Interview with William Aila, Jr.
In 1998, William Aila, Jr. (WA), the Harbor Master, was interviewed by Kepa Maly (KM), an oral historian from the Institute for Sustainable Development, regarding the land and ocean resources of Mākua and the larger Wai‘anae District. The following was taken from a much longer interview transcript:
"William Aila was asked about the seasons in which the various fish spawn, and/or run in the larger Mākua-Kahanahāiki Bay. Referring to early Hawai‘i fish and game laws, Hawai‘i Fishing News bulletins, and his conversations with native fishermen, William provided the following documentation:
- ‘Ama‘ama (mullet) spawn generally between December to February.
- Akule generally spawn between February to May.
- 'Ōpelu generally spawn between November to March.
- The halalū (the offspring of the akule) are generally in the near-shore waters between August to November.
- The ‘oama (the offspring of the weke) are generally in the near-shore waters between July to September.
All of these fish are important to the fishermen of the area, and are of importance to fishermen from around O‘ahu. Indeed, when the fish are near-shore, they can be found all along the shore from Kula‘ila‘i to Keawa‘ula.
I also remember hearing from my grandfather accounts of how in his time, the mullet would migrate around the island. Leaving Pu‘uloa [Pearl Harbor] the schools would split up and travel to the windward side – to places like the bays of Lā‘ie, Kahana, and Kāne‘ohe. The schools (fish balls) were so large, that from the points along the Wai‘anae shore, including Mākua, you could see them and tell how large the fish balls were, by the dark, cloud-like coloring in the ocean. Evidently, there hasn't been anything like that since around the late 1940s (personal communication).
KM: Hmm, amazing. It's interesting too, is there a relationship between what happens in a mountainous area, particularly for streams and pond systems, and the fishery?
WA: Absolutely! The area continues to be productive today, but not as productive as in ancient times. I feel that one of the reasons is perhaps there is not enough stream flow, or this continuous stream flow. Because if you go back into the historical records, the kūpuna or the literature always suggest that these streams ran all year round. It may be that because of water management practices, either by the military, or prior to that, by the ranching activities, that they have some how interfered with the natural flow of water to these ponding areas. And subsequently, the nutrient feed into the ocean is less.
KM: Sure. And your description of the ‘ahi coming in to feed off of the halalū and small fish like that. The small fish rely on the close shoreline resources, that big fish come and.
WA: Absolutely, absolutely. It's all related. The hînana [a Gobidae fish] from the streams coming down.
KM: Yes, if you don't have the water flow, there not going to come.
WA: Exactly.
KM: If we were looking at this shoreline here, could you place where you might think some of the ko‘a or ku‘una [fishing grounds] as they are sometimes called, but where the fish holes might be? Is there a particular area of importance to akule ? You know how your kūpuna would go and feed, they would actually hānai [feed], and train the fish at a particular area.
WA: Sure.
KM: Are there areas that you know of? And maybe I better step back here for a minute. We're talking here, you are a native resident of Wai‘anae District, but you also have a another role in the community, and your position?
WA: I manage the small boat harbor.
KM: Which gives you first hand knowledge of what's happening with the numbers of fishermen coming into this community. Both native and those from outside, yeah?
WA: Yes. It gives me a unique perspective because I am able to be, actually the beneficiary of many, many fishermen's mana‘o [thoughts]. Regarding what has occurred in the past and what is occurring now. And sometimes, what may occur in the future. As well, I am a part time commercial fisherman myself.
KM: Okay. Now we were talking a little bit about the sea-based ko‘a, the fishing spots or grounds, are there areas that are, say within the boundaries of this map [Register Map 2533]; and I know it's tough, you're looking at gray sheet basically. But basing it on.if this is the church here, and here's Kahanahāiki stream and the pond area, and the railroad. I believe, where I met you today at Mākua was basically in this area here?
WA: Yes, this is Kahanahāiki Stream.
KM: And we were just a little further over eh?
WA: Yes, westward. That area, the area fronting there, this past year. And this past year was sort of typical in terms of halalū schools. And later on in the year, having the pā‘ā‘ā [another stage of growth of the halalū, eventually becoming akule] size, both of them mixed up. Running back and forth from Kūla‘ila‘i or "pray for sex rock," all the way down to the telephone substation, and just working back and forth, those schools.
KM: Ahh. Fairly near to the shore.
WA: Very near to the shore.
KM: Okay, I'm just sort of marking it generally here, and we're coming down to the telephone substation area. Roughly in here.
WA: Just below ‘Ukanipō.
KM: Okay, so roughly in about this area here. So you said halalū, akule .
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KM: So they were running fairly regularly here?
WA: Yeah, back and forth.
KM: And were there a lot of people using the beach?
WA: A lot of people using the beach and a lot of people fishing from shore.
KM: Where do the people that fish here come from?
WA: Many are residents of Wai‘anae, but many, many are residents of O‘ahu.
KM: Uh-hmm. When I first met you, last November, you shared with me a very interesting observation, your mana‘o about fishing and what O‘ahu does when it goes fishing. Do you remember what you told me?
