supply of mangrove which we utilize as material to build the hale. Mangrove is an invasive tree and is not native to Hawaii. This invasive tree is detrimental to the structure and livelihood of the fishpond and its surroundings. We at He`eia view this act of utilizing this invasive tree to build our hale kia`i as a way to turn a negative situation into a positive one. The invasive mangrove needs to be removed and instead of wasting this strong wood, we can use it to build hale. In doing so, we are eradicating the invasive species, putting it to use, and consequently we are preserving the already stressed native wood resources. We are currently in the process of cutting, sizing and curing wood for the next hale kia`i. Construction will begin soon.
For updates on the progress of our newest hale kia`i, check out our website www.paepaeoheeia.org .
Peleke Flores, Ku Hou Kuapā Project Manager
