The 3-acre fishpond was built more than 500 years ago and was traditionally used as a food resource for the ruling class, or ali'i. It is best known nowadays as Kalepolepo Beach Park, a popular picnic spot and family swimming area whose calm and shallow waters are protected by the remains of the fishpond's rock walls, or kuapa.

"People for many years never realized what this was," said Allen Tom of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, whose headquarters look out onto the fishpond. The sanctuary is assisting with the Ko'ie'ie project by providing a portion of the $250,000 cost and other support.

Initial interest in restoring Ko'ie'ie — which means "rapid current" in Hawaiian — was sparked by a small group of residents at the neighboring Menehune Shores condominium. In 1996, the condo residents joined with Native Hawaiians and others to form the nonprofit 'Ao'ao O Na Loko I'a O Maui (Association of the Fishponds of Maui) to launch a formal effort to rebuild the site.

The group began fund raising and planning for the reconstruction work, consulting with Walter Ritte Jr., who is involved in fishpond restoration projects on Moloka'i. The association also was instrumental in getting Ko'ie'ie listed on the state and national registers of historic places.

A model for the Ko'ie'ie fishpond restoration, which will cost $250,000. An official says the project will take about two years. Christie Wilson • The Honolulu Advertiser

At one time there were an estimated 400 fishponds throughout Hawai'i, with a large concentration of them at Waikiki. Hawaiians reportedly used the ponds, or loko, to trap and store fish, rather than as fish breeding pens.

The fishponds were made of kuapa and a makaha, or sluice gate. The rocks were placed so that they interlocked with one another, and smaller rocks and pebbles were wedged into the gaps for further stability.

The makaha was made of pieces of wood lashed together, with vertical spaces between the slats that allowed small fish to swim freely in and out of the pond but retained the larger fish.

It is thought that sometime during these repairs the ancient name of Ko'ie'ie was changed to Kalepolepo ("the dirt") because of all the dust stirred into the air by the thousands of people lined up to pass stones from the uplands to the shore.

In October, the Board of Land and Natural Resources approved 'Ao'ao O Na Loko I'a O Maui's application to lease the state-owned fishpond, clearing the way for reconstruction work to begin.

Association president Kimokeo Kapahulehua said it will take about two years to finish the project, using volunteer help. The 1,100-foot-long kuapa that runs parallel to the beach and the shorter side walls will be rebuilt by hand, with no mechanical methods used for dredging or moving the heavy rocks. Kapahulehua said no new rocks will be brought in to complete the kuapa, which will be stacked about 6 feet high to withstand the highest tides of the year.

"Each rock we use has a shared mana (spiritual power) with the ancient Hawaiians," he said.

Because Kalepolepo is a longstanding public beach park, the site will not be completely restored for sole use as a fishpond. It will remain a recreational area enjoyed by beachcombers, sunbathers, swimmers and fishermen.

The fishpond association, based at the sanctuary headquarters, has been running educational programs for school and community groups, and has even grander programs planned, once the rebuilding work is done, that blend science and Hawaiian culture.