Menehune Fishpond (Alekoko)

Menehune Fishpond (Alekoko) is said to have been built by mythical ‘little people’ in one night, long before Hawaiians arrived to the islands. One of the structure’s greatest feats is a 900-foot-long stone wall that runs alongside the Huleia Stream. Like Kauai’s Menehune Ditch, the fishpond is considered a unexplainable engineering achievement. No one can confirm whether Menehune actually built the pond, but evidence shows that it was constructed at least 1,000 years ago! (Photo: Collin Grady on Flickr)

History

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, the Menehune Fishpond was built with stones from Makaweli village, some 25 miles away. Hawaiian legend states the Menehune formed an assembly line from the fishpond location to Makaweli, passing stones one-by-one from start to end point. No longer in use, the fishpond once trapped young fish from Huleia river until they grew large enough to consume.

• How Long We're Here: 5-10 minute stop at scenic lookout.
• Location: Off Puhi Road on Hulemalu Road, Lihue, Kauai.
• Insider Tip: “Alekoko” means “bloody ripple” in Hawaiian.
• Fun Fact: Some say ‘menehune’ originates from the Tahitian word ‘manahune’, which means commoner. Thus, menehune might refer to small in social status, not in height.
• What To Expect: Huleia River and the Huleia National Wildlife Refuge in the Nawiliwili district of Kauai.

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