Pāhonu 

Turtle Pond

Pāhonu is said to be the name of a pond 500 feet long and approximately 50 feet wide.  A line of stones, submerged at high tide, but visible at low tide, indicates its former extent.  Turtles are said to have been keep in the pond for the use of the ali’i.

McAllister

    Archeology of Oʻahu 1933

There was once a chief who was so fond of turtle meat that he ordered a sea wall be built to keep captured turtles from escaping.  Every turtle caught by a fisherman was put into this enclosure.  No one else was allowed to partake of turtle meat under penalty of death.  No one dared to eat turtle as long as the old chief lived.

Charles Alona, Informant, Sept. 14, 1939

Waimānalo

Oʻahu Place Names