Which Hawaiian sea animal is your favorite? After all, what is a visit to Hawaii without seeing some of the ocean wildlife? Seeing turtles, sharks, dolphins, fish, and more are amazing memories. They’re unforgettable moments where we connect with nature and God’s creations. I can’t even say how many people tell me about how they saw turtles, fish, or dolphins on their trip to Hawaii and their entire soul lights up.
Seeing (and possibly getting close—if circumstances are safe and permit) marine animals in Hawaii inspires us. It ignites a part of us deep within, perhaps the inner child, the one we’ve tucked away for so long.
I hope this list of ocean animals in Hawaii will inspire you. Maybe it will jog your memories of Hawaii. Maybe you’ll learn something new. Or, just maybe, you’ll remember how much you love nature, God’s creations, and let out that inner child in you once more. 🙂
Read more about Hawaii’s value of protecting and caring for the ‘aina here: Mālama
Manta Ray
Yes, the manta ray is a Hawaiian sea animal too! I’m from the Big Island so I was actually shocked to learn—after I moved—that there are tons of manta rays on Kona side and you can go on a tour to swim with them! If you’ve done this, please let me know in the comments. I’m fascinated and would love to do it in the future.
Manta rays are different from sting rays, but I won’t go into detail on it. The nice thing is that the Hawaiians also distinguished them differently. The word for manta ray is hāhālua (pronounced hah-hah-loo-ah).
If you’ve read “Aloha State of Mind” you’ll remember my little discussion on hā, which is breath. But hā can also mean mouth, and manta ray literally means “two mouths.” Side note: If you know Hawaiian numbers, ‘elua is two, so that’s why “lua” is the last part of this word.
The Hawaiians called manta ray “two mouths” because of the two flaps sticking out either side of their mouths, so it makes sense.
Both the manta ray and sting ray can also be called “lupe.”
Sting Ray
The sting ray is known to be around Hawaii, though I’ve never heard of anyone encountering them. They’re called hīhīmanu in Hawaiian. Hihi could mean several things, like “to creep, spread, or intertwine” or “a large meshed fish net.” Manu means “bird” so what I infer from this is that the Hawaiians must have seen the sting ray as a large fish bird, because sting rays do have large wings on either side of their bodies, or a spread-out, creeping bird.
Turtle
My favorite sea animal of all time, the honu (pronounced hO-noo) can be found all over the Hawaiian islands. When I looked in the Hawaiian dictionary, I actually found out the the hawksbill turtle has its own name, which is ‘ea.
People are so afraid of sharks, but I think they’re beautiful and majestic! The Hawaiian word for shark is manō. Many ancient Hawaiian legends and proverbs tell of the niuhi, which is a man-eating shark, but most Hawaiians regarded the shark as sacred ‘aumakua, family ancestors.
The generic name for fish is i’a but most fish have specific names according to their type. The old Hawaiian superstition is to not let anyone know when you’re going fishing or the fish will hear and leave the area!
Here are some notable fish names (let’s see if you can say these!) 😉
‘Ahi
Mahimahi
Humuhumunukunukuapua’a
A’awa
Moi
Opelu
Manini
Dolphin
If you’ve been lucky enough to spot dolphins swimming and resting in the bay areas, then you know how playful and fun they can be. The Hawaiian word for dolphin is “nai’a,” pronounced nae-ah.
Whale
Maui is the best place to see whales when they migrate towards warmer waters. The Hawaiian word for humpback whale is koholā, pronounced kO-hO-lah, and the word for sperm whale is palaoa.
My dad used to catch squid in the reefy areas of the North Shore. While I have seen a good amount of squid in my life (and the black ink they shoot out too), I haven’t seen an octopus. The Hawaiian word for octopus is he’e, and the word for squid is similar, mūhe’e.
