"Solutions not Complaints"
The proposed rules will be amended or approved during the DAR public scoping meetings. These rules are based upon community input and interviews with Ho’okena kupuna. DAR usually requires a period of 5 years to determine the effectiveness of a proposed rule but we feel it will be too long to close the ko’a ‘ōpelu to establish the benefits of traditional palu and seasonal kapu. Lawai’a will be asked to kokua with the ko’a hānai for 3 years and record data for scientific analysis including ‘ōpelu dissection. ‘Ōpelu will be harvested occasionally for this purpose and shared with the ko’a hānai participants. This is a way to compensate for their kokua. This project will benefit all ‘ōpelu net fishermen and help us to keep our ‘ōpelu canoe fishing culture alive.
In the time of our kupuna, kalo was used when feeding or netting ‘ōpelu
Immigrants to Hawaii brought the practice of using chopchop or ground up fish. The ‘ōpelu preferred this type of palu but the blood and protein in the chopchop made the predators agrressive and soon it became impossible for traditional net fishermen to catch ‘ōpelu. Eventually all lawai'a ‘ōpelu were using chopchop.
Today using chopchop is illegal:
Location: The waters off the coast of South Kona between the Ki‘ilae-Kēōkea boundary and the Kapua-Kaulanamauna boundary.
Prohibited
To fish for or take ‘ōpelu with fish or animal bait, except with hook and line.
Growing kalo or pumpkin to support our Ko’a hānai program is essential to re-establish traditional
‘ōpelu kapu.
A pilot program was started at Ho'okena Elementary and a larger scale program will be planned for Konawaena High School. Growing kalo and pumpkin for
fishermen will help them to follow the no chopchop law and rejuvenate the ko'a ōpelu for future generations.
