The idea of fishponds are simple. The loko kuapa was made of a kuapa (rock wall) and a makaha (sluice gate). The kuapa was built higher than the highest tides of the year. Its rocks were strategically placed so that each rock interlocked with the other. To ensure stability, smaller rocks and pebbles were wedged in gaps. The outer wall faced the ocean. Hawaiians were ingenious in designing it with a slight slope and not at a 90 degree angle. This slope allowed wave energy to dissipate as it hit the wall and therefore, created less of an impact.

The makaha were made of `ohi`a or other strong woods. The pieces of wood were lashed together with vertical spaces. When Hawaiians engineered these gates, they were kept stationary. In the early 1900's, the Chinese modified the design which contained 2 gates that were movable. This allowed fish to be caught between the gates and improved the catch.

In the early Hawaiian design, the spaces allowed small fish to swim freely in and out of the pond and retained large fish within the pond.

Occasionally, fishponds needed to be maintained. Rocks would be replaced if they had fallen. Algae would be removed if they accumulated. Predatory fish would be fished if they caused a threat to the pond.