Ka’eo also has its own ‘Apuakehau pond, adjacent to Keawala’i church.
‘Apuakehau Point is the site of the ancient ‘Apuakehau fishpond. Located in Ka’eo, south Maui. Just offshore of the Keawala’i Church.
| Name: | ‘Apuakehau, Keawala’i |
| Ahupua‘a: | Mohopilo |
| Watershed: | Wailea |
| Moku: | Honuaʻula |
| Area: | 0.17 acres |
| Type: | “la1″ A loko kuapa built at a natural curvature of the shoreline utilizing an islet as part of the seawall. |
‘Apuakehau-Fishpond_Keawala’i (Photo: NMoran, DDorn)
Both Chief Kauhola and Chief ‘Umi, who lived a century apart, are said to have built or restored fishponds in the coastal lands of Kula (Kihei) and Honua’ula. (Source, Project_Kaeo, de Naie and Donham 2007:105)
A 1996 federal study of the Honua’ula cultural resources listed 37 ponds of various sizes currently remaining in the Honua’ula district. (Trettin, et al, 1996: 20-21) Many of these are likely to have been used for fishponds as well.
Not surprisingly, home site clusters in Ka’eo are also found in areas associated with such ponds, springs and wells, and fishponds. (Source, Project_Kaeo, de Naie and Donham 2007:105)
While village sites vary, common features include trails, a fishpond, agricultural terraces and planting mounds, clusters of house sites and shelters, storage areas, work platforms, canoe houses, and enclosure walls, as well as specialized structures such as a mua, (men’s eating house) heiau or other ceremonial sites.
“Fishponds of all sort not only beautify any area but a land with many fishponds was called a ‘fat land’ (aina momona).“ (Kamakau, 1991).
For ponds built in the ocean, the seaward wall was made of stacked rocks, which also provided additional gathering areas for other favored marine food sources, such as lobsters.
‘Apuakehau Fishpond