Developing a CommunityBased Shellfish Industry for Hawaii

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Developing a Community-Based Shellfish Industry
for Hawaii

• Robert Howerton
• Maria Haws
• University of Hawaii

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• Constraints
• Objectives
• Traditional Hawaiian Fishponds
• Site Selection
• Accomplishments

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Constraints

• Hawaii is only coastal state without a bivalve
  industry.
• Hawaii does not have a shoreline certification
  program
• Hawaii does not have a certified laboratory
• No native bivalve species have been developed for
  culture
• No grow out locations have been identified

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Objectives

• Establish a shellfish working group
• Conduct spawning trials on indigenous species
• Identify two grow out sites on Molokai
• Work with state agencies responsible for
  shellfish sanitation
• Determine if permits can be obtained for
  non-native species
• Transfer bivalve culture technology

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WHAT IS AN AHUPUAA?
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Traditional Hawaiian Fishponds

• At Manana Peninsula in Puuloa (Pearl Harbor)
  oral tradition tells of people lined up for more
  than a mile from the shoreline to the mountains,
  passing lava rocks without touching the ground
  in transit (Cobb, 1903).

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LOKO IA KALO

• KEANAE MAUI

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LOKO WAI
ALEKOKO (Menehune) FISHPOND KAUAI
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LOKO PUUONE

• Hawaii Kai Oahu

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LOKO KUAPA

• Kaneohe Bay Oahu

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Hawaiian Fishpond Census
30
25
23
8
7
1
4
Total 488 Source DHM Planners Inc. 1990
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Hawaiian Fishpond Census
36
28
15
10
9
1
Total 488 Source DHM Planners Inc. 1990
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Hawaiian Fishpond Restoration Efforts
SETTING THE STONES
FINISHED KUAPA (POND WALL)
PASSING THE STONES
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Accomplishments to date

• Establishment of shellfish working group
• Two native species identified for culture

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Indigenous Species
Spondylus sp.
Dendostrea sandvichensis 
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Hawaiian Oysters
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Accomplishments to date

• Establishment of shellfish working group
• Two native species identified for culture
• Three trial sites on Molokai and one on Oahu

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Island of Molokai
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Keawanui Fishpond
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Keawanui Farms
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Kalokoeli Fishpond
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Heeia Fishpond Oahu
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Accomplishments to Date

• Establishment of shellfish working group
• Two native species identified for culture
• Three trial sites on Molokai and one on Oahu
• State DOH, ADP and DLNR are members of the
  shellfish working group
• Import permits have been approved for all
  demonstration sites for three non-native species
• Animals will be shipped to Molokai and Oahu
  next month

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Acknowledgments

• USDA-CTSA
• Maui County Office of Economic Development
• Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resources Center
• University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program
• Maui Community College