Hawaii State Fish: It's a Mouthful!
The Hawaiian Islands are spectacular in every possible way. They are separated from North America by an entire ocean, so it’s no surprise that Hawaii has a very different seaside culture from other states.
Hawaii is even staying true to itself with its choice of state fish, which is beautiful, mysterious and it has a cool story around it. So, without any further ado, let’s find out all about the Hawaii state fish!
What is the state fish of Hawaii?
The official state fish of Hawaii is the Reef Triggerfish. This name was too simple and boring for the imaginative Hawaiian people who love stories, legends, and myths. They decided to name it Humuhumunukunukuapua`a!
While this word might seem too long and intimidating to some of you, it is quite simple. Locals often call it just “Humuhumu,” which is a word Hawaiians use to name all Triggerfish.
The second part of the name, “nukunukuapua`a,” means “snorts like a pig.” At first glance, this seems like an unusual comparison, but the fish do make a sound that resembles the sound of the pig.
Some theories suggest that the fish use this sound to communicate with other Humuhumu.
Now that we have the origin of the lengthy name out of our way, you’re probably wondering how to pronounce it. Don’t worry, we’re here to help you out! Just say “who moo who moo new coo new coo ah poo ah ah”. Easy, right!?
Humuhumunukunukuapua`a and Hawaiian Mythology
Like many other things in Hawaiian history, Reef Triggerfish also make a significant appearance in local mythology. The fish is closely connected to the hog god, Kama Puaʻa.
According to the legend, Kama Pua’a was a merciless leader from Oʻahu Island, who could take the form of both a man and a wild hog. He had the superhuman powers of commanding the rain and waters to obey him.
One day, he was visiting the Big Island, where he fell in love with Pele, the goddess of fire and lava. Pele knew of his brutal side and rejected him with a stream of boiling lava and sulfur smoke. Kama Puaʻa was ready for her attack, and he brushed the clouds away easily and stood before her without a single wound. His strength didn’t scare her: she was impressed.
Soon enough, they got married, but they quickly realized that they were never meant to be together. Kama Pua’a had too many hoglike habits, and Pele was quickly angered with him and his brutality.
In order to get rid of him, Pele used the best weapons she had and threw steam and lava at Kama Pua’a, but his power was enough to fight her every move. Pele had to call the gods of the underworld for help. Quickly, Kama Pua’a had to retreat into an ocean.
As soon as he touched the water, he turned into a Humuhumunukunukuapuaʻa, a fish with skin so thick it could withstand boiling waves and swim into the deep sea. Now that we know the story, it’s no wonder why the noise the Humuhumu makes resembles the grunting of a small hog!
Hawaii State Fish Identification
Reef Triggerfish are very small and can only reach up to 8 inches in length. They are often the target of larger, predatory fish, which means that their bodies are designed to easily hide. The Humuhumu has a flat, thin body and the unique ability to change the pigmentation of its skin and camouflage. They usually hide inside of rock and coral crevices.
When they’re not hiding, their bodies are usually covered in black, yellow, and grayish colors. The Humuhumu is one of the rare fish in the sea that has teeth. It’s not a fish that people commonly eat, and you can encounter them on snorkeling tours.
That’s all you need to know about the Hawaii state fish. In case you’re still having trouble with the pronunciation, here’s a Humuhumunukunukuapua`a song from your favorite teen musical to help you out. Sing along with Ashley Tisdale, and soon you’ll be a pro!
Now it’s your turn… Do you know some other cool facts about the Humuhumunukunukuapua`a that we haven’t mentioned? Let us know in the comments below!