A tricky panorama to take, this one. What is not too clear in the picuture is that the walkway out to the center of the Kalahuipuaa Fishpond is about 2 feet wide. This does not leave a lot of space to put up a tripod to take the panoramic in the first place, and even less to walk around it to keep behind the camera. Serene this definitely was, wet it could have been.

Kalahuipuaa Fishpond - Mauna Lani Resort - Hawaii Island visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Kalahuipuaa Fishpond - Mauna Lani Resort' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Hawaii.

Panorama of the Kalahuipuaa Pond at the Mauna Lani Resort at Kalahuipua'a. Fishponds were unique to the Hawaiians among the Polynesian cultures. There are 6 major ponds on in Kalahuipua'a and, covering 5 acres, the Kalahuipua'a fishpond is the largest. Fishponds were either entirely inland (like the Anchialine Ponds nearby), or, like this one, formed by building a low wall (kuapa) to enclose a small bay. Sluice gates (makaha) with a grill were built into the walls to encourage circulation of sea water. At Mauna Lani, a narrow walkway leads to a small hut built on a island in the middle of the pond, called the 'Sleep House. This panoramic picture was taken from the walkway overlooking the pond.

The fishponds were stocked in two ways. Either small fry were netted and transported to the ponds, or tiny fish would swim in through the grill of the sluice gate and become trapped inside as they grew. The primary fish kept for food in these ponds were 'Ama'ama (mullet) and 'awa (milkfish), though convict tangs, young ulua, eels and barracuda can also be found in the shoreline ponds. This shoreline pond is connected to Keawanui Bay.

Other fishponds on Hawaii Island include the Kaloko Fishpond on Honokohau Bay at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, and those of Anaehoomalu Bay.

Mauna Lani Resort Address:
Mauna Lani Resort
68-1400 Mauna Lani Drive;
Kohala Coast, Hawaii,
96743

Travel and Getting There:
Take Highway 19 north from Kailua-Kona toward the Kohala Resort Area. Turn left into the resort between the 74 and 73 Mile Stones.