Hawaiian Fish Names (with Pictures)

Snorkeling in Hawaii is an unforgettable experience. You will see several species of coral and some amazing and colorful fish.

But what types of fish are you seeing? Or maybe you are wondering what type of fish you saw on your recent snorkeling trip. Read on to learn more about Hawaiian fish names.

The Most Popular Hawaiian Fish Types

Moorish Idol

Have you seen the animated movie Finding Nemo? Then you are likely familiar with this type of fish as it will look just like Gill from the movie. They are black, white, and yellow and have vertical stripes.

What you may not know is that these fish can actually get quite large, up to 8 inches in diameter. They are found in most reefs off the coast of Hawaii so you are very likely to see one of these on your snorkeling trip!

Reef Triggerfish

Although your state may not have a state fish, Hawaii sure does! Its real name is Humuhumunukunukuapuaa, which is quite a mouthful and the reason people typically call it a triggerfish instead of its full name. The reason the triggerfish has this long name is that it means “fish with a nose like a pig” in Hawaiian and this fish has been known to make noises like a pig when it is stressed.

This fish is multicolored and has a gold outlined v near its tail, but perhaps the most distinctive feature is its little blue mustache over its upper lip. Be careful around these colorful fish, however, as they can get aggressive when protecting their nest and have been known to bite divers. As long as you keep your distance, you should be fine.

Surgeon

A surgeon fish looks very similar to a tang in shape and size, but what sets them apart is their dark color–a deep purple that looks almost black in contrast to the vibrant reef around.

There are also other types of surgeon fish in the ocean, and the tangs are also considered themselves to be surgeonfish, so don’t be surprised if you ask your diving instructor the name of a gray or brown fish and hear that it is a surgeonfish.

Lionfish

Lionfish are one of the most recognizable fishes in the sea, thanks to their unique coloring and spikes. Be very careful around them, though, because their spines are poisonous!

There are two different varieties in Hawaii, red and green, either of which you might see on your snorkeling excursion. Don’t get your hopes up too high, however because they are known to be most active after sunset and tend to live in deep waters.

Trumpetfish

You will have no problem recognizing a Trumpetfish because their body is long and yellow like a trumpet! You need to look closely to spot these fish because they are very thin, quick, and can be hard to see in the water.

Not to mention that they can also change their color to camouflage with their environment. They can change to green, gray, or even a fish with stripes if they need to! Despite these abilities, these fish aren’t as shy as others on this list, and you should be able to see one if you look carefully.

Barred Filefish

Barred filefish are a purple fish (which appears blue underwater) with yellowed fins that are not known for being very smart. They are timid around humans, and will often dart for cover. The problem? Well what they perceive to be cover, and what will actually hide them is rarely the same. Which means you’ll probably see one of these halfway sticking out from a crevice, thinking that it’s invisible to the world.

Yellow Tang

The most common fish spotted by Hawaiian snorkelers is the yellow tang, which also marked its appearance in the Finding Nemo movie as the character Bubbles. Yellow Tangs are completely bright yellow and swim in large schools that are easy to spot.

If you come across a school of yellow tangs, keep your eyes peeled as turtles are probably right around the corner. These species often live in tandem because yellow tangs like to clean the turtle’s shells.

Achilles Tang

As many of you know, Achilles is famous in Greek history as a warrior who could only be killed by severing the tendon on the back of the calf. Why this pretty blue fish is named after the warrior, we aren’t sure, but with its bright orange spot near the tail, you can’t miss these fish.

Plus, they are on the larger end of the fish you will see and are found in shallow waters, so easy to see on almost any type of snorkeling adventure.

Convict Tang

While you are looking for Yellow Tang, keep an eye out for their cousin the convict tang. These species are also easy to spot, but unlike the yellow tang, they are white with black stripes, giving them their convict name.

Longnose Butterflyfish

Longnose Butterflyfish are smaller than the aforementioned tang species, but they have a long nose which makes them easy to pick out. They are also yellow, but the yellow ends by their face, which is purple.

They are most commonly found when snorkeling off of Maui or Hawaii Island and prefer sea temperatures that are between 70° and 81°F. They don’t travel in schools but rather in pairs,or small groups with up to five fish maximum.

Raccoon Butterflyfish

There are more than just one species of butterfly fish, so if you thought you may have seen one, but it wasn’t yellow like the longnose butterflyfish, it was probably a raccoon butterflyfish.

Racoon butterflyfish live in massive schools near the reef and have a black and white facemask which is what gives them the raccoon name. Even if you don’t see a school of them, keep your eyes peeled as they can travel in pairs from time to time.

