Posted on: Sunday, October 17, 2004
Hawai'i fishponds an engineering marvel
By Ka'ohua Lucas
When my eldest son was 3 years old, he said he wanted to be a firefighter.
He imagined himself racing to put out a fire on his shiny, yellow rescue truck.
When his preschool would visit the fire station, he was always the first to volunteer to dress in the firefighter's protective gear.
His dream of becoming a firefighter has shifted over the years. He is now 14 years old and talks about becoming an engineer.
I was interested in learning why he had considered engineering as a career option. So I asked him.
"I like the idea of having a three-week vacation and ending the work day at 4 (o'clock)," he said.
"You do realize that most engineering firms do not end their work day at 4 p.m., nor do they offer their employees a three-week vacation?" I asked.
"Actually, I was thinking of working as an engineer for the government."
In ancient Hawai'i, there were specific individuals who by today's standards could be described as engineers. These people had an important function in the community. They identified prime spots to carve out lo'i kalo (taro fields) and construct loko i'a (fishponds).
An ancient engineering marvel is the design of the loko kuapa (shoreline fishpond). These loko i'a are found nowhere else in the world except Hawai'i.
According to the nonprofit group ForMaui, which cares for Ko'ie'ie fishpond, the ancient Hawaiians were incredible engineers.
"Ko'ie'ie Loko I'a is a tribute to the engineering skills of those long ago who had no metal or beasts of burden and yet knew the effectiveness of farming the ocean wisely throughout the ages," their Web site informs us. "There are many ponds in Hawai'i, but few are of this type and none are as well preserved, another testament to the building skills of the ancients."
I think it would be great for my son to blend cultural, technical know-how with current engineering practices. If he were to pursue his dream job of becoming an engineer, he would probably have to enroll in additional high school science and math classes.
As we were driving home one day, I casually broached the subject of school.
"So how many science and math courses do you need to graduate?" I asked.
"I don't know," he said, then shrugged. "I think three in each subject area."
"Well, you know if you plan to go into engineering, you'll probably have to take four years of science and four years of math," I said.
"Mmm, that puts a different spin on things," he said, gazing at the road as it began to narrow.
I could imagine the gears in his brain beginning to whir.
Then, he turned and looked at me with a cherub grin.
"You know, plans can change, my dear."
Reach Ka'ohua Lucas at Family Matters, 'Ohana section, The Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; fax 525-8055; or at ohana@honoluluadvertiser.com.