Sea urchin – Yes, it’s a Hawaiian sea animal (even though it might not look like it hehe)
Watch out for this lovely yet dangerous invertebrate animal. Especially on the Big Island, where the only way to get into the water is by way of walking on lava rocks, or sandy shores with rocks, keep an eye out for the long black spindles of the sea urchin. The Hawaiian word for sea urchin is wana, pronounced vah-nah.
Jellyfish
I used to get stung a lot by the Portuguese Man-of-War at Hukilau beach or other beaches along the North Shore of Oahu. While it’s not very common for people to get stung by jellyfish in Hawaii, it does happen. The Hawaiian word for jelly fish is pololia.
What is your favorite marine animal?
Is there a sea animal I missed? Do you know the Hawaiian word for it? Let us know in the comments below!
If you’re planning a vacation to Hawaii, Waialua might not be the first destination spot on your list. It’s out of the way and doesn’t have too many of Hawai’i’s icons. What it does have, however, is a rich history, cultural sites, a small town, and lots of folklore.
As I’m writing the second book in my fairy tale retelling series (set in Hawaii, of course), I had to do some research on Waialua, where the book takes place. Why Waialua? I don’t remember why I specifically chose Waialua. Maybe it was simply meant to be. 🙂 I lived in Laie on the North Shore for a time, but the farthest west we went was to Haleiwa. So I enjoyed researching about what’s past Haleiwa and the tales and legends of the area beyond.
Check out my first Hawaiian fairy tale retelling here: Lehua
While doing research I thought it might be fun to share a little about the interesting things I discovered about Waialua and some of its folklore. 🙂
The Name Waialua
Waialua is known for its lush kalo fields. Waialua means “two waters” in Hawaiian. In ancient Hawaii, Waialua was a moku, a district, and had eight ahupua’a within it. The origin of Waialua’s name is uncertain. Speculation says that it was named after a chief, Waia, who was disgraceful and not a good leader. Since “lua” means “two,” Waia was doubly disgraceful, and that’s why when people are called “waia” nowadays, it means disgraceful.
The other suggestion is that two rivers, Anahulu and Helemano-Poamoho-Kaukonahua, make their way into Kaiaka Bay.
Learn more about what sailors, poets, and historians have said about the landscape and beauty of Waialua here: Images of Old Hawaii
‘Olelo No’eau about Waialua
Waialua, ʻāina ku pālua i ka laʻi.
“Waialua, land that stands doubly beclaimed.” Said in admiration for Waialua, Oʻahu where the weather was usually pleasant and the life of the people tranquil.
-Mary Kawena Pukui (2902)
Loko Ea Fishpond
This 400 year old fishpond has a rich folklore behind it: where an ancient mo’o used to live resides in Waialua.
If you want to learn more about Loko Ea and the malama project for it, check this out: Malama Loko Ea Foundation
Ka’ena Point
Kaena, correctly spelled Ka’ena, is the “hot point.” It is a wahi pana, a legendary place. Nowadays you can park (you’ll need a permit, which you can get here) and hike to the point, but just be careful. From what I’ve read, t’s a hot, dry, rocky trail and the waves next to the cliffs can be unpredictable at times.
The Hike to Ka’ena Point
One day, when my husband and I visit O’ahu, we’ll check out Ka’ena Point and I’ll be sure to add pictures. But, for now, let’s discuss some of the features along the trail:
Kaneana Cave – The cave got its name from the god Kane. However, another tale says that Kaneana Cave is the home to Nanaue, a man-eating shark. Nanaue’s father was a shape-shifting, and his mother a human. Nanaue would call out to passerbyers, telling them to be careful of the man-eating shark. Then he’d hide and transform himself into a half-shark man, where he’d grab the passerbyers and eat them in the cave. Eventually the people discovered his true identity and killed him.
Learn an ‘olelo no’eau about this man-eating shark here:
Pōhuehue – beach morning glory flowers; these are lovely white flowers that you’ll see all along the hike
Wai’anae Volcano at Ka’ena Point – Did you know there is a volcano at Waialua? It’s actually called the Waianae Range . It’s not active anymore but provides a beautiful backdrop on the Kaena Point trail.
