App lets anyone explore Heʻeia fishpond

Heʻeia fishpond, located north of Kaneohe, is the largest remaining native Hawaiian fishpond on Oahu. Fishponds were once abundant in ancient Hawaii, dating back to the 14th century, and today they are valuable cultural and natural resources.

The HeÊ»eia fishpond is also one of the most thoroughly studied spots on the island. To make that research more accessible, the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology has launched Loko IÊ»a, an iOS app designed “to engage a broader community in learning about scientific research, environmental stewardship, Hawaiian culture, and community restoration” there.

The app includes interactive tours, science, photo galleries, and audio about the area. There’s a mix of scientific and cultural information and data connected to several sites around the fishpond, much of it featuring the restoration work of Paepae o HeÊ»eia, a private non-profit organization dedicated to caring for the fishpond.

And thanks to geolocation, app users can visit the pond and follow a self-guided walking tour around Heʻeia fishpond.

The app, funded in part by the National Science Foundation, can be downloaded for free from the iTunes App Store.