Something I really need to straighten out

[Maika'i]

So often I hear the Picasso trigger, Rhinecanthus aculeatus, referred to as the "huma huma trigger"
1) The Hawaiian state fish is the "Humuhumunukunukuapua'a" so it is called "humu" for short. NOT hum-A
2) The Rhinecanthus aculeatus isn't even the Hawaiian state fish!!!!
the Rhinecanthus rectangulus is! (usually called rectangular trigger).

So if anybody should call anything a humu trigger its this, the Rhinecanthus rectangulus
NOT this, the Rhinecanthus aculeatus


I really needed to clear that up, its almost a pet peeve

[BrokeColoReefer]

hmmm they look the same to me.....

j/k thanks for clearing that up..

[Maika'i]

yes they do look similar but this bugs me lol

[spleen93]

Thank you, couldn't agree more.

Spleen

[avp]

ok..

So, what's the local name for R. aculeatus?

-avp

[InLimbo87]

Originally posted by avp
ok..

So, what's the local name for R. aculeatus?

-avp

Picasso Trigger

[avp]

yeah, that's the common trade name.

I'm wondering about the local name. If the rectangulatus is the real HumuHumu, what do they (the Hawaiians) call the R. aculeatus?

-avp

[InLimbo87]

Originally posted by Maika'i
So often I hear the Picasso trigger, Rhinecanthus aculeatus, referred to as the "huma huma trigger"

I assumed they also call it the picasso trigger there, because this is what he called it in his initial post.

[avp]

I see your point, but I would bet he's refering to LFS and aquarists.

I doubt the Hawaiians thought of a 20th century cubist painter/scupltor from Spain when they first caught one of these.

-avp

[Maika'i]

Well although the picasso is from Hawai'i it is also from other places in the world. I do not think it was officially named by the Hawaiians, I am not positive but if somebody knows for sure let me know

[Peter Eichler]

I'm quite sure that hu-mu hu-mu nu-ku nu-ku a pu-a-'a as far as original namers were concerned refers to both triggers being mentioned in this thread, though the rectangular trigger is more commonly cited. Humuhumunukunukuapua'a losely translated means fish with a pig-nosed face.

Neither fish are the state fish, the hu-mu hu-mu nu-ku nu-ku a pu-a-'a hasn't been the state fish since I believe 1995, though many still consider it the unofficial state fish.

Also, calling it a Humu or even Humuhumu just makes matters more confusing and you're absolutely wrong to say one fish should be called a Humu and another not... In Hawaii all triggerfish are humuhumu triggerfish. For instance Melichthys niger (<--- speaking of incorrect hobby namings) is a hu-mu hu-mu 'e-le-'e-le, and the Pinktail Trigger is hu-mu hu-mu hi-'u-ko-le, etc. To native Hawaiians, Humuhumu or Humu should = Triggerfish.

[avp]

Thanks Peter! I was thinking along the same lines about the naming conventions, that is all triggers are Humu humus of some type.

-avp

[rickytikki]

Originally posted by Peter Eichler
I'm quite sure that hu-mu hu-mu nu-ku nu-ku a pu-a-'a as far as original namers were concerned refers to both triggers being mentioned in this thread, though the rectangular trigger is more commonly cited. Humuhumunukunukuapua'a losely translated means fish with a pig-nosed face.

Neither fish are the state fish, the hu-mu hu-mu nu-ku nu-ku a pu-a-'a hasn't been the state fish since I believe 1995, though many still consider it the unofficial state fish.

Also, calling it a Humu or even Humuhumu just makes matters more confusing and you're absolutely wrong to say one fish should be called a Humu and another not... In Hawaii all triggerfish are humuhumu triggerfish. For instance Melichthys niger (<--- speaking of incorrect hobby namings) is a hu-mu hu-mu 'e-le-'e-le, and the Pinktail Trigger is hu-mu hu-mu hi-'u-ko-le, etc. To native Hawaiians, Humuhumu or Humu should = Triggerfish.

that's what I thought but I am new so I kept my mouth shut

[spleen93]

Actually, the humu has become the state fish again - a recent law was passed to make it so, as designated here

And my agreement was more in regards to people mispronouncing it "huma" rather than "humu". I see "huma trigger" quite a bit. I'm sure the Hawaiians probably called both fish "humuhumunukunukuapua`a" since they often didn't make distinctions when it didn't make any practical difference. My book "Shore Fishes of Hawai`i" by John Randall states the Hawaiian name for both fishes to be the same.

Spleen

[DrBegalke]

while we are on pet peaves, zoanthids should be called "zoA's"
not "zoo's"..

[Patio]

years go by. lol

quote form another info site

Hawaiian Name:
Hu-mu hu-mu nu-ku nu-ku a pu-a-'a.

Both the Rhinecantus aculeatus and rectangulus bear this famous long Hawaiian name. Roughly translated this name means "fish with a pig-nosed face". In short, this and most all other Triggerfishes worldwide are referred to commonly as Humu-Humu's, and sometimes incorrectly as Huma-Huma's, but these names do not actually identify an individual species one may have.