Should Humuhumunukunukuapuaa Be The Official Fish of Hawaii?

[Sean in New Orleans]

Humuhumunukunukuapuaa Ousted in Hawaii
Saturday, January 28, 2006

HONOLULU — Everyone thought the humuhumunukunukuapuaa was Hawaii's state fish. As it turns out, the brightly colored fish with the excessively long name has been dethroned.

The news shook the world of Rep. Blake Oshiro, who found out the designation was no longer official from Joel Itomura, a 6-year-old fish-loving son of a friend and constituent.

"I was really surprised," said Oshiro, who has drawn up a bill that would make humuhumunukunukuapuaa — also known as the rectangular triggerfish or "humuhumu" for short — the official state fish for the islands.

The stubby-nosed, brightly striped and slightly aggressive little fish whose name few tourists even try to utter (it's pronounced HOO-moo-HOO-moo-NOO-koo-NOO-koo-AH-poo-AH-ah) is commonly believed to be the state's favorite. The fish figures into tourist trinkets, broadcast commercials and a much-beloved song about a little grass shack.

Much like its name, the fish's road to titlelessness is long and confusing.

In 1984 the state Legislature asked the University of Hawaii and the Waikiki Aquarium to survey the public and come up with a candidate for the state fish. The humuhumu was swept into the spot in part through the support of school children who learned of the campaign through classroom projects.

Here's more... http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,183094,00.html[/url]

[HurryKane]

Sure, why not. Everybody loves a comeback kid

[senorpepr]

Good--about time. Humuhumunukunukuāpua'a (gotta respect the macron and o'kina) was one of the first words in Hawaiian that I learned. However, yes, it hasn't been the Hawai'i state fish for nearly 16 years.

[wxmann_91]

I recall reading that the name of the fish is longer than the fish itself.

[senorpepr]

I recall reading that the name of the fish is longer than the fish itself.

I guess that depends on what size font you use.