What is Hawaii’s State Fish? Humuhumunukunukuapua’a

The name of Hawaii’s state fish sure is a mouthful to pronounce as it is 21-letters long. This fish is the humuhumunukunukuapuaa.

Here are some fun facts about the humuhumunukunukuapuaa:

• This Hawaiian fish with a long name is pronounced “who moo who moo new coo new coo ah poo ah ah”
• The name means “trigger fish with a snout like a pig.“
• Sometimes you might hear this long name shortened to “humuhumu”.
• The humuhumunukunukuapua’a was chosen as Hawaii’s state fish in 1984 by a public survey. School children were instrumental in campaigning for the humuhumu. When the humuhumunukunukuapuaa was first selected as the state fish, lawmakers only made this designation official for five years. So, for a period of over a decade, the humuhumunukunukuapuaa lost its reign as the state fish, but in 2006 the fish was signed back into its “oFISHal” state title.
• This fish is not unique to Hawaii, but it is endemic to the waters around the central and south Pacific islands.
• It is not a fish people commonly eat.

Oh, and one more exceptionally interesting fact about the humuhumunukunukuapuaa – apparently they can talk. 😉 Don’t believe me? Well, here’s my proof with this great educational video on Hawaii reef etiquette that is “narrated” by a humuhumunukunukuapua’a:

Credits and sources:

• Photo use by Creative Commons and credit to smohundro.
• Wikipedia