Maunalua Bay, fresh water, and fish

“Kuapa Pond, back in the eighteenth century, was called ‘Shrine of the Baby Mullet,’” said fisherman Roy Morioka.

At the recent Pacific Island Fisheries Group (PIFG) gathering, Uncle Roy talked about Maunalua Bay, fresh water, and fish when he was a kid – and how things are today.

“For those of you who grew up on the bay, there were places you could walk where you would be knee-deep in this black, sticky mud, and that mud was actually decaying biomass. Nutrients, coupled with the fresh water that used to flow, was feeding the bay,” said Uncle Roy. This was the muliwai, the brackish area between the land and the ocean.

He reminisced about the ‘anaeholo, the massive migration of the ‘ama’ama (striped mullet) from Waianae all the way around the south coast of O’ahu to Laie. They fed all along the way and then they turned around and came back and spawned. Their numbers were so great that they were often described as “a giant black shadow moving through the water.” (“The ‘Anaeholo: As Told to Us by the ‘Ama’ama” is published in Lawai’a Magazine, Issue 38, Fall 2022.)

That was then. Starting in the 1950s, Uncle Roy explained, “We lost our fresh water. We filled our fish ponds. We filled our coastal habitat. And now, we’re covering the mountains with homes, so we’re losing permeable soil that we needed to refresh our aquaculture. Now, when it rains, guess where all that water goes? It’s all surface run-off, it runs into the ocean… with all kinds of pollutants.”

Development in East O’ahu continued. Fish ponds and wetlands were dredged. Fresh groundwater was dumped into the sewer system instead of feeding the bay. And then we introduced invasive species, kanda and tilapia. “And now what do you see at Maunalua Bay? Ocean recreation.”

“It’s all of us collectively that affect our natural resources,” said Uncle Roy.

So we remember Maunalua Bay and learn from the past.

What can you do to support the Pacific Island Fisheries Group?

1. Take the Fisherman’s Pledge for the Future ~ “Accept Responsibility and Be Accountable.”

2. Have a fishing story to share? Send your story and photo to Lawai’a Magazine at pacificfisheries@gmail.com. They showcase Hawai’i’s fishermen, working fish, marine and seafood communities, and local seafood.

3. If you catch a fish with a tag – either a yellow plastic tags (pelagic) or green plastic tags (nearshore), please submit information about the recaptured fish. The data they collect helps us better understand fish migration patterns and populations.

What beach, bay, or body of water do you have a connection to? Do you have memories of Maunalua Bay?

Public speaking, mixers, and me

For me, it’s sometimes stressful to attend social and networking events. So I try to give myself a small, easily attainable goal for the event. Usually, my goal is: Talk to one new person or Sit next to one new person.

Honestly, I would have to make an effort not to reach that goal – and once it happens, I feel more relaxed.

Last week, I went to the Charity Walk Kick-Off Event at the beautiful Prince Waikiki. I brought my 16-year old son with me. He volunteered to walk with me, and I thought it would be a good experience for him to see all the planning that goes into it.

I told him he could get something to eat and then do some homework, and Smile and say hello if someone talks to him. But when people joined us at the table, he courteously put his laptop away and talked to them.

Instead of keeping his head down or moving somewhere quiet, he asked questions and was interested in what they were saying. I wished I had his confidence when I was in high school.

On the drive home, we were talking about public speaking and he told me that he was really impressed with Beyoncé, who created the alter ego Sasha Fierce to take her performances to the next level. It’s a brilliant idea!

As an introvert, I told him that I imagine a power button or switch that I press when I need to be my more extroverted, outgoing, confident self. It gives me a sense of control and boundaries – I can choose how to present myself and set time limits.

He still remembers the public speaking advice I gave him when he was in the third grade. I admitted that I gave him a lot of advice and suggested, “Speak to one person in the room.”

“No,” he said. “Imagine that everyone is wearing underwear.”

I took a breath and confessed, “It was a joke.”

He was outraged. “I thought you were serious!”

How do you feel about public speaking? What tips help you become a more effective speaker?

Happy Valentine’s Day from Hawai’i

February is Hawaiian Language Month, and I was excited to learn that Kamehameha Schools created more Hawaiian language GIFs to celebrate Mahina ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i.

My favorite ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i GIFs are “Aloha Kakahiaka” (Good Morning), “I lā maika’i no ‘oukou” (Have a good day), and “Mahalo iā Pauahi (Thank you Pauahi).

Just for fun, I felt inspired to make some images of my own for Valentine’s Day. You are welcome share these JPG images!

Do you speak Hawaiian or are you learning Hawaiian? How do you express yourself on social media? Share your favorite GIFs and Valentine’s Day stories!

3 lessons from a school carnival

Walking through the main gate beneath the Punahou Carnival banner, passing people with popcorn and three unicorn inflatables in a row and paper bags of malasadas… There were food booths, kiddie rides and games, entertainment, and art, but people were just excited to enjoy the carnival again.

There are a lot of lessons that we can learn from running a school carnival. Three lessons from a school carnival:

1. Look for silver and gold linings. People say with a smile that it always rains during the carnival. But instead of feeling angry or disappointed, people have turned it into a shared experience. It’s almost a point of pride to say you made it through a downpour or stood under a tent heavy with rainwater – as long as the malasadas kept dry.

So many things are out of our control – but we can control how we react to things. Obstacles can become learning experiences. Challenges can help us grow.

2. When something needs doing, jump in and help. Carnivals need carnival-goers, donors, and a lot of volunteers! I watched students and parents pitch in wherever they were needed and work extra shifts. I saw volunteers spontaneously help out during a rush. My son barely took breaks and really hustled to serve people who waited patiently in line.

Everyone benefits from volunteering – people have a good time, students gain experience, parents feel connected to the school, and alumni classmates reconnect.

Helping when help is needed – at home, at work, at leisure activities – benefits everyone. And it feels good to help out.

3. Give kids the opportunity to contribute – and they will. All the high school students had to work booth shifts. The students I saw were friendly, professional, and helpful. When it was time to work, they worked hard!

As parents, we often want our children to enjoy their youth as long as they can. But children are capable of so much more than we expect – at younger ages than we think.

The day after carnival was beautiful, sunny with blue skies. My legs were sore and my shoulder muscles ached. It was a day of rest and recovery.

What are your favorite things about school carnivals? If you have volunteered in a booth, what was your experience like?