On Oct. 28, 1923, Hawaiian fisherman Jim Kaeho and his fishing partners netted what was believed to be Kaua‘i’s record single haul of ulua while fishing at the mouth of the Wailua River — 39 big ulua weighing over 1,000
On Oct. 28, 1923, Hawaiian fisherman Jim Kaeho and his fishing partners netted what was believed to be Kaua‘i’s record single haul of ulua while fishing at the mouth of the Wailua River — 39 big ulua weighing over 1,000 pounds.
It was said at the time that the ulua had been attracted to the river mouth by oopu carried down stream in flood waters caused by heavy rains the previous day. Others contended that the ulua came to rid themselves of parasites that are killed by fresh water.
But older Hawaiians claimed the ulua had arrived to drink from the abundance of fresh river water released into the sea by the flood.
The ulua had advanced to within 15 to 20 feet of shore in the little bay at the mouth of the river when the fishermen — only seven of them — began the struggle to close their net behind the fish. It was grueling work, since the net was heavy, high seas were pounding at their backs and strong river currents surrounded them.
After the fishermen had contained the ulua, they began hauling the net to shore, losing five or six ulua that broke through the net when they entered the shallows. Finally, the net was hauled ashore. The largest fish weighed 67 pounds, the smallest 16 pounds, four were over 60 pounds, six weighed over 50 pounds and a number weighed 40 pounds.
Before Kaeho and his companions left, they performed a Hawaiian custom peculiar to Wailua to ensure the return of ulua the following year: they cut two pieces off the tail of the largest fish as an offering to the fish god of Wailua and buried the pieces under a nearby stone said to be the home of that god.
