Hawaii's State Fish: It's Not "Fish" — It's Humuhumunukunukuapua'a

Correcting the Record: Hawaii's State Fish

The state fish of Hawaii is not simply "fish." It is the Humuhumunukunukuapua'a (Rhinecanthus rectangulus), commonly known as the Reef Triggerfish.

Fun Facts

• Name Meaning: "Fish that grunts like a pig" or "fish with a snout like a pig" in Hawaiian.
• Designated: 1985 (temporarily lapsed 1990–2006; reinstated permanently in 2006).
• Appearance: Bold geometric patterns — blue, yellow, black, white — with a distinctive pig-like snout.
• Behavior: Territorial, makes grunting sounds when threatened, can lock its dorsal spine into crevices to avoid predators.
• Cultural Significance: Featured in Hawaiian chants, legends, and the famous song "My Little Grass Shack".

So next time someone asks, you can impress them with the full 21-letter name — one of the longest in the English language!