Learn & Explore/Species/Fish
Marine Fish
A quick guide to protected marine species and their regulations.
ʻAwaʻawa
Hawaiian Name: ʻAwaʻawa
Latin Name: Elops hawaiensis
Synonyms: Banana fish
Avg Lifespan: 8 yrs
Size (inches): 16–31 in
Weight (lbs): 4–13 lbs
Diet: Fish
Omaka
Hawaiian Name: Omaka
Latin Name: Atule mate
Synonyms: Scad
Avg Lifespan: 5 yrs
Size (inches): 8–12 in
Weight (lbs): 1–1 lbs
Diet: Small fish
‘Upāpalu
Hawaiian Name: ‘Upāpalu
Latin Name: Apogon spp
Synonyms: Cardinalfish
Avg Lifespan: 3 yrs
Size (inches): 2–4 in
Weight (lbs): 0–0 lbs
Diet: Zooplankton
Awa
Hawaiian Name: Awa
Latin Name: Chanos chanos
Synonyms: Milkfish
Avg Lifespan: 15 yrs
Size (inches): 20–71 in
Weight (lbs): 22–31 lbs
Diet: Algae, detritus
Kanda Mullet
Hawaiian Name: —
Latin Name: Osteomugil engeli
Synonyms: Marquesan mullet
Avg Lifespan: 5 yrs
Size (inches): 8–16 in
Weight (lbs): 1–2 lbs
Diet: Algae
Sharpnose Mullet
Hawaiian Name: Uouoa
Latin Name: Neomyxus leuciscus
Synonyms: —
Avg Lifespan: 5 yrs
Size (inches): 8–16 in
Weight (lbs): 1–2 lbs
Diet: Algae
ʻAlaʻihi
Hawaiian Name: ʻAlaʻihi
Latin Name: Sargocentron spiniferum
Synonyms: Saber squirrelfish
Avg Lifespan: 5–7 yrs
Size (inches): 8–12 in
Weight (lbs): 1–2 lbs
Diet: Crustaceans
ʻĀweoweo
Hawaiian Name: ʻĀweoweo
Latin Name: Priacanthus meeki
Synonyms: aweoweo
Avg Lifespan: 5–7 yrs
Size (inches): 8–12 in
Weight (lbs): 1–2 lbs
Diet: Small fish, crustaceans
Butaguchi
Hawaiian Name: Lehe
Latin Name: Pseudocaranx cheilio
Synonyms: —
Avg Lifespan: 8 yrs
Size (inches): 16–31 in
Weight (lbs): 7–18 lbs
Diet: Fish, crustaceans
Cornetfish
Hawaiian Name: Nunu Peke
Latin Name: Fistularia commersonii
Synonyms: Trumpetfish
Avg Lifespan: 5 yrs
Size (inches): 39–79 in
Weight (lbs): 2-7 lbs
Diet: Small fish
Dobe Ulua
Hawaiian Name: –
Latin Name: Uraspis helvola
Synonyms: Whitetongue jack
Avg Lifespan: 8 yrs
Size (inches): 16–31in
Weight (lbs): 4-13 lbs
Diet: Fish, crustacean
Hawaiian Flounder
Hawaiian Name: Pākiʻi
Latin Name: Bothus mancus
Synonyms: Peacock flounder
Avg Lifespan: 3–5 yrs
Size (inches): 8–18 in
Weight (lbs): 1–2 lbs
Diet: Crustaceans
Heller's Barracuda
Hawaiian Name: Kaweleʻa
Latin Name: Sphyraena helleri
Synonyms: —
Avg Lifespan: 8 yrs
Size (inches): 16–31 in
Weight (lbs): 4–11 lbs
Diet: Fish
Hinālea
Hawaiian Name: Hinālea Lauwili
Latin Name: Thalassoma duperrey
Synonyms: —
Avg Lifespan: 5 yrs
Size (inches): 6–8 in
Weight (lbs): 0–1 lbs
Diet: Small invertebrates
Kagami
Hawaiian Name: Ulua Kihikihi
Latin Name: Alectis ciliaris
Synonyms: Kagami, threadfin jack
Avg Lifespan: 10 yrs
Size (inches): 20–59 in
Weight (lbs): 22–55 lbs
Diet: Fish, crustaceans
Knifejaw
Hawaiian Name: —
Latin Name: Oplegnathus punctatus
Synonyms: —
Avg Lifespan: 10 yrs
Size (inches): 16–28 in
Weight (lbs): 4–13 lbs
Diet: Algae, invertebrates
Kūpīpī
Hawaiian Name: Kūpīpī
Latin Name: Abudefduf sordidus
Synonyms: Blackspot Sergeant
Avg Lifespan: 5 yrs
Size (inches): 6-8 in
Weight (lbs): 0-1 lbs
Diet: Algae
Mamo
Hawaiian Name: Mamo
Latin Name: Abudefduf abdominalis
Synonyms: Sergeant Major
Avg Lifespan: 5 yrs
Size (inches): 6–8 in
Weight (lbs): 0–1 lbs
Diet: Algae
Mempachi
Hawaiian Name: ʻŪʻū
Latin Name: Multiple species
Synonyms: mempachi, menpachi, uʻu
Avg Lifespan: 5–8 yrs
Size (inches): 6–10 in
Weight (lbs): 1–1 lbs
Diet: Zooplankton, crustaceans
Mū
Hawaiian Name: Mū
Latin Name: Monotaxis grandoculis
Synonyms: Mu, mu
Avg Lifespan: ~10 yrs
Size (inches): 12–18 in
Weight (lbs): 2–4 lbs
Diet: Crustaceans, mollusks
Nabeta
Hawaiian Name: Lae Nihi
Latin Name: Iniistius spp.
