Kauaʻi Sea Farm
We visit Kauaʻi Sea Farm, a one-of-a-kind restorative aquaculture operation, located on the southwest side of Kauaʻi—in the 20-acre, saltwater fishpond, Nomilo (Nōmilu) loko iʻa, which is owned and cared for by the Pālama family. We learn about their clam and limu (edible algae) aquaculture and their research to grow sea cucumbers—filter feeders that not only help clean the pond but also taste delicious—and can help provide products for sale at local restaurants!
We talk-story with production manager, Dave Anderson, aquaculture technician, Kalalena Lum Won, hatchery technician Tim Leichliter, as well as Pālama family member and Kauaʻi Sea Farm president, Lynn Taylor, and director of operations , Thayne Taylor.
Watch the trailer for Season 10, Episode 1 on Vimeo, on YouTube, or on Vimeo with English Subtitles.
Watch related fishpond episodes: Hilo Loko Iʻa , Kumuola Marine Science Education Center, and Restoring a Hawaiian Fishpond.
Cover image by Andre Seale.
Full Episode
Curriculum Connections:
- Grade 5: Energy from the Sun
- Activity: Understanding Food Webs
- Aloha ʻĀina Activity: Fishponds
- Kāhea Loko: A Teacher’s Guide to Hawaiian Fishponds
- National Park Service: Kaloko Loko I’a Curriculum
- Loko Iʻa Across Pae ‘Aina: Resources, Field Trips and Curriculum
- Young Brothers: Guide to Some Famous Loko Iʻa of Hawaiʻi
Additional Resources:
- Kauaʻi Sea Farm
- Webpage
- In The News
- NOAA Fisheries: Hawaiian Fishpond Kicks Off State’s First Sea Cucumber Aquaculture
- PACIOOS: Supporting Aquaculture at Nomilo Fishpond
- Civil Beat: Can An Ancient Hawaiian Fishpond Turn A Profit?
- NOAA: Farm to Table
- Research and workshops with Hawaiʻi Sea Grant
- About Nomilo (Nōmilu) Loko Iʻa: Hawaiian Place Names & Place Names of Hawaiʻi
- Moʻolelo (story) involving Nomilo in the Hawaiian Language Newspaper Archives: Nūpepa
- Hoʻomalu Ke Kai
- Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo (KUA)
- Sea Cucumbers (Loli)
- About Sea Cucumbers
- Waikīkī Aquarium: Animal Guide to Sea Cucumbers
- The National Wildlife Federation: Sea Cucumbers
- NOAA: Are sea cucumbers vegetables?
- Eating and preparing Sea Cucumbers
- Healthline: Sea Cucumber: An Unusual Food with Health Benefits
- Michelin Guide: All About Sea Cucumbers
- The Spruce Eats: A Guide to Buying and Cooking With Sea Cucumber
- Mark’s Place: Innovating sea cucumber dishes for Kauaʻi Sea Farm
- About Sea Cucumbers
- Native Hawaiian Oyster (Dendostrea sandvichensis)
- Sealife Base: species description
- UH Hilo: Pacific Aquaculture & Coastal Resource Center
- Hawaiʻi News Now Story: Native Oysters in Pearl Harbor
- Hard Shell Clams, native to the East Coast of North America (Mercenaria mercenaria)
- NOAA Fisheries: Hard Clam (Northern Quahog) Overview
- Maine Sea Grant: Hard Shell Clam Seafood Guide
- Eating House 1849: Roy Yamaguchi’s Nomilo Fishpond of Kauaʻi Curried Clam Recipe
- Collector Urchin (Tripneustes gratilla) Hawa’e maoli
- Hawaiʻi DLNR: urchin hatchery pamphlet
- Voice of the Sea: Sea Urchin Hatchery Episode
- Limu (edible algae)
- Limu manuea and Ogo
- Voice of the Sea: Limu Love Episode (and other related limu episodes: Cesspool Contamination Revealed by Invasive Algae; Deep Sea Algae; Intertidal Algae and Invertebrates; Fish No Take)
- ʻĀkulikuli (edible, succulent ground cover plant)
- Native Plants Nursery: plant guide
Select a season of Voice of the Sea
Contact information:
Kanesa Seraphin, Ph.D.
kanesa@hawaii.edu
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