Hawaiian Creatures

Humuhumunukunukuapua'a (Rhinecanthus rectangulus) is a rectangular Reef triggerfish whose Hawaiian name means 'triggerfish with a snout like a pig'. This fish was considered a symbol of Hawaii and became a global sensation in 1933 when the song My Little Grass Shack hit the radios and movies. Although our State fish is indigenous (found in the Indo-Pacific), It was first declared the Hawaii State fish from 1985-1990. It was permanently declared Hawaii's State fish in 2006 by the Governor of Hawaii.  The Reef triggerfish is commonly found in captivity and when found in the wild, it is alone. It has teeth and a blue top lip.  As stated in its name, this fish has a snout like a pig and grunt (squeel) with fleeing from predators. The snout is used to blow water into the sand to find buried invertebrates for their food and other edible organisms. The triggerfish is considered aggressive and have been known to bite swimmers that are in their area.  The Reef trigger...

Touchardia  latifolia , or Olonā in Hawaiian, is a type of flowering shrub that grows in the valleys and wet forests at elevations of 70-1200m. Olonā is endemic to Hawaii and can be found on most islands of the archipelago with the exceptions of Ni'ihau and Kaho'olawe. It is such a unique plant that it belongs to an endemic monotypic genus, that is, a genus having only one species. Meaning that this genus is one of kind - and only found in Hawai'i.  Hawaiians would the fibers of this tree were to make cordage and are considered the strongest natural fibers on earth. Olonā cordage was extensively used in weaponry, building and construction, net making, sailing and so on.  Words to know:  Endemic - Plants or animals of a certain species only found in particular place in the world. Indigenous - Plants or animals that naturally arrived to a certain area, but can be found in other parts of the world.  Introduced -Plants or animals of ...