Meet the Fish With the Longest Name in the Ocean: Humuhumunukunukuāpua'a
If you've spent any time in Hawaii, you've probably seen this word on a t-shirt, a menu, or a bumper sticker, usually followed by three question marks: Humuhumunukunukuāpua'a.
It looks impossible. It isn't. And once you meet the fish behind the name, you'll never forget either one.
So... how do you even say that?
Break it into pieces and it gets much friendlier:
Hoo-moo-hoo-moo-noo-koo-noo-koo-AH-poo-AH-ah
Most locals shorten it to just "humuhumu," and honestly, that's a perfectly respectable way to refer to it in casual conversation. Save the full name for showing off.
What does the name actually mean?
This is the part that always gets me. The name isn't random — it's a tiny description packed into one word:
- Humuhumu — the general Hawaiian word for triggerfish
- Nukunuku — snout
- A — like
- Pua'a — pig
Put it together and you get something like "triggerfish with a snout like a pig." And it's not poetic exaggeration — this fish genuinely makes a grunting, snorting sound when it feels threatened, pushing air through its small mouth in a way that sounds uncannily like a tiny, irritated pig. Ancient Hawaiians were basically the original people to say "yeah, that fish looks and sounds exactly like what we should call it," and, honestly, fair enough.
A small fish with a big personality
Don't let the name fool you into picturing something enormous — the humuhumu tops out around 8 to 10 inches. What it lacks in size, it makes up for in attitude. These fish are surprisingly territorial for something so small, and they'll chase off intruders — including fish much bigger than themselves — from their patch of reef without a second thought.
They're also masters of disguise. When danger shows up, a humuhumu can wedge itself into a tight crevice in the coral and lock a spine on its back into place, essentially bolting itself in so nothing can pull it out. That locking spine is actually where the word "triggerfish" comes from — pushing a second, smaller spine releases the first, like pulling a trigger.
Hawaii's (on-again, off-again) state fish
Here's a fun bit of trivia: the humuhumu's status as Hawaii's official state fish wasn't always a sure thing. It was first named state fish in 1985 — but only on a five-year trial. When that trial quietly expired in 1990, nobody got around to renewing it, and for 16 years, Hawaii technically had no state fish at all. It wasn't until 2006 that the legislature noticed the gap and made the humuhumu's title permanent. So next time someone tells you a fish can't have a comeback story, you'll know better.
Where to spot one
If you're snorkeling almost anywhere in Hawaii, keep your eyes on shallow reef flats and lagoons, usually less than 15 feet down. Humuhumu aren't shy — swim slowly over a healthy reef and there's a good chance you'll spot that unmistakable angular face and bold black-and-white markings within a few minutes.
We loved this fish so much we gave it its own card in our Hawaiian Reef Fish Playing Cards deck — watercolor-painted, Hawaiian name and all, so you can keep meeting it long after you've dried off from your last snorkel. See the full deck →