Ua’u Kane – Along the way you’ll pass a wedge-tailed shearwater bird sanctuary. Please malama the animals by staying on marked paths. Steering off the path can harm the birds and their nesting grounds.
Ka’ena was a hard place to live. It literally means “hot place.” Sunlight, wind, drought, and sandy ground make this place somewhat uncomfortable. However,
Leina a ka ‘uhana – The “jumping place of spirits” is where people would leap into the next life. This is a huge reason why Waialua is a legendary place.
Waialua is home to a popular bakery, Paala Kai, which serves Filipino and Portuguese treats, of course, with a Hawaiian twist.
Aweoweo Beach Park seems to be a popular and recommended beach. Based on the pictures, it sure is beautiful—clear, calm waters, not a lot of people (unlike Waikiki!), and occasional sea turtles resting on the shores.
Just outside Waialua, in Mokuleia, is Dillingham Air Field, not open to the public. However, there are a few skydiving businesses in the same area. Kealia Trail is a scenic trail that starts outside the base and overlooks the mountain and ocean. It had some great ratings on Google.
My Book (that takes place in Waialua, Oahu)
I learned a lot about Waialua. I hope that the next time my husband and I visit Oahu we can visit. And, of course, I’ll update this article with more pictures and content when I see it myself! Thanks for learning about Waialua with me, and be on the lookout for my next book. Sign up for my newsletter or check out my instagram @ladyleialoha to know when the book comes out! 🙂
Have you visited Waialua?
Are you from Waialua? What are some stories you remember about it? What are your favorite places within Waialua? Let us know in the comments! 🙂
At this time of the year, your social media feed might be exploding with videos and articles about the Merrie Monarch. Your friends from Hawaii are probably posting things like “So proud of…” and then some long Hawaiian name, like “Halau ka lei Mokihana o Leina’ale” for example. Or they might be making 4-5 worded comments like “That chant was perfect,” as if they’re watching and judging a March Madness competition.
But that’s because to us Hawaii locals, Merrie Monarch IS a big competition and celebration. Merrie Monarch is the world’s largest annual hula competition, so it’s a really big deal. We love our culture and we love this time of year because it brings everyone together–not just from Hawaii, but from all over the world. We watch and admire and wait to see who will compete, and who will win.
Here are some of my thoughts on why Merrie Monarch stirs feelings of nostalgia, and why it gives us all the feels.
It keeps an ancient cultural practice alive and fresh
If you think about it, this one event has so many new mele (songs) and dances. The beautiful thing about the Merrie Monarch is that many halau (hula groups) will either stick to very traditional dance movements and song, or they’ll incorporate new elements. This event keeps the ancient practice of hula dancing alive and well, but it also encourages experimentation and twists on an ancient art form.
It brings the community together
This is one of my favorite parts because during the Merrie Monarch week, expect to see everyone (and their dogs) out and about. My family used to sell kulolo at the Farmer’s Market during Merrie Monarch week, so we saw just about everyone. There’s a sense of community as people buy local products and stop to talk stories and share goods with vendors and other Merrie Monarch visitors.
We love the way it looks
Everything about the Merrie Monarch has to look good, and we absolutely love that it looks good. The dancers are critiqued and analyzed for their movements, their grace, the positioning of their hands, toes, and fingers; and their facial expressions. Their costumes are judged on their flexibility, color, texture, design, and movement. The dancers must be in sync–they must move as one–and we LOVE when it looks that good, which, it always does. There’s so much hard work put into all of this behind the scenes and we appreciate that!
We love the way it tastes
The best of Hawaiian food comes out during Merrie Monarch week. The smell of laulau, kalua pig, and barbeque fill the air. But then the temptations really come when you can smell malasadas, poi mochi, and sweet fruits. Good luck going through downtown Hilo without catching a whiff of the food. Local vendors come out with their foods in all varieties and from all over the world (remember, Hawaii is a melting pot): China, Philippines, Japan, Samoa, Tonga, etc…. The food is so ono, and Merrie Monarch is a good excuse to eat up!
