Hawaiian Red Lionfish

The HAWAIIAN RED LIONFISH (called nohu pinao) is an uncommon lionfish, unique to Hawaii, with a striped red and white pattern.  These fish have exceptionally long dorsal spines and extended white spines on pectoral fins.  During the day, these fish are typically found hiding in caves and under ledges, sometimes in groups, and are known to frequent the same spot for years at a time.  At night, they’re found gliding back and forth with the current hunting for small crabs and shrimp.  

Due to the venom in their spines, these fish should never be touched, as their venom is said to cause pain that feels like being repeatedly hit with a hammer!  If stung, immediate swelling is noted to the puncture sites, along with a purple bruise/discoloration.  It’s said that the only relief is submerging stung area into hot water, but relief is only temporary.  The sting can cause immense pain for weeks according to those stung, so take caution and look from a distance! These fish are hard to find because they’ve been over fished for tanks and collectors.  Their Hawaiian name means “dragonfly”.  

Book a Dive!

Pearly Soldierfish

The PEARLY SOLDIERFISH (called ‘u‘u) is a red to pinkish solderfish, often seen with a pearlescent sheen, hence the name.  The leading edges of its fins are white, and its shoulder bar is slightly longer than its cousin, the bigscale soldierfish.  When the dorsal fins are raised, yellow is noted.  Unlike most soldierfish, these are typically found hiding in reefs rather than caves or below overhangs.  They normally congregate in rows of two or three and can be seen most commonly between 15 and 50 feet.  

BOOK A DIVE!

Check us out on Facebook!

More Whale Shark Facts!

By request, some more information about WHALE SHARKS!  These creatures tend to stay in warmer waters, around the equator, and although they can be seen close to coastlines, they can dive to depths as deep as 2,000 feet.  However, they will only venture that deep in order to find food while cruising the open ocean.  Female whale sharks incubate their eggs inside their bodies, unlike most sea creatures that lay eggs in the coral or sand.  Essentially, because of this, whale sharks are considered to give birth to live young.  Although the whale shark is impregnated with hundreds of eggs, only a few actually become whale sharks – typically 12 per litter.  The research seems to suggest that hundreds of eggs are produced so that whale sharks that actually hatch have immediate food.  The average size of a newborn whale shark is approximately 24” in length.  

Juvenile Whale Shark

Come dive with us...and maybe some whale sharks!

Thornback Cowfish

The THORNBACK COWFISH (called makukana or pahu) has forward pointing “horns” and a thornlike spike in the center of its back, along with two backward-pointing spines under its tail fins.  The fish is light tan with blue lines or spots, which darken and intensify in males during spawning to draw attention from the female cowfish.  These fish are most likely to be spotted over mixed rubble and sand, and grow to about 5” in length.  

Check us out on FaceBook!

Visit our website to schedule a dive or look up our classes!

Crown of Thorns Starfish

The CROWN-OF-THORNS STARFISH is one we don’t like to see in our waters.  It’s an invasive, large, multi-armed sea star that preys on hard or stony coral polyps.  This starfish is covered with venomous thorn-like spines that cover its upper surface, and it’s one of the largest sea stars in the world (second to the sunflower sea star).  The venom has saponins, which can and will cause stinging pain lasting several hours, along with swelling to site of puncture wound lasting weeks to divers who aren’t careful and get too close to this creature.   When preying on coral, the starfish secretes digestive enzymes that allow it to absorb nutrients from the liquefied coral tissue, leaving a white scar of coral skeleton which then becomes infested with algae.  

One of these starfish can consume and destroy 65 square feet of living coral each year.   One of the only ways to control the population is to manually inject sodium bisulphate into the starfish, because it kills the predator but doesn’t harm surrounding coral or fish.  

Come book a dive with Honu Hawaiian Diving & see these coral predators...but don't touch!