In our Hawaiian culture when boys and girls turn 10, they are able to do outdoor chores. My dad was a part time Opelu Fisherman; I was able to help him gather Opae Ula for fish bait in the ponds across from Green Lake. There were 5 ponds; I worked on the first pond. The water was dark, because the limu was dark green. I would push the fish net that had one handle to the sides of the pond and worked towards the middle of the pond until I finished. When my dad came back, we walked back out to our truck and drove home.
Early the next morning, before the sun peeked up from the horizon, my dad and I walked down to the canoe landing where Uncle Mioi would be waiting by the canoe. We put the bait in the basket. The paddles, the net with the eke (bag) was loaded into the canoe. The Hapai Wa'a (are people who pushed or touched the canoe) were put on the bamboo ramps and pushed into the sea. As soon as the front of the canoe touched the waves, my dad would get inside the canoe and move to the front. I would be in the middle and uncle Mioi being the steers person, would get into the canoe last. We would paddle out to meet the incoming waves, heading towards the Ko'a, (house). We use the enclosed box with a glass on the top, to check if the opelu are swimming around. We lowered the opelu net with an attached bag into the sea, and then the bait is thrown into the net where the opelu would swim towards their food. This process is repeated until enough fish is caught in the net. The fish is hauled up with cordage that is attached to the net. The fish is thrown from the net into the canoe. When enough opelu is caught for our families, then, it's time to head home.
The people were waiting at the canoe landing to help push the canoe onto the bamboo ramps and onto the grassy area. When my dad got out of the canoe, he would give the Hapai Wa’a enough fish for their families. It was a good day. Everyone went home happy and satisfied.