Interesting Fact
Whales sing a new song every year!
Male humpback whales sing a complex song with identifiable phrases. The composition changes slightly over the course of the breeding season. By the next year, it’s a whole new tune!
Interesting Fact
Master Navigators
Most of Hawai‘i’s green sea turtles migrate to the Northwest Hawaiian Islands to nest. They rely on starlight and the earth’s magnetic fields to find their way thousands of miles across the Pacific Ocean.
Interesting Fact
Underwater Barbershop
Hawaiian cleaner wrasses are the barbers of the sea. They tidy up other fish, removing parasites, mucus, and old skin from their fins and gills. A cleaner wrasse will even climb into an eel’s mouth for a bit of free dentistry!
Interesting Fact
Sea Dogs
The Hawaiian monk seal is one of the world’s rarest marine mammals. Endemic to the Hawaiian archipelago, less than 1,500 of these sweet-faced seals exist. The Hawaiian name ‘ilioholoikauaua means the “dog that runs in rough seas.”
Explore Hawai‘i’s Marine Life!
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Invertebrates
Sea Cucumber
Sea cucumbers are a common sight on Hawaii’s reefs. Distinct tubular shape, many times seen lying on sand resembling sausages, sea cucumbers are frequently seen by snor...
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Invertebrates
Sea Stars
One of the most recognizable marine species, sea stars typically have a five-part body consisting of a central disk and radial symmetry. Size, shape, color and texture ar...
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Mammals
Hermit Crabs
Hermit crabs are one of the most common types of tide pool animals. Characterized by its soft abdomen or tail, hermit crabs rely on empty snail shells as a means of prote...
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Invertebrates
Cone Snail
The cone snail is one of the largest marine snail families represented in the Hawaiian Islands. Displaying beautiful patterns and colors, they are quite popular with coll...
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Fishes
Whitetip Reef Shark
Associated with the coral reef environment, the whitetip reef shark is found throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans. In the Hawaiian Islands, it can be observed resting...
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Invertebrates
Broad Stingray
The broad stingray is found only in Hawaii and Taiwan. Most researchers agree their populations are plentiful. It is one of four species known to inhabit Hawaiian waters ...
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Fishes
Angel Fish
Angelfishes are a family of fish of roughly 80 species; five of occur in the Hawaiian Islands. Their vibrant colors make them a favorite of divers and snorkelers when obs...
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Fishes
Bandit Angelfish
Bandit angelfish are an endemic species to the Hawaiian Islands, although they are more commonly found around the Island of Kaua’i and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands...
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