A List of Hawaiian Fish Names
The Fish of Hawai'i: Hawaiian, Common, and Scientific Names.
Read on or download the list of Hawaiian fish to find out their local, common, and scientific names. This information comes from NOAA.gov which is not affiliated with CTG Publishing. Download the PDF.
Although this information is assembled using NOAA publications that are in the public domain, the overall work is copyrighted by CTG Publishing.
LOCAL NAME | COMMON NAME |
A`U FAMILY | Billfish Family |
A'awa | Hawaiian Hogfish |
Aha | Houndfish |
Aha | Keeltail Needlefish |
Ahi | Yellowfin Tuna |
Ahi | Bluefin Tuna |
Ahi Palaha | Albacore |
AHI, AKU, ONO FAMILY | Mackerel Family |
Aholehole | Hawaiian Flagtail |
Aku | Skipjack Tuna |
Akule (Adlt) | Bigeye Scad |
Ala'ihi | Saber Squirrelfish |
Ala'ihi | Yellowstriped Squirrelfish |
Ala'ihi | Peppered Squirrelfish |
Ala'ihi | Crown Squirrelfish |
Ala'ihi | Hawaiian Squirrelfish |
Ala'ihi | Spotfin Squirrelfish |
Ala'ihi | Tahitian Squirrelfish |
Ala'ihi & U'u (Menpachi) | Squirrelfish Family |
Ama'ama | Striped Mullet |
Api | Whitespotted Surgeonfish |
A'u | Black Marlin |
A'u | Blue Marlin |
A'u | Striped Marlin |
Awa | Milkfish |
Awaaua | Hawaiian Tenpounder |
Awela | Christmas Wrasse |
Aweoweo | Bigeye Family |
Aweoweo | Glasseye |
Aweoweo | Hawaiian Bigeye |
Blackeye Kole | Black Surgeonfish |
Butaguchi | Thick Lipped Jack |
E nenue, Nenue Pala (ylw) | Lowfin Chub, Rudderfish |
E nenue, Nenue, Nenue pala | Gray Chub, Rudderfish |
Hagatsuo | Dogtooth Tuna |
HAHALUA FAMILY | Manta Family |
Hapu'upu'u | Hawaiian Grouper |
Hawkfish Family | Hawkfish Family |
HIHIMANU FAMILY | Eagle Ray Family |
Hilu piliko'a | Blackside Hawkfish |
Hinalea | Psychedelic Wrasse |
Hinalea Akilolo | Yellowtail Coris |
Hinalea Akilolo | Shortnose Wrasse |
Hinalea Family | Wrasse Family |
Hinalea Hilu | Yellowstripe Coris |
Hinalea Lauwili | Saddle Wrasse |
Hinalea Luahine | Blacktail Wrasse |
Hinalea-Nuku I'iwi | Bird Wrasse |
Ho'u | Surge Wrasse |
Humuhumu | Triggerfishes/Filefishes |
Humuhumu 'ele'ele | Black Triggerfish |
Humuhumu hi'ukole | Pinktail Durgon |
Humuhumu nukunuku apua'a | Reef Triggerfish |
Humuhumu nukunuku apua'a | Lagoon Triggerfish |
Humuhumu umaumalei | Lei Triggerfish |
Iao | Hawaiian Silverside |
Iheihe | Halfbeak Fish Family |
Iheihe | Green Halfbeak |
Iheihe | Polynesian Halfbeak |
Iheihe | Acute Halfbeak |
Kahala | Greater Amberjack |
Kaku | Great Barracuda |
Kala | Blue Spine Unicornfish |
Kala | Whitemargin Unicorn Fish |
Kala Family | Unicorn Surgeonfish Genus |
Kala Lolo | Paletail Unicornfish |
Kale Kale | Von Siebold'S Snapper |
Kamanu | Rainbow Runner |
Kawaele'a | Heller'S Barracuda |
Kawakawa | Kawakawa |
Ke'o Ke'o | Frigate Mackerel |
Kihikihi | Moorish Idol |
Kikakapu | Bluestripe Butterflyfish |
Kikakapu | Threadfin Butterflyfish |
Kikakapu | Teardrop Butterflyfish |
Kikakapu | Racoon Butterflyfish |
Kokala | Porcupinefish |
Kokala | Spiny Porcupinefish |
KOKALA FAMILY | Porcupinefish Family |
Kumu | Whitesaddle Goatfish |
Kupipi | Blackspot Sergeant |
Kupoupou | Cigar |
Lae | Leatherback |
Laenihi | Razorfish Genus |
Laenihi | Baldwin'S Wrasse |
Laenihi | Peacock Razorfish |
Laenihi | Blackside Razorfish |
Lau Wiliwili | Milletseed Butterflyfish |
Lauhau | Fourspot Butterflyfish |
Lau'ipala | Yellow Tang |
Lauli | Black Trevally |
Lauwiliwilinukunuku'oi'oi | Longnose Butterflyfish |
Lehi | Ironjaw Snapper |
Loulu | Scrawled Filefish |
Lupe | Stingray Family |
Mahi Mahi | Dolphin |
Mahi Mahi | Dolphin |
Mahi Mahi | Pompano Dolphin |
Maiii | Brown Surgeonfish |
Maiko | Bluelined Surgeonfish |
Maikoiko | White Bar Surgeonfish |
Makukana | Thornback Cowfish |
Malamalama | Lined Coris |
Malu | Sidespot Goatfish |
Mamo | Hawaiian Sergeant |