There is also another type of butterfly fish called Milletseed Butterflyfish, which look similar to the raccoon butterflyfish but have stripes that are composed of a series of black dots (that look like millet seed) rather than actual stripes.

Parrotfish

Parrotfish are one of the most uniquely colored fish as they are commonly a blueish green with purple scales and stripes, but they can come in any color of the rainbow. They’re large, and typically travel in groups made up of one male and several females.

Parrotfish are critical to the reef because they eat old coral and excrete materials critical to building beach sand. While these species aren’t aggressive, they do have razor-sharp teeth, so don’t get too close.

Hawaiian Sergeant Major

Sergeant Majors are a type of fish found all around the world, but because of its isolation the Hawaiian version of this species has evolved to look different than all the others. They are blue with a greenish-yellow belly and black stripes.

While most snorkelers will come into contact with these fish at some point, it’s not always a joyous occasion as they do bite–not hard, but enough for you to feel it and for the sensation to be annoying!

Bluestripe Snapper

Bluestripe Snappers are surprisingly not native to Hawaii, but they can be found there in large schools thanks to the Hawaiian government, who introduced this species to the country a few decades ago. Supposedly they wanted these snappers to become a food source for Hawaiians, but the plan backfired because they have a large concentration of ciguatera, a neurotoxin, in their meat.

You can find bluestripe snappers near rocky pinnacles and they are yellow in color with blue stripes, as their name indicates.

Squirrelfish

You will most definitely spot some squirrelfish on your snorkeling adventure, as they are one of the most common fish in Hawaii. They are also only found here, meaning you won’t get to see them anywhere else.

Squirrelfish are dark red, with blue and white stripes and big eyes. Although these fish travel in large schools, you’ll need to keep a lookout to find them, as they are typically found in caves or other areas shielded from the sun. They also tend to be more active at night.

Unicorn Fish

Unicorn fans will love this distinctive looking fish that has a horn protruding from its forehead. They are light blueish green in color and are surprisingly not rare. They actually enjoy the shallow water and will come all the way up to the shore–meaning you may not even have to snorkel to get a look at a unicorn fish!

Pacific Chub

The biggest fish you will see as you snorkel in Hawaii is the pacific chub, and they’re pretty easy to spot because they aren’t scared of humans. You read that right, these guys are known for swimming right up next to snorkelers as they look for some algae to eat.

Pacific chubs aren’t as colorful as some of the other fish, typically a grayish purple color, but you will enjoy seeing how large they are up close.

Hawaiian Damsel

This is another fish species that is native to Hawaii only, but sadly, they can be difficult to spot. They are white in color with a black net pattern that makes seeing one of these a really neat experience.

What is weird is that these fish also make a strange sound, a grunt, which can be heard if you are able to get close enough. Count yourself lucky if you spot one of these as you snorkel!

Saddle Wrasse

Saddle Wrasse are one of those types of fish that you might see as you snorkel, but you also may not, as they tend to quickly dart from coral to coral. They are known as the cleaners of the ocean as they eat leftovers from other fish, as well as parasites that harm other species.

If you do see these fish, you will know it, as they are brightly colored in a mix of green and blue. They can be small or large and are sometimes found near the shore, but they also enjoy living in deeper waters.

Keep an eye out for the relative of the saddle wrasse, the cleaner wrasse, that performs the same duty but is white with one large black stripe.

Yellowfin Goatfish

Goatfish are a common fish spotted on Hawaiian snorkeling trips, but often for the wrong reasons. These fish live in abundant schools but like to live away from the reef near the sandy bottoms. Therefore if you are seeing a bunch of these fish, you are snorkeling in the wrong spot!

They are pinkish-white with yellow fins and tails. Because they prefer the sand, they can be spotted sometimes just by wading into the ocean. If you want some serious snorkeling though, head more towards the reef and leave the goatfish behind!

FAQs About Hawaiian Fish

What Fish Are Found Only in Hawaii?

There are several species of fish that are found only in Hawaii, the most common are the Hawaiian squirrelfish, Hawaiian damselfish, and the Hawaiian sergeant major.

How Many Types of Fish are in Hawaii?

There are about 800 different species of fish near the Hawaiian islands. About 450 of these are visible during a snorkeling excursion to the reef.

What is the Rarest Fish in Hawaii?

The rarest fish in Hawaii is the Pacific Sawfish, which is a large fish with a large dorsal fin and pointy nose. If you spot one, you will know it, but don’t hold your breath because they are very rare.

What Are the Long Skinny Fish in Hawaii?

The long skinny fish often spotted while snorkeling in Hawaii are trumpetfish and they are known for their ability to camouflage and can be seen in many different colors.

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