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Quiz about Marine Animals of Hawaii
Quiz about Marine Animals of Hawaii

Marine Animals of Hawaii Trivia Quiz


Dive in and explore the oceans of the Aloha State, uncovering stories behind some of its most famous marine creatures. This quiz will also feature the HAWAIIAN NAMES of these animals.

A multiple-choice quiz by lykita. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
lykita
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
341,686
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Easy
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
1114
Awards
Top 10% Quiz
Last 3 plays: ChefMcGee (6/10), Scooby83 (6/10), Guest 2 (10/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Every morning at a fish market, sushi bars and local restaurants bid on the freshest AHI. Also called "maguro" in Japanese, what is this prized fish? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. My favorite sea creature is the HONU. Usually only seen at night when they drag themselves up onto remote sandy beaches to lay eggs, Honu's plated head or shiny brown carapace can be seen swimming near shore in the daytime. What creature are we talking about? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. While walking in tidepools, beware the WANA (pronounced Va-Na). These echinoderms can cause serious injury if stepped on, though sushi afficionados will want to crack them open and eat them on the spot. Do you wanna venture a guess about what Wana are? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Pu'ukohola Heiau was built as a shrine to the war god by King Kamehameha the Great. It's so named because its stone platform resembles the back of a KOHOLA, which migrate from Alaskan waters to give birth in the winter months (December to April). Their jumping and spouting are the highlights of cruises during this season. What is a KOHOLA? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. When a Hawaiian fisherman says he's gonna "catch squid," they actually are after HE'E, which have two arms less than an actual squid. Which animal would you expect to see on the end of his spear? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. MANU means bird in Hawaiian, but MANO refers to a more formidable marine denizen. Although feared and ostracized in Hollywood movies, native Hawaiians regard them as family guardian spirits who protect fishermen. Name this predator. Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. If it weren't for KO'A, Hawaii's oceans may not have been so diverse or productive. They surround most of the main Hawaiian islands except for the Big Island, which is still too young for extensive colonies of KO'A to have built up large plate- or branch-like structures with their calcium carbonate skeletons. What kind of invertebrate are we talking about? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. A crowd pleaser at many aquariums is the HIHIMANU. Related to sharks because of their cartilaginous skeleton, they look nothing like those sleek, streamlined hunters. Mouth on the underside, eyes on top, their flat bodies like to hover over sandy areas in search of shellfish. Their main defense unfortunately did in one famous Aussie wildlife expert. What is a HIHIMANU? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. In Hawaii, it's always a treat to see NAI'A frolicking in the open ocean. They come in spotted, spinner, and bottlenose varieties, and are usually found in social groups. Their clicks and chirp are a form of communication, and those sounds are also used to locate prey. What we call NAI'A in English? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. One famous Hawaiian song ends, "where the HUMUHUMUNUKUNUKUAPUA'A go swimming by." What in the world is that? Hint



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quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Every morning at a fish market, sushi bars and local restaurants bid on the freshest AHI. Also called "maguro" in Japanese, what is this prized fish?

Answer: tuna

Native Hawaiians were master fishermen and took advantage of the bountiful reefs and the rich Pacific open ocean. Ahi is yellowfin tuna, and one of the most prized fishes for sushi and sashimi. Other popular fishes are Aku (skipjack tuna) and Mahimahi (dorado).
2. My favorite sea creature is the HONU. Usually only seen at night when they drag themselves up onto remote sandy beaches to lay eggs, Honu's plated head or shiny brown carapace can be seen swimming near shore in the daytime. What creature are we talking about?

Answer: sea turtle

The most common honu is the green sea turtle, an endangered species. Hawksbill turtles are also common, and an occasional loggerhead turtle makes an appearance. Makena Beach on Maui is a great place to see them swimming, and recently they can be seen basking in the sun on Laniakea Beach along O'ahu's north shore.

Although it may be tempting to hitch a ride or hold one for a photo, federal law prohibits touching them, so please enjoy them from a distance.
3. While walking in tidepools, beware the WANA (pronounced Va-Na). These echinoderms can cause serious injury if stepped on, though sushi afficionados will want to crack them open and eat them on the spot. Do you wanna venture a guess about what Wana are?