MAMO FAMILY | Damselfishes |
Maneoneo | Sailfin Tang |
Manini | Convict Tang |
Mano | Sandbar Shark |
Mano | Gray Reef Shark |
Mano | Galapagos Shark |
MANO FAMILY | Requiem Shark Family |
Mano Kihikihi | Scalloped Hammerhead Shark |
Mano Lalakea | White Tip Reef Shark |
Mano Pa'ele | Black-Tipped Reef Shark |
Menpachi Ulua | Bigeye Trevally |
Mikiawa | Round Herring |
Moa | Spotted Boxfish |
Moano | Manybar Goatfish |
Moano Kale | Blue Goatfish |
Moi | Six-Fingered Threadfin |
Monchong | Pomfrets |
Mu | Bigeye Emperor |
Munu | Doublebar Goatfish |
Na'ena'e | Orangeband Surgeonfish |
LOCAL NAME | COMMON NAME |
Nehu | Hawaiian Anchovies |
Nenue | Highfin Rudderfish |
NENUE FAMILY | Sea Chubs |
No Bite Ulua | Barred Jack |
Nohu | Scorpionfish Family |
Nohu | Hawaiian Lionfish |
Nohu | Devil Scorpionfish |
Nohu | Titan Scorpionfish |
Nohu | Speckled Scorpionfish |
Nohu | Spotfin Scorpionfish |
Nunu | Trumpetfish |
Nunu Peke | Cornetfish |
Ohua | Ornate Wrasse |
O'ili | Barred Filefish |
O'ili lepa | Squaretail Filefish |
O'ili 'uwi'uwi | Fantail Filefish |
O'io | Smallmouth Bonefish |
Omilu | Bluefin Trevally |
Ono | Wahoo |
O'opu | Goby Family |
O'opu hue | Speckled Baloonfish |
O'opu hue | Stripebelly Puffer |
O'opu Kai Nohu | Large Headed Scorpionfish |
Opakapaka | Pink Snapper |
Opelu | Mackerel Scad |
Opelu Kala | Sleek Unicornfish |
Opule | Pearl Wrasse |
Paki'I | Lefteye Flounder Family |
Paki'I | Flowery Flounder |
Pakuikui | Achilles Tang |
Palani | Eyestriped Surgeonfish |
Papa Ulua | Island Jack |
Piha | Delicate Round Herring |
Piliko'a | Arc-Eye Hawkfish |
Piliko'a | Redbarred Hawkfish |
Ponuhunuhu | Stareye Parrotfish |
Po'o-nui | Bigeye Tuna |
Po'opa'a | Stocky Hawkfish |
Po'ou | Ringtail Wrasse |
Pualu | Yellowfin Surgeonfish |
Pualu | Ringtail Surgeonfish |
Puhi | Moray Family |
Puhi | Zebra Moray Eel |
Puhi | Stout Moray Eel |
Puhi | Steindachner'S Moray Eel |
Puhi | Needle-Tooth Moray |
Puhi Kapa | Snowflake Moray Eel |
Puhi Kauila | Dragon Moray |
Puhi Kauila | Viper Moray |
Puhi Laumilo | Undulated Moray Eel |
Puhi Leihala | Barred Moray |
Puhi Paka | Yellowmargin Moray Eel |
Puhi Uha | Mustache Conger Eel |
Puhi'oni'o | Whitemouth Moray Eel |
Puhi'ou | Yellowhead Moray Eel |
Puhi-Palahoana Family | Cusk Eel Family |
Pu'uloa'i | Ambon Toby |
Roi | Peacock Grouper |
Stripes | Stripey |
Summer Mullet | Summer Mullet |
Taape | Bluestipe Snapper |
Toau | Blacktail Snapper |
Uhu | Parrotfish Family |
Uhu | Bandtail Parrotfish |
Uhu | Bullethead Parrotfish |
Uhu | Palenose Parrotfish |
Uhu 'ahu'ula | Spectacled Parrotfish |
Uhu Lauia | Regal Parrotfish |
Uhu Palukaluka | Redlip Parrotfish |
Ukikiki | Bingham'S Snapper |
Uku | Green Jobfish |
`Ula `ula | Ruby Snapper |
`Ula `ula koa'e | Longtailed Red Snapper |
Ulae | Lizardfishes |
Ulae | Slender Lizardfish |
Ulua | Jack Family |
Ulua au kea | Giant Trevally |
Ulua Kihikihi | African Pompano |
Ulua Pa'opa'o | Golden Trevally |
Umaumalei | Orangespine Unicornfish |
Uouoa | Sharpnose Mullet |
Upapalu | Cardinalfishes |
Upapalu | Spotted Cardinalfish |
Upapalu | Iridescent Cardinalfish |
Upapalu | Bandfin Cardinalfish |
U'u | Bigscale Soldierfish |
U'u | Brick Soldierfish |
U'u | Epaulette Soldierfish |
U'u | Yellowfin Soldierfish |
U'u | Whitetip Soldierfish |
U'u | Roughscale Soldierfish |
Wahanui | Smalltooth Jobfish |
Walu | Oilfish |
Weke a'a | Yellowstripe Goatfish |
Weke Nono | Pflugers Goatfish |
Weke Pueo | Bandtail Goatfish |
Weke Ula (red) | Yellowfin Goatfish |
Yelloweye Kole | Goldring Surgeonfish |
Image: NOAA Hawaiian Fish, http://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/qrb/2010_10/article_10.php
Data: NOAA, http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/Assets/recreational/txt/local%20names%20hawaii.txt