Ko`ie`ie is said to have been built by the legendary menehune. These people were said to have had remarkable characteristics in strength. They were said to be able to build a fishpond within one night. If the pond was not completed that evening, then it would remain incomplete.

Later, in the 1500's `Umi-a-Lïloa had the wall rebuilt. It is said that the dust created by all the people, kicked up the dirt of the area and Ko`ie`ie was later renamed Kaleplepo, meaning "the dirt".

Other ali`i also visited the Kalepolepo area including `Umi-a-Liloa (1500's), Kekaulike (1700's) Kamehameha I (1800's), with the most recent reconstruction in the 1840's under Gov. Ho`apili and a penal colony from Kaho`olawe.

Today, `Ao`ao O Na Loko I`a O Maui has taken on the responsibility to revitalize Ko`ie`ie Fishpond. The non-profit 501(c)3 organization was formed in 1998 and spent the next seven years creating an education program for Maui's communities and applied for a State of Hawai`i permit and lease to become the caretakers of this archaeological site. In 2005, after completing an environmental assessment and collecting all the required documents to receive a permit from the State, `Ao`ao O Na Loko I`a O Maui and its volunteers were able to begin the physical restoration of Ko`ie`ie.

Through a grant from the Hawai`i Tourism Authority, the first wave a restoration workers occured in 2005 and 2006 by Ke`eaumoku Kapu and members of Na Koa Kau I Ka Meheu O Na Kupuna from Lahaina. This workforce was able to rebuild several hundred feet of the northern section of the fishpond's wall. Later, in 2007, the Hawai`i Tourism Authority provided our association with another small grant to continue the restoration work. During this time, we had a small workforce of about seven men working on the southern portion of the wall. They were able to work regularly over a several months and they completed another one hundred feet.

Today, `Ao`ao O Na Loko I`a O Maui is applying for additional grants to hire fishpond rock wall builders and to update our current education program. In addition, we are seeking the help of Maui's communities to restore Ko`ie`ie Fishpond the second Saturday of every month. If you are interested in helping with the fishpond's restoration, contact Executive Director, Joylynn Paman at koieie@mauifishpond.com or at (808) 359-1172.