Menehune Fishpond facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Menehune Fishpond
|
|
The Menehune Fishpond from above.
|
|
 Location in Hawaii
|
|
| Location | On the Hulēʻia River south of Lihue (viewable from lookout on south side of Puhi Road) |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Lihue, Hawaii |
| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Architectural style | Hawaiian fishpond |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000677 |
| Added to NRHP | March 14, 1973 |
The Menehune Fishpond, also known as Alakoko Fishpond, is a very old and special Hawaiian fishpond. It is located near Līhuʻe on the island of Kauaʻi. This important historical site is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
What is the Menehune Fishpond?
The Menehune Fishpond is a large pond used to raise fish. It is found along the Hulēʻia River. A long wall, about 900 feet (274 meters) long, helps create the pond. This wall is built at a big bend in the river.
The pond is the biggest fishpond on Kauaʻi. It is thought to have been built around the 1400s. It might even be the very first fishpond in Hawaiʻi that used "brackish water." Brackish water is a mix of fresh water from a river and salty water from the ocean.
A Pond Built by Legends?
The Menehune Fishpond is famous in Hawaiian legends and stories. Many people on Kauaʻi still consider it very important today. Local stories say that the pond was built by the Menehune.
The Menehune are a mythical people. Legends say they lived in Hawaiʻi before the first Hawaiians arrived. They were known for being very small but also very strong and skilled builders. The stories say they built the fishpond in just one night!
Protecting This Special Place
Because of its history and cultural importance, the Menehune Fishpond was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1973. This means it is recognized as a place worth protecting.
In 2021, a group called The Trust for Public Land bought the fishpond. They then gave it to another group called Malama Hule‘ia. Malama Hule‘ia has been working since 2018 to restore the land around the pond. They are helping to keep this amazing historical site healthy for future generations.
