Hawaii May Honor Humuhumunukunukuapuaa

By The Associated Press
Posted April 18 2006, 8:01 AM EDT

HONOLULU -- The humuhumunukunukuapuaa officially lost its title as the state fish more than a decade ago but is set to reclaim the honor.

A bill reinstating the critter -- known as humuhumu for short -- passed the Legislature on Monday and heads next to the office of Gov. Linda Lingle for a signature.

The little fish with the long name was deposed in 1990 by a clause in the law that gave it its crown, which made the measure expire after five years.

But few in the state were aware of the change and the fish, also known as the rectangular triggerfish, and it has continued to be touted as Hawaii's state fish.

The measure is credited by its introducer, Rep. Blake Oshiro, to the 6-year-old son of a friend and constituent, Joel Itomura. It was Itomura who brought the lack of an official designation for the humuhumu to the attention of Oshiro, D-Aiea-Halawa.

Lingle now has 10 days to potentially veto the bill.

[ Edited by: AlohaStation 2006-04-18 06:37 ]

It's brother (or Sister) Rhinecanthus Aculeatus, the Lagoon Triggerfish (also of the same Hawaiian name is a very smart fish. They (aculeatus) have amazing concentration and can learn to do tricks very quickly.Great pet.
The Rectangulus is more "A.D.D.ish", and won't play as much with it's people.
I hope to someday put video proof on my website, (as I have dozens of hours of trained Humuhumu video). Very smart animal.
I'd put it up against a Linda Lingle any day.
But, I don't have a snapshot of Aculeatus to post---yet. I'll look around for one,