This lesson guides students through the CCSSM modeling cycle of identify, formulate, analyze, interpret, validate, and report. Students will familiarize themselves with local fish species and their cultural significance to Hawai’i, as well as discover the connection between geometry and a fish’s shape and pattern, as it relates to fish classification.

In ancient Hawai’i, an abundance of marine life meant a reliable source of protein for the Hawaiian diet. To ensure a productive catch, Hawaiians carefully studied the reefs and the fish that lived in them. Being able to detect and identify fish were important to determine whether a fish was edible or not, what fishing technique to use, or if a fish was kapu (forbidden) due to spawning season or its role in the ecosystem. For example, Mamo and ‘Ala ‘ihi are considered food fish. So, enabling their viability by prohibiting their capture and even gathering of the seaweed these fish depend on, preserved the population for future generations. Manini, also a food fish, were best caught using a poison net weaved from the ‘ahuhu or ‘ākia plant. This net would stun the Manini and cause them to float to the surface, making it easy to gather by hand. Once enough fish was collected, the remaining fish would recover and swim away. The Hawaiian Whitespotted Toby, like most pufferfish, are inedible because of the neurotoxins in its body. On the other hand, the Kikakapu, meaning “very prohibited,” are inedible because Hawaiians noticed the association between these fish and healthy coral reefs. Killing or eating Kikakapu would result in severe punishment.

Today, detecting and identifying fish has an additional purpose. With the onset of dying coral reefs, ocean pollution, and overfishing, the need to count and classify fish is important in monitoring the health and biodiversity of the marine ecosystem. With the use of A.I. and models, scientists can process large amounts of data, making counting and classifying sea life easier and faster. A.I. models built for object detection and image classification, use shapes and patterns respectively, to identify a real image. By building good models, the A.I. can report accurate results, helping scientists with their conservation and preservation research. Thus, protecting Hawai’i’s fishing culture and traditions.