The Hawaii Traveler

Last Tuesday, we learned that the humumunukunukuapua’a regained its status as Hawaii’s state fish, even though there was some controversy over the matter. The humu’s opponents reminded legislators that the fish, also known as the rectangular trigger fish, isn’t unique to Hawai’i, and that the ancient Hawaiians held the less tasty humu in such low esteem that they used the dried carcasses as fuel for their fires.

Who knew a funny looking fish could be so controversial? Don’t worry, one thing is for sure: Eating fish in Hawaii is much simpler than declaring it a representative of the state. Here are a few fish you’re likely to see on your plate during your stay.

Mahimahi–If you don’t eat mahimahi during your trip, most will doubt you were really ever there. A dolphin fish, NOT dolphin, is  on every menu in Hawaii. It’s best fresh instead of from frozen; you’ll commonly find it adorned with almonds, but it’s good in a variety of ways.

Ahi Tuna–No doubt a familiar fish, no matter where you’re from, but you’re more likely to see it in the form of sashimi, or poke, a traditional Hawaiian way of serving chunked fish raw with chiles and other ingredients. A lot like ceviche, it’s a novel alternative to sashimi.

Ono–This fish is so delicious, it’s named after the Hawaiian word for delicious: ‘ono. Ono is a substantial, plentiful fish, similar to mackerel. It’s known as Wahoo on the mainland, and makes for a great filling in fish tacos and other delights.

Salmon–You might see something called lomilomi salmon (lomilomi meaning “massage”) on the menu, which is salmon shredded and kneaded into a tasty variety of other ingredients such as Maui onions.

Hawaiian Kampachi–a succulent fish that has one of the highest levels of omega-3 fatty acids in comparison to other fish. It’s usually farmed in an open ocean environment, making it environmentally sustainable.

Sushi lovers will find a glut of choices on every island, and of course, quality and prices vary wildly. When we’re unfamiliar with a restaurant, we often rely on Fodor’s food and restaurant reviews to guide us. You find a island-specific guides there for Big Island, Maui, Kaua’i, and O’ahu.

Photo by Flickr–Creative Commons, by clspeace