Nā I'a

 

 

'A'ama

Hā'uke'uke

Hāwa'e

'Ina

Kūpe'e

Leho

Limu

Manini

'Opihi

Pāo'o

Pipipi

Pūnohu

Pūpū Kōlea

Wana

 

punohu

punhou

Other Names:

Hā'uke'uke 'ula'ula

'Ina mānoanoa

Peni

Ka Hana

 

 

punohu

punohu

punohu

punohu

punohu

punohu

Pilina Kai

 

 

Pūnohu

punohu

 

" Ua wela ka lā, ke 'oni nei kukuna o ka hā'uke'uke "

The sun is too warm, for the spikes of the hā'uke'uke (pūnohu) are moving.

Pūnohu are found in the low-tide zone, sub-tide zone and in deeper water. It grows to about 12 inches long with individual spines ranging in color from bright red, pink to orange. At night the spines often turn a chalky pink color.

A thin layer of live tissue cover the spines inhibiting the growth of limu and other marine life. Small red shrimp (Levicaris mammillata / Hawaiian name unknown to the author) sometimes live on Pūnohu.

Pūnohu spines were used to sharpen fish hooks and tatoo instruments. Spines were carved into akua ki'i or deity representations. The spines were also used as a writing tool on slate.

Pūnohu can be eaten by removing the spines and cracking the shell open. The "meat" is actually reproductive glands (egg and sperm sacks) making it a seasonal food, eaten when the animal is reproducing or "fat." The author has witnessed pūnohu being "fat" twice a year on the leeward side of the Big Island.