In traditional times, the Kālia area was home to many Hawaiian families, who enjoyed the offerings in its bountiful waters. It was not unusual to see Native Hawaiian men and women fishing, diving, and gathering seaweed here. Originally, the Pi‘inaio was Waikīkī’s third stream, which entered the ocean here where the ‘Ilikai Hotel now stands. Unlike the Kuekaunahi and ʻĀpuakēhau streams, the mouth of the Pi‘inaio was a large, muddy delta intersected by several small tributary channels. These three streams fed a natural irrigation system that supported taro fields, fishponds, and migrant water flow. After the arrival of the Chinese in the 19th century, rice fields and duck ponds were added. The word ‘Ilikai literally means “the surface of the sea” a fitting tribute to an area where the ocean was filled with fish, eels, shrimp, lobster, octopus, crab, and limu (seaweed). The fisherman of Kālia caught so much that they became known as “human fishnets.”

As recently as the 1930’s residents of Kālia described the area as “one of the most seafood-producing bays ever known.” In this season, they would see thousands of white crabs on the beach and easily catch them by the bucket full.