Humuhumunukunukuapua'a - The Little Fish with the Big Name

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Ranked #2,111 in Animals, #47,802 overall

The State Fish of Hawaii.... Almost Lost the Title, but Regained It By Popular Vote!

The funny little fish, Rhinecanthus rectangulus that seems to have a name longer than the fish itself--the common triggerfish, or as known in Hawai'i as the humuhumunukunukuapua'a is a common fish on the coral reefs of the Pacific Islands.

One of the protective measures triggerfish use to avoid predators is that they hide themselves in crevases and cracks in the reef. They puff themselves up such that they fill the whole opening, which makes it next to impossible to pull them out.

Like all members of the Balistid family--the triggerfishes--the common triggerfish has a spined front dorsal fin that acts as a "trigger", which "deflates" the fish and allows it to be easily removed from the hole.

Contents at a Glance

A Humuhumunukunukuapua'a Swimming By! On the Reef, of Course!
Humuhumunukunukuapua'a, Such a Name!
Read Up or Get Humuhumunukunukuapua'a Stuff!

Humuhumunukunukuapua'a--Better to Look At, Not That Good For Eating!
Humuhumunukunukuapua'a Stuff You Can Wear or Display!
Humuhumunukunukuapua'a in Fisherman's Catch - Time for Hukilau!

more...

A Humuhumunukunukuapua'a Swimming By! On the Reef, of Course!

Humuhumu off Waikiki Beach

Hawaii's state fish: the Humumunukunukuapuaa, filmed while snorkeling on 8-12-06 near Walls (Queen's Beach) off Waikiki.

curated content from YouTube

Humuhumunukunukuapua'a, Such a Name!

The Hawaiian name for the common triggerfish--otherwise known as the reef, rectangular, wedge-tail, or Picasso triggerfish--humuhumunukunukuapua'a, comes from the characteristics of the fish. The "trigger" of the dorsal fin spine--is the "needle"--"humuhumu". And when the fish is trapped in a hole in the reef by a snorkeler, it makes a grunting noise, "nukunuku", like that of a pig, "a pua'a".

How to pronounce this name? Remember two "hoo-moo", two "noo-koo", and an "ah" "poo" "ah-ah" -- hoomoo hoomoo - nookoo nookoo - ah poo -ah-ah.

There ya go. Now say it 10 times quickly without giggling!

Read Up or Get Humuhumunukunukuapua'a Stuff!

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How the humuhumunukunukuapuaa got its name by Dolly Doo

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Snorkel Hawaii The Big Island, Second Edition by Judy Malinowski

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Snorkel Kauai: guide to the beaches and snorkeling of Hawaii (2nd Edition) by Judy Malinowski

Snorkel Kauai is the one and only guidebook exclus more...0 points

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Snorkel Maui and Lanai: Guide to the underwater world of Hawaii by Judy Malinowski

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Humuhumunukunukuapua'a--Better to Look At, Not That Good For Eating!

The common triggerfish is an interestingly colorful fish and is fun to watch on the reef while you are snorkeling or maybe when it's in a saltwater aquarium.

But as for eating? Nope.

Triggerfish tend to be sort of bony and with little available meat for all the trouble of perhaps catching one. They are occasionally caught in a fishnet with other reef fish which may be a whole lot more edible. If the fish is still alive, it may be returned to the reef water live another day.

Humuhumunukunukuapua'a Stuff You Can Wear or Display!

Humuhumunukunukuapuaa Postcards (Package of 8)

From: A Friend in the Islands Custom Designs

Tile Coaster

From: I Miss Maui T-Shirts and Gifts

Humuhumunukunukuapuaa Men's Sleeveless Tee

From: Cafe Pets

Save the Humuhumunukunukuapuaa. This funny fish design makes a great gift for any Hawaiian fish lover. Please take a look at all our humorous humuhumunukunukuapuaa products.

See more designs like these on CafePress

Humuhumunukunukuapua'a in Fisherman's Catch - Time for Hukilau!

Humuhumunukunukuapua'a Habits and Habitat!

A triggerfish can blow jets of water from its mouth to help it find worms and molluscs and other small organisms that may be buried under the sand.

The triggerfish will also often fill its mouth with sand and then sift through the grains while spitting them back out to separate out edible goodies.

Humuhumunukunukuapua'a Swimming By! In an Aquarium!

Triggerfish are aggressive fish--and do not usually tolerate other fish in their general area. Therefore, the fish will usually be found alone on the reef. They usually also do not make good aquarium residents with other fish--unless the aquarium is sufficiently large to provide plenty of room for the fish to "feel alone".