It makes us happy
I’ve never met a grumpy person at Merrie Monarch. Maybe it’s because we’re all so full of it. Or maybe it’s because it gives us an opportunity to get up and get out. This is a time for people to get dressed up in their most Hawaiian attire and to party. It’s the whole shebang: straw hats, leis, hakus, aloha print wear, pearl jewelry, gold bracelets, and lots and lots of flowers. This is THE biggest hula competition on the earth, so why not go all out? People love it, and they love seeing other people go all out too. Food, friends, and fun is a great recipe for happiness.
It touches us
When we see the Merrie Monarch winners crying, with the shock of pure relief, gratitude, and joy on their faces, we can’t help but feel touched. These hula dancers have worked SO hard, some of them dancing their whole lives so they could live this one moment. Even when some of the halau or soloists don’t win, it still touches us because we know they’ve worked hard to get where they are today.
It takes place in Hilo
Cheee just had to throw this one in here cause it’s where I’m from!
It keeps the Hawaiian language alive
At no other time will you hear the Hawaiian language spoken so abundantly. The kupuna come out to watch the competition and visit with one another, people greet each other and hold conversations in Hawaiian, and the Hawaiian language is used in oli and mele in the competition. Not gonna lie though… We also always speak Pidgin English so if you don’t hear Hawaiian being spoken, then expect to hear Pidgin.
It serves as a reminder
While we go about our daily lives, it’s easy to forget how much we appreciate our Hawaiian cultural heritage and traditions. The Merrie Monarch gives us a reason to keep the Hawaiian culture and language alive, and each time it rolls around, it reminds us of how much we love and appreciate our roots, and why we want to keep it going. Cause if we don’t preserve it, how will our future generations know?
While Merrie Monarch happens only once a year, it does give a Hawaii local all the feels, whether at home or abroad. Aren’t we so lucky to be from Hawaii?
Your turn!
Do you have any favorite memories of Merrie Monarch? What was your favorite performance this year?
If you love Hawaii culture, language, and history, as well as young adult literature, you’ll fall in love with my new book, Lehua. It is a Rapunzel fairy tale retelling set in ancient Hawaii. With clean romance, themes of love, trust, and healing, you will love this new book!
Want to skip and watch the video of me introducing the book? By all means, check it out! 🙂
https://youtu.be/ZlrpQFp2v2U
Title
My first book, Aloha State of Mind, highlighted one of my favorite flowers of all time, the lehua blossom. The ‘ohia lehua trees represent resilience, strength, and tenacity that so few other plants possess. When lava pours from the mouth of Kilauea, it burns everything in its path, especially ‘ohia trees. The amazing thing is that the ‘ohia is one of the first things to grow. It’s like a pheonix—no matter how many times it turns to ashes, it still rises. It paves the way for other plant and life to thrive on hard, barren lava plains.
With this in mind, I knew I had to name my first book in this series after such a symbolic flower:
Lehua
This is the first book in the “Enchanted Hawai’i Collection,” a series of interconnected books that can also be read as stand-alones.
Genre
Lehua is the first in an interconnected series but can be read as a stand alone. It is a young adult fairy tale retelling, meaning, if you love…
Fairy tale retellings 🧚🏽♀️
Hawaiian mythology and folklore ✨
Clean romance 💖
Themes of self confidence, romance, and trust🤙🏽
Magical races and creatures 💨
Young adult literature 🌴
The Hawaiian culture, values, and language 🌺
and geckos 🦎
I think you will really enjoy Lehua!
Blurb for Lehua
Here’s the blurb to get you interested… 😉
“I had to get out of there, because if I didn’t find an escape, then who would?”
Lehua always believed people despised her. It was the only way she could explain why the villagers of Hilo sent her from one home to the next. She never lived in one place, until a powerful mo’o, a woman from the legendary Hawaiian gecko race, trapped her deep in the heights of Waiakea.
