In Honolulu, outside of Waikiki, there’s the Pagoda Hotel. It’s a hotel where locals stay when they visit from the neighboring islands. It’s an inexpensive hotel that has a long tradition in Hawaii.
The Pagoda Hotel is known for their buffets and fish ponds. The fish ponds are filled with brackish water where HUGE KOI and saltwater Jacks (known as Ulua and Papio) swim.
I went to high school with the daughter of the owner, Mr. Harry Hayashi. Mr. Hayashi was known for his hospitality and he always greeted his customers. He was proud of his fish pond that surrounded the restaurant.
His daughter is one year younger than I am but there was a time when we used to hang out. I remember her telling me a story about the Ulua in the pond. She and her father caught the Papio (juvenile Ulua) when she was five years old and let them go in the ponds at the Pagoda. Over the years, the papio grew humongous! (Once Papio reach over 10 pounds in weight, they are considered Ulua.) The biggest one was something like 90 pounds. I believe there are about 7 or 8 of them swimming separately from the Koi.
When I was into shoreline fishing, I used to go to the ponds and watch the Ulua in awe. They are such powerful fish. Papio and Ulua are considered prize fish for any Hawaii shoreline fisherman. The fight that they put up when hooked will make your knees week.
The Ulua was separated from the Koi with a mesh divider. Whenever the hotel tried to introduce any new fish to the Ulua side of the divider, the Ulua would kill the newbie. There is one different type of fish that swims along with the Ulua but that fish was with the Ulua from early on so I guess they consider it one of them.
The Ulua have been living in the pond for over 30 years. Back in 2000, Mr. Harry Hayashi passed away. Ironically, that same week the biggest of the Ulua died as well.
I don’t know how to explain it in words but I understand.