WA: Yeah, I think my statement was to you something like, "When people think of fishing Wai‘anae, Wai‘anae really represents O‘ahu in terms of the district being fished. Because we have so many other people from other ahupua‘a coming to Wai‘anae to fish because of its clean, safe, and productive waters."
KM: Yes, rich waters. Can I say what I think you said?
WA: Yes.
KM: It was like, "When O‘ahu goes to fish, it comes to Wai‘anae."
WA: Yes, yes.
KM: That's a great saying, that's why it just stuck with me.
You were just beginning to share with me a little bit about some of the fisheries and the perspective that you have. And we were talking about, as you'd said in November, "When O‘ahu goes fishing, it comes to Wai‘anae."
WA: Yes.
KM: We were then talking about the halalū and the akule along the shore line here at Mākua, and who were the people that come fish. You said it was both residents and.
WA: Yes, both residents of Wai‘anae and residents of O‘ahu. Now in addition to the halalū and akule which inhabit the shore line from, say zero to about 15 fathoms. Then just immediately outside of that and more towards the guard shack area towards Keawa‘ula and back towards this telephone substation, are ‘ōpelu ko‘a [‘ōpelu fishing stations].
KM: Ahh, so you would place some of the ‘ōpelu ko‘a, basically from Kahanahāiki out towards Keawa‘ula?
WA: Right.
KM: And about how many fathoms?
WA: Between 15 and 40. So you have the akule and halalū near shore. Then beyond that, you've got the ‘ōpelu.
KM: That's great. What other types of near shore fishing do you think would be.?
WA: Okay, Mākua is a very important Kona crab fishery area because of the amount of sand that's found off shore. Secondly, it's very important because of the flat papa, reef in front of Kūla‘ila‘i and down towards Kāneana Cave, is a huge flats area where there is a lot of he‘e [octopus] that's harvested. The area is known for its he‘e.
KM: [pointing to the area on the map] So this section, roughly from where the beach ends, back towards Kāneana and the papa that sticks out there?
WA: Right, and even out here [pointing into the ocean fronting the elevated papa], there is a flat reef outside Kūla‘ila‘i, and down on this end near the telephone substation there's a flat reef that comes out. And both of those areas are well know for he‘e.
KM: Okay.
WA: Towards the cave, or east of Kūla‘ila‘i is a very good menpachi [the ‘ū‘ū (Myripristis) fish] and mamo [Abudefduf abdominalus] grounds. And right directly in front of the cave is an area of flat stones, coral stones that have been sort of tossed out there. And that area has long been known for the kūmū [Upeneus porphyreus], that inhabit those flat stone areas. I remember 10, 15 years ago, spear fishing for the ‘ū‘ū, kūmū, and the mamo.
KM: ‘Ae. And it was so interesting to hear your earlier description of the ‘āweoweo. I forget, did you see them, or did someone tell you?
WA: No, someone told me. I have seen the ‘āweoweo once, about 20 years ago in Waimea Bay.
KM: Ahh. So, you get out here, and you said the 15 to 40 fathoms is for the 'ōpelu ko‘a.
WA: Right.
KM: Are there specific areas or is it pretty much along the extent of the bay from what you recall?
WA: Well, the ‘ōpelu move. And the primary reason that they move is that somebody's always chasing, and trying to eat them. So the ‘ōpelu move, basically throughout the whole range of this area. [pointing to the Mākua to Ka‘ena area on HTS Plat 2081]
KM: Ahh, out to Ka‘ena.
WA: Yeah. And the morning after we built the ahu [altar], we went diving and immediately off shore, was a huge pile of halalū and ‘ōpelu mixed. And they were being pursued by the nai‘a [porpoises]. So they were running every which way, and you could hear the squeaking sounds of the nai‘a chasing them.
KM: Ahh, what an experience.
WA: Yeah it was.
KM: If we reflect back a little bit on history, is there something that you recall hearing of someone, and that might be a good description of native use of this fishery? Early, you know the time of your parents, grandparents, or earlier times?
WA: Well, I believe the akule was probably the most important fishery. Because it's a shallow water fishery, historically we have people like Albert Silva talking about a canoe house where he actually saw nets being hung to dry.
KM: Right.
WA: People mending nets. You know, if you want to extrapolate how much food an area like Mākua and Kahanahāiki could produce, Kamehameha tried several times to conquer Kaua‘i from Mākua.
KM: Yes.
WA: So in order to provide food for an army, and it's not just show up one day and then get ready to leave the next day. There were many, many preparations to be made. The kahuna [priest] waited for the right winds, for the right tides, the right time of the year. So logistically, you have to have had an area that could support a huge amount of people.
KM: Thousands and thousands and thousands, yes.
WA: Exactly. And that's why I believe, Mākua was chosen. Not so much.I mean it was chosen because it was nice safe white sand beach to pull the canoes up on. But, also, it was chosen because strategically it could provide subsistence to these armies.
Reference Cited
Institute for Sustainable Development. 1998. Record of a personal interview regarding the land and ocean resources of the Waianae District between Kepa Maly, Oral Historian, and William Aila, Jr., Waianae Harbormaster.
