A little more than a decade ago, a kāhea went out to the community to solicit support for restoring Loko ea Fishpond, a historically significant cultural site nestled on the North Shore of Oʻahu. Loko ea is one of two loko iʻa, ancient Hawaiian fishponds, located in the ahupua’a of Kawailoa within the moku district of Waialua. The call was answered by James Estores, Benson Lee and a small group of community members who established Mālama Loko Ea Foundation in 2009. Today the restoration of Loko ea represents the timely re-imagination of what it means to honor Hawaiian culture and support a thriving, sustainable community in modern-day Hawaiʻi. Mālama Loko Ea Foundation remains steady in addressing the needs of the community as it implements a comprehensive plan to restore this wahi pana, and the traditional Hawaiian aquaculture practices, that will inform the development of a sustainable ecosystem and community
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