'Opihi

" He i'a make ka 'opihi "

The 'opihi is a fish of death.

('Ölelo No'eau 610)

'Opihi are an 'ono delicacy enjoyed by many. The 3 varieties recognized by our kūpuna are endemic and found no where else in the world.

The 3 varieties are:

'Opihi Makaiauli (pictured on the left column-top) is also called black-foot 'opihi or cowboy 'opihi. It lives highest on the shoreline above the waterline. The ridges are usually dark with light troughs. The ridges do not extend down the the edge of the shell and are somewhat smooth.

'Opihi 'Ālinalina (pictured on the left column-middle) is also called yellow-foot 'opihi or lū'au 'opihi. It lives in a mid-zone between the makaiauli and kō'ele, sometimes overlapping with its neighbors. The ridges are much more thick than the makaiauli and extend down to the edge of its shell. 'Ālinalina is a favorite.

'Opihi Kō'ele (pictured on the left column-bottom) is also called the giant 'opihi or the mama 'opihi. It lives lowest on the shoreline below the water line to depths of 30 feet. It is always under water and is often covered by limu and barnacles. Kō'ele are the largest of our 'opihi and are sought after for their meat and shell. We discourage harvesting kō'ele.

'OPIHI TERMS:

Ku'i is the term used for collecting 'opihi off rocks.

Poke is the term for removing them from the shell.

Weka is the excrement bag or kūkae.