Synonyms: Razorfish
Avg Lifespan: 5 yrs
Size (inches): 8–12 in
Weight (lbs): 1–1 lbs
Diet: Small invertebrates
Nenue
Hawaiian Name: Nenue
Latin Name: Multiple species
Synonyms: Chub
Avg Lifespan: 10 yrs
Size (inches): 12–20 in
Weight (lbs): 2–7 lbs
Diet: Algae
Nohu
Hawaiian Name: Nohu
Latin Name: Scorpaenopsis cacopsis
Synonyms: Scorpionfish
Avg Lifespan: 5–7 yrs
Size (inches): 8–12 in
Weight (lbs): 1–2 lbs
Diet: Fish, crustaceans
ʻŌpelu Kala
Hawaiian Name: ʻŌpelu Kala
Latin Name: Naso hexacanthus
Synonyms: blue-tail unicornfish
Avg Lifespan: 30 yrs
Size (inches): 20–24 in
Weight (lbs): 4–7 lbs
Diet: Algae
Orangebanded Surgeonfish
Hawaiian Name: Naʻenaʻe
Latin Name: Acanthurus olivaceus
Synonyms: orange-shoulder surgeonfish
Avg Lifespan: 8 yrs
Size (inches): 14–20 in
Weight (lbs): 2–4 lbs
Diet: Algae
Palani
Hawaiian Name: Palani
Latin Name: Acanthurus dussumieri
Synonyms: Dussumier’s surgeonfish
Avg Lifespan: 30 yrs
Size (inches): 16–22 in
Weight (lbs): 2–7 lbs
Diet: Algae
Paʻopaʻo
Hawaiian Name: Ulua Paʻopaʻo
Latin Name: Gnathanodon speciosus
Synonyms: Golden jack
Avg Lifespan: 8 yrs
Size (inches): 20–39 in
Weight (lbs): 11–33 lbs
Diet: Fish, crustaceans
Poʻo Paʻa
Hawaiian Name: Poʻo Paʻa
Latin Name: Cirrhitus pinnulatus
Synonyms: Hawkfish
Avg Lifespan: 5 yrs
Size (inches): 8–12 in
Weight (lbs): 1–1 lbs
Diet: Crustaceans
Pualu
Hawaiian Name: Pualu
Latin Name: Acanthurus xanthopterus
Synonyms: Ringtail surgeonfish
Avg Lifespan: 30 yrs
Size (inches): 16–24 in
Weight (lbs): 2–7 lbs
Diet: Algae
Roi
Hawaiian Name: Roi
Latin Name: Cephalopholis argus
Synonyms: Peacock grouper
Avg Lifespan: 40 yrs
Size (inches): 16–24 in
Weight (lbs): 4–9 lbs
Diet: Fish, crustaceans
Taʻape
Hawaiian Name: Taʻape
Latin Name: Lutjanus kasmira
Synonyms: Bluestripe snapper
Avg Lifespan: 10 yrs
Size (inches): 8–12 in
Weight (lbs): 1–2 lbs
Diet: Fish, crustaceans
Tableboss
Hawaiian Name: ʻAʻawa
Latin Name: Bodianus albotaeniatus
Synonyms: Hawaiian hogfish
Avg Lifespan: 8 yrs
Size (inches): 12–20 in
Weight (lbs): 2–4 lbs
Diet: Crustaceans
Toʻau
Hawaiian Name: Toʻau
Latin Name: Lutjanus fulvus
Synonyms: Blacktail snapper
Avg Lifespan: 10 yrs
Size (inches): 12–16 in
Weight (lbs): 2–4 lbs
Diet: Fish, crustaceans
Umaumalei
Hawaiian Name: Umaumalei
Latin Name: Naso lituratus
Synonyms: clown unicornfish
Avg Lifespan: 30 yrs
Size (inches): 16–18 in
Weight (lbs): 2–4 lbs
Diet: Algae
Wahanui
Hawaiian Name: Wahanui
Latin Name: Aphareus furca
Synonyms: Jobfish
