RESEARCH PROJECT

The loko iʻa (traditional fishponds) of Hawaiʻi represent an indigenous aquaculture system deeply rooted in Hawaiʻi’s culture, people, and knowledge systems. Loko iʻa are not only a part of Hawaiʻi’s history, but they continue to provide invaluable insight into the sustainable stewardship and revitalization of Hawaiʻi’s near-shore fisheries today. Kilo ( intense, continuous observation) is a crucial practice for the kiaʻi (protectors; stewards) of loko iʻa, allowing for fine-tuned management and adaptation of these spaces. With the looming threat of climate change and the novel impacts it will have on the islands of Hawaiʻi, it is important to continue to evolve and expand the ways in which we kilo, to ensure that the loko iʻa and the communities they support continue to thrive.

This project seeks to implement eDNA analyses, benthic settlement plates, and physiochemical sampling to contribute to our understanding of biodiversity and system function of the loko iʻa managed by the Kumuola Marine Science Education Center (KMSEC), located in the ahupuaʻa of Waiākea and the moku of Hilo.  The central research question will center on how the biodiversity of invertebrates, vertebrates, and algae/phytoplankton vary across environmental gradients, with a primary focus on salinity, within the loko iʻa of Kumuola. This assessment will help us better predict how the community assemblages within the loko iʻa might change alongside expected increases in salinity associated with climate change and sea-level rise. This project will also address whether the tools used in this project can effectively contribute to practices of kilo and our overall understanding of biological processes and function in loko iʻa.