Answer: sea urchins

Not all sea urchins are deadly. Rock urchins, can be picked up with your bare hands if you're careful. The spines actually move, and provide mobility along with the tube feet. Beware the urchins with long skinny spines; they're venomous and should be avoided at all costs.
4. Pu'ukohola Heiau was built as a shrine to the war god by King Kamehameha the Great. It's so named because its stone platform resembles the back of a KOHOLA, which migrate from Alaskan waters to give birth in the winter months (December to April). Their jumping and spouting are the highlights of cruises during this season. What is a KOHOLA?

Answer: humpback whale

Whalewatching cruises are a must-do during the winter months in Hawaii. In particular, the shallow waters between Maui, Lana'i, and Kaho'olawe provide sanctuary for calves. Humpback whales are also endangered species, so rather than illegally chasing after them, most tour boat operators will stop engines and let the whales come to them.
5. When a Hawaiian fisherman says he's gonna "catch squid," they actually are after HE'E, which have two arms less than an actual squid. Which animal would you expect to see on the end of his spear?

Answer: octopus

Like the Japanese and Mediterranean cultures, Polynesians also prized the octopus for food. After rubbing with salt to remove the slime, local people will often throw it on the grill until the legs curl and thre's a slight char. Sliced and dipped in soy sauce, it's a chewy and flavorful addition to any beach picnic.
6. MANU means bird in Hawaiian, but MANO refers to a more formidable marine denizen. Although feared and ostracized in Hollywood movies, native Hawaiians regard them as family guardian spirits who protect fishermen. Name this predator.

Answer: shark

Not all sharks are good, but those who are 'aumakua do their duty to protect the family they have chosen. One famous shark god lives in Pearl Harbor, and it's said that when the Navy built a drydock over its lair in the early 20th century, the drydock suddenly cracked and had to be rebuilt. Do not scorn nature's spirits, one could infer. That shark's story inspired the original Hawaiian lyrics of what is now "Pearly Shells."
7. If it weren't for KO'A, Hawaii's oceans may not have been so diverse or productive. They surround most of the main Hawaiian islands except for the Big Island, which is still too young for extensive colonies of KO'A to have built up large plate- or branch-like structures with their calcium carbonate skeletons. What kind of invertebrate are we talking about?

Answer: coral

Over 60% of America's coral reefs lie in the Hawaiian Islands. Many of the reefs are what makes up the string of atolls and low-lying islands that stretch from the main islands to Midway.

Once called the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, they have been renamed Papahanaumokuakea and were designated a World Heritage Site in 2009. This Hawaiian name reflects the atolls' geographic age and role as the ancient and ancestral islands. Interesting to note that a coral polyp is the first living creature that springs forth in the Hawaiian creation myth.

When snorkeling and exploring Hawaii's reefs, do not step on or grab live coral, because that can kill the living polyps and cause reefs to be invaded by algae or other invasive species. Malama ke kai (protect the oceans).
8. A crowd pleaser at many aquariums is the HIHIMANU. Related to sharks because of their cartilaginous skeleton, they look nothing like those sleek, streamlined hunters. Mouth on the underside, eyes on top, their flat bodies like to hover over sandy areas in search of shellfish. Their main defense unfortunately did in one famous Aussie wildlife expert. What is a HIHIMANU?

Answer: stingray

Most rays have a stinging barb at the base of its tail, so unfortunate humans who step on a ray in a sandy area may get pricked. Shuffling one's feet as you walk across sandy ocean bottoms can give warning to a sleeping ray.

In Hawaii, manta rays get more attention, but they are different from other rays in two significant ways. 1) No stinging barb 2) they filter feed with their gaping mouths rather than crushing shellfish with knobby teeth.
9. In Hawaii, it's always a treat to see NAI'A frolicking in the open ocean. They come in spotted, spinner, and bottlenose varieties, and are usually found in social groups. Their clicks and chirp are a form of communication, and those sounds are also used to locate prey. What we call NAI'A in English?

Answer: dolphin

When whale watching is off season, most of the wildlife cruises go dolphin spotting. Bottlenose dolphins are the friendliest, often approaching boats and playing with swimmers. Again, the key to marine animals is to let them approach rather than chasing them and causing stress.
Interesting fact: There are no species of sea gull in Hawaii.
10. One famous Hawaiian song ends, "where the HUMUHUMUNUKUNUKUAPUA'A go swimming by." What in the world is that?

Answer: a colorful reef fish

Unofficially Hawaii's state fish, the Humuhumunukunukuapua'a is a triggerfish that lives in the coral reefs. Shaped like a rhombus, its name means "to grunt and gnash like a pig." It actually rubs its teeth together and that porcine sound can often be heard when snorkeling.
Source: Author lykita

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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