What Is a Loko Iʻa‪?‬

Home lunches have been packed, parent releases have been signed, the school bus is on its way. All that’s left is to bring along a fishing pole, just in case. Your excursion to the loko iʻa (fishpond) is here! Colorful photographs and illustrations along with informative text will take you and your young readers to the few remaining loko iʻa in the Hawaiian Islands. Built hundreds of years ago by Hawaiians and formerly more than 450 in number, loko iʻa are an advanced form of aquaculture that continues to feed, educate, inspire, and strengthen our communities. See the different types of traditional loko iʻa, learn about the growth cycles of their inhabitants, and discover how Hawaiians maximized their environment to design these ingenious fish traps.


While versatile enough to be a stand-alone resource, this Big Ideas Science Book is part of the loko iʻa-themed set of Pāhana ʻĀina Lupalupa (PAL).


Target Grade Level: 1 (but readers of all ages may enjoy and learn something new!)


Pāhana ʻĀina Lupalupa (PAL) is a series of Hawaiian culture-based science readers. PAL integrates Hawaiian language, culture, and place-based content with literacy and science concepts that meet national standards. Developed in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi and translated into English, this exciting series was created through partnerships among a group of Hawaiʻi educators, literacy specialists, and Hawaiian-language resource developers in consultation with scientists and cultural practitioners.