Reef Fish Guide for Hawaii Beaches

ByLisa Dworkin Hours

What characteristics identify an animal as a fish? It isn’t fins or spending their entire lives in the water because many marine mammals have fins and spend their entire lives in the water. In order for an animal to be a fish it must have all these attributes…

  • Gills. Fish extract oxygen that’s present in water with their gills.
  • Bones. Fish are vertebrates.
  • Cold-blooded. Fishes’ internal body temperature is the same temperature as the water surrounding them.
  • FIns. All fish have fins. Fish fins come in many different shapes and sizes.

Fish List (Hawaiian names are in parenthesis)

Stripebelly Puffer (Keke)

Stripebelly Puffer

Photo courtesy of http://tinyurl.com/4hpblcu

Spotted Trunkfish (Moa)

Spotted Trunkfish

Photo courtesy of http://tinyurl.com/4hfwht6

Teardrop Butterflyfish (Lau-hau)

Teardrop Butterflyfish

Photo courtesy of http://tinyurl.com/4sup8h8

Forcepsfish (Lau-wiliwili-nukunuku-‘oi’oi)

Forcepsfish

Photo courtesy of http://tinyurl.com/4hdkfe5

Bluestripe Butterflyfish (Kikakapu)

Bluestripe Butterflyfish

Photo courtesy of http://tinyurl.com/4mnehqe

Bullethead Parrotfish (Uhu)

Bullethead Parrotfish

Photo courtesy of http://tinyurl.com/4wzsunh

Spectacled Parrotfish (Uhu’ahu’ula)

Spectacled Parrotfish

Photo courtesy of http://tinyurl.com/4r7bpqk

Hawaiian Hogfish (A’awa)

Hawaiian Hogfish

Photo courtesy of http://tinyurl.com/4dknjkl

Yellowstripe Goatfish (Weke)

Yellowstripe Goatfish

Photo courtesy of http://tinyurl.com/4uudvsg

Saddle Wrasse (Hinalea lau-wili)

Saddle Wrasse

Photo courtesy of http://tinyurl.com/4ezmgwe

Ornate Wrasse (Ohua)

Ornate Wrasse

Photo courtesy of http://tinyurl.com/4a9mgp2

Cornetfish (Nunu peke)

Cornetfish

Photo courtesy of http://tinyurl.com/4t38ftw

Trumpetfish (Nunu)

Trumpetfish

Photo courtesy of http://tinyurl.com/45tvse9

Yellow Tang (Lau’i-pala)

Yellow Tang

Photo courtesy of http://tinyurl.com/4bkt7kt

Convict Tang (Manini)

School of Convict Tang

Photo courtesy of http://tinyurl.com/4t7rlo8

Lagoon Triggerfish (Humuhumu-nukunuku-a-pua’a)

Lagoon Triggerfish

Photo courtesy of http://tinyurl.com/4feae4r

Bluefin Trevally (Omilu)

Bluefin Trevally

Photo courtesy of http://tinyurl.com/4n9bkyk

Yellowmargin Moray Eel (Puhi-paka)

Yellowmargin Moray Eel

Photo courtesy of http://tinyurl.com/4k4mueq

Whitemouth Moray Eel (Puhi-‘oni’o)

Whitemouth Moray Eel

Photo courtesy of http://tinyurl.com/4pe9n3a

Orangespine Unicornfish (Umaumalei)

Orangespine Unicornfish

Photo courtesy of http://tinyurl.com/4txnoqe

To many joyful beach experiences!

— Lisa Dworkin

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