Na Loko I'a O Kalahuipua'a
The ancient fishponds of Hawai'ian royalty, including King Kamehameha's rule, are located on the Big Island, North of Kona, along the Kohala coast. Although their origins are shrouded in legend and inconclusive carbon dating, they were possibly constructed as early as 1200 AD.
Two of the seven ponds run along the ocean, separated by walls of basalt and coral up to nine feet thick atop reef. The others recede inland, natural anchialine pools, their levels rising and falling with the tide as water seeps through the porous lava or circulates through sluice gates called Makahas, which were cleverly devised in ancient times to allow small fish to enter through narrow slats, but prevent fattened fish from escaping. Long nets were held on either side of the ponds, while others splashed the water to drive the fish into the nets.