The Economics of Revitalizing Hawaiian Fishpond Production

Abstract

Fishpond construction in Hawaii started about 1,000 years ago and reached its zenith in the early 19th-century. The ravages of great waves and storms combined with the decline of the native population left most of the ancient ponds unused by the end of the 19th-century. Today, however, there is an opportunity to revitalize these ponds and perhaps to make them productive, profitable, and culturally rewarding once again. Fishpond production has the potential to be the largest component of Hawaiian aquaculture. An economic model of fishpond production is developed. Fishpond aquaculture is shown to be profitable in some circumstances.