Citizens of the Sea: Ocean Life Encounters

As Kauaÿi is widely known as “The Garden Isle,” the fact that it is covered with lush rainforests, majestic mountains, and a wealth of tropical flora and fauna is not at all surprising. With such an abundance of eye-catching foliage, exciting sights, and endless adventures to be had on land, many overlook the equally fascinating offerings that are found just off Kauaÿi’s spectacular shores. The ocean is full of fascinating, colorful creatures with unique characteristics and charm. Learn a little about the common sea critters you will see off the Hawaiian waters to better appreciate each animal.

It seems only fitting to start our introductions with Hawaiÿi’s official state fish—the humuhumunukunukuäpuaÿa. Pronounced “who-moo-who-moo-noo-koo-noo-koo-ah-poo-ah-ah,” the name usually trips up most visitors who just can’t seem to get through the entire name; but once you learn it, it’s hard not to say it without a little pride. Fair warning: once your keiki (children) learn to say it, they are going to want to say it—a lot.

The humuhumu, for short, is a type of tropical triggerfish that you’ll often see swimming among the more shallow reefs off Kauaÿi. Its signature look, which closely resembles a Picasso painting, is etched with splashes of blue, a dash of black, triangular zigzags of bright yellow making it a striking sight—a true masterpiece of the sea.

Another common finned sea critter is the Moorish idol. Beautiful, elegant, and eye-catching due to its vertical neon yellow, white, and black stripes that line its delicate and thin dorsalfinned body, this fish skyrocketed to fame after one of its own hit the big screen. Remember good ol’ Gill from Finding Nemo? Well, that tough as nails leader of the aquarium residents in one of Hollywood’s most beloved ocean flicks was none other than a Moorish idol. But, perhaps the most fascinating fact about the Moorish idol is that, when it injures its dorsal fin, the fin will actually regenerate itself quite quickly.

Puhi ÿöni‘o, the whitemouth moray eel, is one of the less touchy feely critters in Kauaÿi’s sea. In fact, it can be downright dangerous. It has a brown body, which is covered in white polka dots, and the inside of its mouth is white. Hence, its trademark name. Nothing seems too menacing about this eel, at least until it comes out of its puka (hole) in the reef and bares its sharp teeth.

The next sea critters are a colorful bunch, as their bodies are vivid and easy to identify. The uhu, or parrotfish, are fascinating, especially in regards to their reproduction process. When the males, who are always followed around by a gaggle of females, die, one of the females (the strongest “alpha” of the bunch) actually switches sex and becomes male in order to continue the reproductive cycle. The yellow tang practically glows and offers sea turtles a nice cleaning by removing algal growth from their shells. The boxfish has an interesting shape and looks like it swallowed a box and is beautiful to boot.

Then, there’s the weke, or goatfish, which reminds you of an older gentleman with a goatee that can be seen just below their mouths. They use these whiskers to act as a detector of sorts in order to spot their next meal near the dark bottom of the sea. These are the more social sea critters, as they like to lounge around and travel together in schools. One fascinating fact about goatfish is that they were often used in ancient Hawaiian ceremonies, when an individual needed to experience a spiritual release or opening. As “weke” literally means “to open” in Hawaiian, you could say that the name stuck.

Two elongated fish are cornetfish and trumpetfish. They are perhaps the oddest looking of the bunch, as they are both extremely long and thin, and they are often confused with one another when spotted by us land dwellers. The cornetfish most often is silver and can be found hovering just above the reef. As for the trumpetfish, it’s a keen hunter, and it can actually camouflage itself, changing color at will and even accumulating stripes in order to hide itself within its surroundings.

As for the non-fishy ocean creatures found here, the honu is perhaps the most well-known. The Hawaiian green sea turtle can reach up to 400 pounds! One of the honu’s favorite places to frolic is Poÿipü Beach, so keep your eyes peeled, as they often come ashore to sunbathe. Just remember, the honu was once near extinction and is now protected by the government, which means no touching or harassing these gentle animals.

Another protected marine species (standard rule is that humans must stay at least 150 feet away at all times) is the ÿïlioholoikauaua, or the Hawaiian monk seal. With only about 1,400 monk seals left in the wild, it is one of the most endangered seal species in the world. So, of course, seeing one is super special, especially considering about a 1,000 reside in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands leaving just a few to be sighted here. Although they look cuddly and approachable just remember that they can get aggressive, especially if they feel threatened. Respect their space whether you see them soaking up the sun on a sandy beach or playfully swimming in the sea.

Naiÿa, or Hawaiian spinner dolphins, are the show runners of many snorkel and sail tours in Kauaÿi. This is because these beautiful and intelligent sea creatures are often seen doing somersaults and joyfully jumping out of the sparkling waters to the delight of day seafarers, while they’re out and about cruising through the waves.

The ocean is a magical and wonderful place of discovery. Please respect its residents and enjoy in a pono (righteous) way. Keep in mind that sea turtles, dolphins and monk seals are protected under state and federal laws.

WORDS ANDY BETH MILLER

If you see a marine animal in distress, please call NOAA’s hotline at (888) 256-9840. To report harassment of a protected species, call NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement (800) 853-1964.