humuhumunukunukuapua'a

[ hoo-moo-hoo-moo-noo-koo-noo-koo-ah-poo-ah-ah ]

noun

1. either of two triggerfishes, especially Rhinecantus aculeatus, of Indo-Pacific coral reefs.

Word History and Origins

Origin of humuhumunukunukuapua'a¹

First recorded in 1900–05; from Hawaiian: literally, “pig-snouted triggerfish,” equivalent to humuhumu “triggerfish” + nukunuku, reduplication of nuku “snout” + a “like” + puaʾa “pig”)

Example Sentences

Snorkeling in the early morning, I was often one of the first people in the water, floating solo above humuhumunukunukuapua’a, or reef triggerfish, as they fed off the coral.

From Seattle Times

They named it Humu after the Humuhumunukunukuapua`a, the state fish of Hawaii, where Crosby and Bock met, but also because of its similar sound to words such as humor, humility and human.

From Washington Post

The grand finale of Kapalua Wine & Food is a seafood extravaganza, with signature dishes from 14 of Maui’s top restaurants, including The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua’s Banyan Tree and Kai, The Grand Wailea’s Humuhumunukunukuapua’a, and Wailea’s relative newcomer Migrant, helmed by rising star Sheldon Simeon.

From Forbes

And in several surveys Americans have admited that they obsessively check and respond to e-mails from their colleagues or feel obliged to get some work done in between kayaking around the coast of Kauai and learning to pronounce humuhumunukunukuapua'a.

From Scientific American

And in several surveys Americans have admited that they obsessively check and respond to e-mails from their colleagues or feel obliged to get some work done in between kayaking around the coast of Kauai and learning to pronounce humuhumunukunukuapua'a.

From Scientific American