Avg Lifespan: 10 yrs
Size (inches): 20–31 in
Weight (lbs): 7–18 lbs
Diet: Fish, crustaceans
Aku
Hawaiian Name: Aku
Latin Name: Katsuwonus pelamis
Synonyms: Aku, Otaru
Avg Lifespan: 8–12 yrs
Size (inches): 16–31 in
Weight (lbs): 7–22 lbs
Diet: Small fish, squid
Blue Marlin
Hawaiian Name: ʻAu
Latin Name: Makaira nigricans
Synonyms: —
Avg Lifespan: 20 yrs
Size (inches): 79–197 in
Weight (lbs): 198–992 lbs
Diet: Fish, squid
Hebi
Hawaiian Name: ʻAu
Latin Name: Tetrapterus angustirostris
Synonyms: Shortbill spearfish
Avg Lifespan: 10 yrs
Size (inches): 59–79 in
Weight (lbs): 44–88 lbs
Diet: Fish, squid
Kahala
Hawaiian Name: Kahala
Latin Name: Seriola dumerili
Synonyms: Amberjack
Avg Lifespan: 10 yrs
Size (inches): 24–71 in
Weight (lbs): 22–176 lbs
Diet: Fish, crustaceans
Kaku
Hawaiian Name: Kaku
Latin Name: Sphyraena barracuda
Synonyms: Barracuda
Avg Lifespan: 14 yrs
Size (inches): 24–71 in
Weight (lbs): 11–66 lbs
Diet: Fish
Kamanu
Hawaiian Name: Kamanu
Latin Name: Elagatis bipinnulata
Synonyms: Hawaiian salmon
Avg Lifespan: 8 yrs
Size (inches): 24–47 in
Weight (lbs): 11–33 lbs
Diet: Fish, crustaceans
Kawakawa
Hawaiian Name: Kawakawa
Latin Name: Euthynnus affinis
Synonyms: Mackerel tuna
Avg Lifespan: 8 yrs
Size (inches): 16–31 in
Weight (lbs): 7–22 lbs
Diet: Fish, squid
Lai
Hawaiian Name: Lai
Latin Name: Scomberoides lysan
Synonyms: Spotted queenfish
Avg Lifespan: 8 yrs
Size (inches): 16–31 in
Weight (lbs): 4–13 lbs
Diet: Fish, crustaceans
Mahi Mahi
Hawaiian Name: Mahi Mahi
Latin Name: Coryphaena hippurus
Synonyms: Dolphinfish
Avg Lifespan: 4–5 yrs
Size (inches): 39–59 in
Weight (lbs): 15–66 lbs
Diet: Fish, squid
Ono
Hawaiian Name: Ono
Latin Name: Acanthocybium solandri
Synonyms: Wahoo
Avg Lifespan: 8 yrs
Size (inches): 39–98 in
Weight (lbs): 22–88 lbs
Diet: Fish, squid
Sailfish
Hawaiian Name: Aʻu Lepe
Latin Name: Istiophorus platypterus
Synonyms: —
Avg Lifespan: 4–5 yrs
Size (inches): 71–134 in
Weight (lbs): 55–132 lbs
Diet: Fish, squid
Striped Marlin
Hawaiian Name: ʻAu
Latin Name: Tetrapterus audax
Synonyms: —
Avg Lifespan: 10 yrs
Size (inches): 79–118 in
Weight (lbs): 154–265 lbs
Diet: Fish, squid
Swordfish
Hawaiian Name: Aʻu ku
Latin Name: Xiphias gladius
Synonyms: Broadbill
Avg Lifespan: 9 yrs
Size (inches): 79–157 in
Weight (lbs): 198–441 lbs
Diet: Fish, squid
Tombo
Hawaiian Name: Ahi Palaha
Latin Name: Thunnus alalunga
Synonyms: Longfin tuna
Avg Lifespan: 9–12 yrs
Size (inches): 35–55 in
Weight (lbs): 44–88 lbs
Diet: Fish, squid