A water quality monitoring framework for traditional Hawaiian fishponds to advance nature-based solutions in aquaculture production

Research Projects 2026-2028

A water quality monitoring framework for traditional Hawaiian fishponds to advance nature-based solutions in aquaculture production

A serene pond stretches between grass and tree-lined shorelines under a blue sky with clouds — *Monitoring water quality at fishponds, like this one at Waialeʻe on Oʻahu’s North Shore, is an important step in generating a thriving aquaculture system. (Photo: RCFLentz)*

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Craig Nelson
Co-INVESTIGATORS: Ann Nyambega, Kirsten Oleson
Graduate fellow: Kacie Kajihara
Research Track: Island Sustainability and Resilience

Nature-based solutions (NbS) offer adaptive, cost-effective strategies by leveraging natural processes, but their foundational roots lie in the complex, millennia-old practices of Indigenous communities. Traditional Hawaiian fishponds, or loko iʻa, exemplify this, representing advanced biocultural stewardship and serving as essential, early forms of Indigenous NbS in aquaculture. Revitalization efforts for fishponds in Hawaiʻi are thriving, yet a critical need exists for tailored monitoring frameworks. Current water quality monitoring is often fragmented and disconnected from cultural values, impeding adaptive management of fishponds. This project proposes to address this gap by co-developing a biocultural-informed water quality monitoring approach that integrates ILK, such as kilo (systematic observation), with scientific methodologies. By using participatory systems mapping (PSM) at two distinct fishponds, the research will design, pilot, and synthesize flexible, community-usable monitoring protocols that support restoration of fishponds.