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Hawaiʻi is a space where culture, nature, and sustainability are woven together. At the heart of this connection is the ancient Hawaiian concept of living pono �� a word that translates to righteous or proper. In the context of fishing, pono is a way of life that speaks to a deep responsibility to respect and protect natural resources that have nourished the islands for generations. Across the Hawaiian Islands, Sport Fish Restoration funds are being used to support fisheries and foster the principles of pono fishing.

The Essence of Pono in Hawaiian Culture

For centuries, Hawaiian communities have adhered to principles that ensure the sustainability of natural resources. Hawaiʻi has well over 200,000 anglers that catch both freshwater and marine fish. This harvested catch is an important source of lean protein for many on the islands. “In Hawaiʻi, we don’t use the word recreational to describe fishing,�� said Adam Wong, Education Specialist with the Hawaiʻi Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR). “Fishing is how many people feed their families and communities.�� 

Fish are a staple in diets with 60-70% of native Hawaiians in smaller rural communities depending on the ocean for subsistence and food security. Currently, around 80 percent of Hawaiʻi’s food is imported making the islands particularly vulnerable to natural disasters and global events. According to Wong, there is a growing awareness of the need to support and secure sustainable local food sources. “Our communities recognize that promoting pono fishing practices can provide for our needs today and are vital to the subsistence and health for future generations,�� adds Wong.

Pono Fishing: A Sustainable Approach

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Hawaiian traditions have long been rooted in pono practices. From the ancient fishponds to the small-scale fishing villages, the practice has been about taking only what is needed and giving back when possible. In a world where social media posts glorify the biggest or the most fish landed, Wong and his team at DAR are focusing on a different way to fish. They work with communities to share fisheries management techniques, data, and pono practices that focus on sustainability over hype.

Some of the aquatic education and pono practices highlighted by Wong and his team include:

1. Taking Only What You Need: DAR sets limits on the number of fish that can be kept and in some cases size limits on particular species may be implemented. However, pono fishing goes beyond the state regulations often encouraging anglers to fish for their dinner plates not their freezer ensuring enough meals to go around.
2. Diversifying Catch: Pono practices promote diversifying your catch and keeping a variety of fish rather than targeting one species alone. Anglers can tailor what they take at every spot depending on what appears healthy and abundant and species that appear less common or rare can be left to rebuild.
3. Selecting the Right Gear: Pono fishing promotes the use of gear that minimizes bycatch, avoids damage to coral reefs, and can leave smaller fish for future harvest. By selecting to use barbless hooks or a larger mesh size on a net, a pono angler can target fish leaving the smaller ones for the future and releasing the larger fish to reproduce.
4. Sharing Your Catch and Your Knowledge: Anglers can be active participants in the management of fish stocks and in their community. Pono practices don’t end at the water’s edge, anglers are encouraged to think about their communities kupuna (elders) and share their catch with the older community members when possible. Additionally, just as a pono angler learned about fishing and sustainability from others, anglers should actively help others learn. 

Sport Fish Restoration Funds Supporting Sustainable Fishing Opportunities, Aquatic Education, and Pono Efforts

Sport Fish Restoration funds, money derived from federal excise taxes paid by fishing tackle manufacturers as well as a tax on motorboat fuel, support fishing opportunities and the sustainable benefits local fish provide in the Hawaiian Islands and in other communities throughout the country. In Hawaiʻi, Sport Fish Restoration funds are utilized by DAR to not only support aquatic education and pono fishing outreach, but also to manage fish populations through enhancing habitats, providing waterway access, and stocking freshwater species to enhance fishing opportunities. 

“These funds support everything from our staff time to teach fishing clinics and promote pono fishing in our communities, to the stocking of trout in Public Fishing Area reservoirs, to tagging and tracking surveys to provide management information on targeted species like moi and ulua,�� adds Wong. “Our Sport Fish Restoration supported work on both the social and environmental needs of sustainable fishing can ensure that our natural resources continue to nourish our communities, just as it has for thousands of years.�� 

The Sport Fish Restoration Act turns 75 years old this year. It has been a cornerstone in ensuring that America’s sport fish populations and aquatic habitats are healthy, sustainable, and accessible for all. This partnership between excise tax-paying manufacturers and fish and wildlife agencies has proven to be one of the most successful conservation models in the world supporting fisheries management that meets the local level needs of every U.S. state, commonwealth, and territory. Learn more at .