The Humuhumu, Hawaii's Triggerfish

No fish epitomizes snorkeling on Hawaii's reefs more than the reef triggerfish.  Both tenacious and colorful, it's an easily recognizable sea dweller that every swimmer and explorer encounters within moments of entering the surf and shallows.  It's also the official state fish of the Aloha State, with a Hawaiian name sometimes acknowledged as the longest word in the language.  Even if actually not so, the word is indeed longer than the fish!

The family of fish is called humuhumu in Hawaiian, and the reef triggerfish is specifically the humuhumunukunukuapua'a.  It's a fun word to learn to say, an easy act when you break it down into its simple and repeated parts: hoo - moo - hoo - moo, noo - koo - noo - koo,  ah - poo - ah - ah.  It literally means, "triggerfish with a nose like a pig."

The triggerfish is called as such because it can erect and lock its dorsal spine to hold itself tightly in a rocky crevice as a means of protection.  It can only unlock this bone by the 'trigger' of a second dorsal spine that holds the first in place.

The reef triggerfish is not alone in its family.  He's one of a group of beautiful fish that are always a welcome sight on a return to the reefs of Maui and the other Hawaiian islands. 

The reef triggerfish or humuhumu on a coral reef.

The reef triggerfish stirring up some sand with its fast, darting movements.

The humuhumu's markings radiate like neon in the water's dappled light.

Not a lot of fish stare you down and seem to defend their territory like the humuhumu.  Watch the below video to see an example of their assertive but harmless behavior.

The reef triggerfish in motion, slowed down to half speed.

The lei triggerfish is called as such because of the round loop markings behind its eyes.

The humuhumu-lei has an almost identical shape as its cousin the reef triggerfish, and seems to exhibit very similar behavior.

A cousin in the family is the bridled triggerfish seen here in Honolua Bay, Maui.

Bridled triggerfish.

Video of bridled triggerfish at Honolua Bay, Maui.  Its movement seem more graceful than the darting motions of the lei and reef triggerfish.

I've seen quite a few black triggerfish in deeper parts of the reef, farther from shore.  These shots are from the reef off Kaanapali Beach in Maui.

My first impression of the black triggerfish was that it's aptly named, as it usually appears colorless except for  neon-blue lines along its rear fins.

Closer inspection shows that the black triggerfish has some intricate and ornate markings

The black triggerfish shows iridescent blue lines on its forehead when agitated.

Another shot of the black triggerfish, in full light. He seems to be imitating a blue whale.

The black triggerfish in bright light.  Sometimes words can't describe the beauty of life under the sea.