Long before it became known as Pearl Harbor, the waters of Puʻuloa supported one of Oʻahu’s most abundant food systems.
Rich beds of pearl oysters gave rise to the name Pūpū A ʻO ʻEwa, meaning the shells of ʻEwa. The waters provided food, supported thriving communities and connected generations through knowledge of the land and sea.
Puʻuloa once received freshwater from an extensive network of streams flowing from the uplands to the ocean. The freshwater nourished wetlands and fishponds and supported abundant oyster beds, the island’s largest mullet fishery and important marine nurseries.
ʻEwa communities carefully managed these resources. They built māwai, or small dams, and ʻauwai, irrigation channels, to guide water from mauka to makai. Through the ahupuaʻa system, communities worked together to manage water and other resources and sustain life across the moku of ʻEwa.
Puʻuloa also held deep cultural significance. Kaʻahupāhau, the shark goddess and guardian of the waters, protected the area and its resources.
Artwork: Map by M.D. Monsarrat
In the early 1900s, Puʻuloa entered a new chapter as the United States Navy developed Pearl Harbor into a major naval base. Large scale dredging reshaped the shoreline, channels were deepened, wetlands were filled and natural waterways were redirected to support harbor construction and military operations.
During construction of a dry dock, workers initially proceeded despite cultural warnings about the sacred site associated with Kaʻahupāhau. The project encountered major setbacks, including a collapse that injured workers and caused significant structural damage.
When construction resumed, a kahuna blessed the site and sought permission. Workers later uncovered a large shark skeleton, reinforcing the cultural significance of the area.
Much of Puʻuloa’s original water system has since changed. Altered freshwater flows have affected wetlands, fish habitats and the balance that once sustained ʻEwa’s abundant food systems.
A suspended sculpture of "Pūpū A ʻO ʻEwa" can be seen at the Ewa Beach Library. Artwork: Bumpei Akaji / 1972
But the story continues.
Today, restoration efforts seek to restore traditional water flows, rebuild wetlands and fisheries, strengthen coral reefs and protect shoreline communities from flooding and rising seas. These efforts also help revive ʻike, or knowledge, passed down through generations.
The work represents more than environmental restoration. It reconnects the community with waiwai, the true wealth of water.
The people of ʻEwa continue to care for the land and waters that have sustained their communities for generations.
Like the shells that once shimmered in ʻEwa’s waters, each generation carries a piece of this story. Together, they have the opportunity to protect it and shape what comes next.
Did you know? Well, now you know!
References: Hawaiian Music Museum, PBS Hawaiʻi, Harry B. Soria Jr., Honouliuli Community Watershed, Hawaiian Agricultural Research Station, Coral Reef Alliance, Aloha ʻĀina Club, Sustainable Community Food Systems Program and Hui o Hoʻohonua.
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