Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park

Fishpond Restoration Signs

National Historical Park
1978
 
Park Size
1160 Acres
 
Annual Visitors
292,000
 
Park Fee
none
 
Superintendent
Paul Scolari
 
Park Partner
Hawaii Pacific Parks Association
 
Location
Hawai’i County, HI

Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park protects the site of an ancient Hawaiian settlement, including human-made fishponds that have allowed people to survive in the harsh conditions of the Big Island of Hawai'i for over 600 years.
 
The National Park Service is engaged in a long-term restoration project of the 'Aimakapā fishpond and its adjacent wetland areas, just off the main trail to the beach. The project involves removing non-native vegetation, protecting and stabilizing cultural resources, and providing habitat for native birds. A lack of signage at the site to explain the disruptive-looking work-in-progress was a serious missed opportunity. 
 
Two new signs were designed and installed to enhance visitor understanding of the unique ecosystem of the fishponds, the Native Hawaiian cultural connections to the site, and the complexity of the restoration project. The new signs are helping visitors appreciate native plants and animals and understand the complex food web of the area, and are raising awareness of the challenge the park faces from environmental change and promoting good stewardship into the future. 

The signs were installed in Spring of 2025.

Project Cost: $18,820                                                                 Project Completed: 2025
     The Fund for People in Parks: $18,020
     National Park Service: $800

The ‘Aimakapā wetlands project has improved wetland ecosystem integrity, recovered native plants and endangered waterbird populations, protected and stabilized cultural resources, and interpreted the fishpond’s ecology and Hawaiian cultural history. There has been a need for signage for visitors to understand the project as well as to understand the ecosystem of this unique Hawaiian fishpond."
     -Jon Jokiel, Supervisory Park Ranger, Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park