When the handsome king of Hilo tries to help her escape, a terrible curse falls upon him. Lehua must escort him to the palace for help, even as she yearns to run away from the Big Island of Hawai‘i.
But as she spends more time with the king, her desire to escape the island begins to fade, and she sees that maybe she was wrong about people all along. Maybe people were better than she thought. When her moment to leave finally arrives, will she follow the new feelings in her heart, or choose the narrative she always believed?
Lehua is inspired by the story of Rapunzel, as well as Hawaiian mythology, folklore, and culture. Fans of clean romance and happily ever afters will be moved by Lehua, the first book in The Enchanted Hawai‘i Collection, a fairy tale retelling series set in ancient Hawaii.
Lehua Cover
My favorite part… the cover! I am SO happy with how this cover turned out, featuring beautiful ‘ohia lehua blossoms, and a gorgeous Lehua character. If you’d like some behind-the-scenes of how I made this cover, let me know in the comments below!
Also, if you love special book formatting, my fairy tale books definitely have that feature! Like “Rise of the Manō,” my “Enchanted Hawai’i Collection” book formatting will not disappoint. The books include my own artwork on the spines and back covers, and a hand-drawn map of the Hawaiian islands inside the book.
When does the book come out?
Lehua comes out on March 20, 2022 in both paperback and ebook format on Amazon. It will also be available on Google Books and Kobo.
You ready for this?
I am a believer that the arts can inspire healing, connection, and recognition. I wrote my books with specific intentions in mind, and Lehua, as well as the rest of the “Enchanted Hawai’i Collection” follow brave, strong heroines who face similar problems to those we encounter today. Our heroines learn how to overcome these obstacles, inspiring us to do the same. I hope Lehua can be a healing book for those who struggle with self confidence, negative self talk, and toxic relationships. You can get yourself out of toxic circumstances. You deserve to be happy and at peace, truly. 🙂
Two values I thought of that go along with this book are alohaand mālama. It’s important to love and care for others, but equally as important to love and care for ourselves. When Jesus Christ told us the first commandment, he said to “Love the Lord with all thy heart, mind, and strength—and the second is like unto it: love thy neighbor as thyself.” We need to love our neighbors, ‘ohana, and friends just as much as we love ourselves. I hope this book will inspire you to do just that!
Want to support wildlife conservation efforts? Here’s a fun and easy way!
In Hawaii, we believe that when you care for the land, it cares for you. The phrase we use is “mālama ka ‘aina.” The word mālama, which means “to care for and protect,” is a word and value that inspires us to care for the world around us… And that includes all of God’s amazing creations: the animals, the plants, the trees, the ocean, etc.
While we can and should do our part to become more eco-friendly, there are other ways we can support conservation efforts, and I think I found the perfect, FUN thing: Fahlo bracelets.
Fahlo is a company that partners with wildlife conservation efforts so you can track a real animal. With each bracelet purchased, you are supporting wildlife, on land and sea. The company has four animal bracelets to choose from: turtles, sharks, polar bears, or elephants.
And the best part? Each bracelet comes with an animal to track. You can download the Fahlo app (on Apple or Google Play) and see where your animal is in the world. I love this, as I feel a special connection to the turtles I’m tracking.
How do Fahlo bracelets raise awareness?
I get compliments on my bracelets all the time!
Have you ever worn a piece of jewelry and someone says, “I love that!” or “How cute!” — How many times has someone told me this about my bracelets? Too many to count! When people comment about the bracelets in real life or on social media, I love sharing about how the bracelets support sea turtles. That’s the beauty of these bracelets. With this jewelry, you can share about the wildlife you’re supporting and show them the animal you’re tracking! What better way to raise awareness about wildlife conservation efforts?
These bracelets also make amazing gifts. Imagine gifting a loved one a bracelet that not only supports a wildlife conservation effort, but comes with an animal to track? It’s so fun to see where your animal is. I love checking in with my turtles!
