Philanthropic $4 million donation secures centuries-old Hawaiian fishpond for conservation
A $4 million gift from Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg enabled the permanent protection of the 600-year-old Alakoko Fishpond on Kauaʻi as a community conservation site.
Alakoko Fishpond, a 600-year-old walled fishpond covering 102 acres on Kauaʻi, faced possible development before a $4 million charitable contribution from Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg secured its purchase. The Trust for Public Land acquired the property on November 17, 2021, and promptly conveyed it to Mālama Hulē‘ia, a community-based nonprofit tasked with cultural and ecological stewardship. The funding, provided via the Chan Zuckerberg Kauaʻi Community Fund of the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, financed the acquisition, related expenses and ongoing mission support.
The deed guarantees that the site will be used for conservation, education and community activities in perpetuity. Plans include restoring the pond’s ecosystem, reestablishing it as a productive fishpond, and creating an outdoor classroom for teaching native habitats and Hawaiian aquaculture traditions. Community support was evident, with thousands signing an online statement and local agencies endorsing the protection effort.
Why it matters
Preserving Alakoko safeguards a rare cultural landscape, supports biodiversity, and provides a living classroom for future generations.
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