Kuhlia sandvicensis

Kuhlia sandvicensis is a species of fish in the Kuhliidae family, found in both salt and fresh water. Endemic to Hawaii, the common name is ʻāhole for the mature fish, and ʻāholehole for the young. The name is probably derrived from the word hole in the Hawaiian Language which means "to strip away", since the fish was used to strip away evil spirits and as an aphrodisiac. A proverb was "He ʻāhole ka iʻa, hole ke aloha" meaning roughly "ʻāhole is the fish, but love is restless". It was also sometimes known as puaʻa kai, literally "pig of the sea". European visitors were sometimes called ʻāhole due to their pale skin.^[1]

The current location of Kona International Airport is named after this fish, Keāhole Point, since it was found in this area.^[2] Another modern common name is Hawaiian Flagtail.^[3]

References

1. ^ Mary Kawena Pukui, Samuel H. Elbert, Hawaiian dictionary, 1986, ISBN 978-0824807030, page 8
2. ^ John R. K. Clark, Hawaiʻi Place Names: Shores, Beaches, and Surf Sites, published by University of Hawaii Press, 2002, ISBN 978-0824824518
3. ^ http://www.hawaiisfishes.com/fish_of_month/past_fom/fom_05_05.htm Hawaii Flagtails