HONOLULU -- Fish have mysteriously returned to the ponds at the Hawaii state Capitol.

Now, the state is faced with an exploding population of fish and algae.

The fish problem is the last thing the state comptroller said he needs to worry about on top of budget shortfalls layoffs and furloughs.

Workers have been trying to tackle a growing algae and fish problem.

Longtime lawmakers know the fish are not supposed to be there.

Sen. Will Espero recalled how he lost an argument with a colleague when they peered down from up above.

"If you look down there you can see the fish and low and behold he was correct somebody we don't know who placed tilapia in the fishpond," Espero said.

That is a problem because dealing with the fish costs too much to maintain.

Back in 1993, the state was forced to drain the pond for repairs.

That triggered a fish kill and stench that lasted for some time. That is why there is not supposed to be any fish in the reflecting ponds.

Now besides tilapia there are black mollies as well.

"Last figure I heard to take care of the water situation is $3 million or $4 million, and that's something we can't afford to do at this time," Sen.Will Espero said.

Lawmakers are shaking their heads.

"I know one thing, looking from my office, there are huge schools of fish. It looks like they are well over 12 inches, a number of them," Sen. Clarence Nishihara said.

The fish might be pretty to look at, but the smell can be strong.

"From time to time it was more noticeable, like last summer, but I haven't noticed it recently," Rep. Barbara Marumoto said.

"The idea was for the fish to eat the algae, but we know what the fish consumes, produces fertilizer, which makes the algae grow. So we have an imbalance? We have an imbalance, but we have not reached the toxic level yet," Nishihara said.