Use my link or use code LEIALOHA20 to get 20% off your Fahlo order!
Do the tracking methods hurt the animals?
I asked this question right off the bat. I wanted to know if the tracking is safe for the animals. Are the devices, attached to the animals, hurting them? I’d feel horrible if they did, so don’t worry. I looked into this too. Here’s the rundown on each animal:
Sea turtle tracking:
The sea turtle bracelets are my favorite!
Depending on the type of sea turtle, most trackers are placed on the turtle’s back using a resin or non-heat epoxy, which won’t hurt the turtle. These materials wear down after about a year and then fall off. For loggerhead turtles, the tracker must be attached to the dorsal ridge. So far the transmitter hasn’t seemed to affect the turtle’s travels or behavior. Find out more about turtle tracking here.
Shark tracking:
The tracking devices are placed next to or through the dorsal fin. The website says that the sharks don’t react, as the dorsal fin has no nerve endings. So, as far as we know, the device isn’t harming the shark, nor does it mess with their senses and behavior. The tags wear down over time. Another method they use is an acoustic tag, which they implant in the shark’s body cavity. The device lasts up to 10 years and shows no side effects. Find out more about shark tracking here.
Polar bear tracking:
A collar, made of flexible, synthetic material is placed around the polar bear’s neck. I felt worried about this but the more I read about it, the more I realized how important the data is for our understanding of polar bears, and what we can do to protect them. Find out more about polar bear tracking here.
Elephant tracking:
Like the polar bears, the elephants are tracked using collars. The website didn’t say much about how they apply the collars to the elephants, but the collars have incredible benefits. One of the benefits is that one of the algorithms of the tracker checks for unnatural movement, which can warn if an elephant is potentially in danger by poachers. The tracker informs local wildlife management and enforcement, who can respond much more quickly than if the elephants didn’t have the collars. Find out more about elephant tracking here.
Is Fahlo a scam?
I know. I asked this question too, and I’ve done all the research. When I went to each wildlife conservation website, they confirmed their partnership with Fahlo… which means, the money you spend on your bracelet IS going to that wildlife conservancy! So is Fahlo a scam? No, it’s legit. 🙂
What are the bracelets made of?
I did a little more digging on this one and had an awesome contact to let me know the details. You will receive your bracelet in a compostable brown bag. The bracelet itself is made of crushed stone. The main charm is made of plastic and produced in China by a family-owned business. The bracelets are shipped from Dallas, Texas.
What size does the bracelet come in?
The bracelets are one-size-fits-all. But… I have tiny wrists so I actually cut my bracelet and re-strung them with three less beads. My sister got some for her daughters and they didn’t mind the bracelets being a little bigger. It’s just a matter of preference. 🙂
Want a bracelet to support wildlife conservation?
I have turtle bracelets and aim to get some shark bracelets soon. I love wearing my bracelets and get compliments on them all the time. If you want to take the dip and get some Fahlo bracelets for yourself, use my link or use code LEIALOHA20 to get 20% off your Fahlo order!
In conclusion, MAHALO for your efforts to mālama ka ‘aina. I truly believe that when we make an effort to connect with earth and the animals, it can bless our lives in amazing and beautiful ways. Let me know in the comments if you have any questions. Or if you got a bracelet, let me know which one you got! Are you a shark, turtle, polar bear, or elephant kind of person? I’d love to know!
E komo mai! 🌺 I am the author of Aloha State of Mind, a self help book that teaches you how to create paradise wherever you are. My blog, Naturally Aloha, focuses on all things Hawaii: culture, values, food, lifestyle, and more. I hope my writing inspires you to carry aloha with you everywhere! Learn more…
Get my debut novel, “Aloha State of Mind”
Create paradise wherever you are with my debut novel, available for purchase on Amazon and more!
Check out my Hawaiian Epic Fantasy, “Rise of the Manō”
