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“Every time we start looking at a new variable with the sensor that we're measuring, we find out that our assumptions are almost always wrong. Every single variable has a bigger role in how the system functions. Being able to collect that data in a timely fashion and visualize it properly, and then make management decisions based on that - that means the world to us.​
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- Dave Anderson, Nomilo Fishpond on the island of Kaua'i
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The Story
Funded by the Office of Senator Brian Schatz, Hohonu partnered with two local nonprofits to equip 27 loko iʻa (fishponds) across Hawaiʻi with low-cost water-level and water-quality sensors. Practitioners, students, and community stewards (not just scientists) can now see conditions in real time. By pairing kilo (traditional observation) with modern measurements, fishponds now have hard evidence to verify assumptions, spot spikes and transitions in flow and salinity, and make better day-to-day and long-term management decisions.
27
Loko i'a across the state
41
Total sensors deployed
552,000
Hours of data captured throughout the project
Problem
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No real-time measurements — Traditional kilo (observation) lacked continuous water-level/water-quality data to confirm what was happening in the ponds.
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Fast-changing conditions — Flows, salinity, and biogeochemistry can shift quickly; decisions were based on assumptions rather than time-stamped evidence.
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Access & equity gap — Tools needed to be easy to install and use by community members, not just scientists, and the data needed to be broadly accessible.
Stakeholders
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Fishpond practitioners & kia‘i loko — Daily caretakers using data for gate timing, harvest, and stewardship.
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Two local nonprofit partners — Coordinated sites, training, and long-term community data stewardship.
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Researchers & educators — Provided technical guidance; paired kilo with quantifiable measurements for learning.
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Students & community stewards — Helped install sensors and use dashboards to understand their resources.
Solution
Outcomes
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Operational clarity — Real-time streams revealed spikes, transitions, and trends in flow and salinity, improving day-to-day decisions.
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Verified assumptions — Data showed when/where water moves (and when it doesn’t), replacing “flying in the dark” with defensible evidence.
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Scalable model — A cost-effective, community-run approach now used across dozens of fishponds, supporting long-term planning and climate adaptation.
Solution
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Low-cost sensors, quick install — Water-level and water-quality devices set up by practitioners; minute-level streams to the cloud enable centimeter-scale visibility.
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Simple dashboards & alerts — Anyone can visualize and share what’s happening in real time to guide management actions.
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Training & open access — Hands-on support so anyone (not just scientists) can collect, view, and use the data; traditional practice + modern measurements.