 
Hawaiian name: puhi.
Moray eels (Family Muraenidae) make up one of the largest families of bony fishes in Hawai‘i, with more species (over 40) than any other fish family than perhaps the wrasses (Family Labridae). Their abundance cannot be truly appreciated because most species are small and remain well hidden within the reef. Research has show that the smaller eel species represent a large percentage of the fish population on Hawaiian reefs. Moray eels are true bony fishes with bodies highly modified to suit their life style. The elongate head bears a large, gaping mouth and tube-like nostrils. The mouth is held open so that water can be pumped over the gills. The gill cover is reduced to a small hole for streamlining and protection of the delicate gills. The elongated muscular body of the eel lacks paired fins (pectoral and pelvic fins) seen in other fishes, allowing the eels to move more easily within the narrow crevices of the reef framework. The dorsal (top), anal (bottom), and caudal (tail) fins remain as fleshy ridges, covered with thickened skin to protect them from abrasion. Lacking paired fins, eels swim by moving their entire body side to side in a S-shaped wave. Using this wave pattern an eel can move forward or backward, an important advantage if living within the narrow holes of the reef. The scales have either been lost completely or are buried within the skin.
Morays lurk in holes and crevices in rocky areas or on the coral reef. During the day, often only the head is visible at the entrance to its shelter, but most eels are never seen. They usually emerge at night to search within and over the reef for prey which they locate using a keen sense of smell. They often prey on inactive diurnal species that are resting within the reef framework at night. There are two major groups of moray eels in Hawai‘i, differentiated by the kind of prey they are adapted to take. Eels that feed on fishes and soft-bodied invertebrates like octopus have elongated heads and long, fang-like teeth for grasping their soft-bodied prey. Their teeth curve backward so that once captured, prey cannot escape and can be moved more easily backward for swallowing. Eels that feed on hard-shelled prey like crabs and molluscs have blunt snouts and pebble-like teeth for crushing their prey. Most Hawaiian morays are not more than two feet (61 cm) long, but a few species may reach six feet (1.8 m) in length. While armed with formidable teeth, most moray eels are not usually aggressive and will not attack prey larger than themselves. When approached by a swimmer or diver, most eels either disappear into their shelter, or open the mouth wide in a defensive posture toward the intruder. While unprovoked attacks on divers have been reported, most eel bites occur when divers place hands or feet too close to the eel's shelter area. Bites from fish-eating morays produce ragged wounds that are prone to infection, due to bacteria living in the eel's mouth. The razor-sharp teeth can inflict muscle, tendon, or nerve damage if the bite is serious, and such wounds should be given immediate medical attention.Puhi figure prominantly in many traditional Hawaiian legends and stories and were also prized as food.
Hawaii Fish Cards
Franko's O'ahu Reef Creatures Guide (fish card). Franko's fish cards are stiff, laminated plastic, with a hole for a lanyard. Take it snorkeling or scuba diving with you! Size of Fish Cards: 6" x 9"
Franko’s Oahu Reef Creatures Guide
Side 1 shows a mini-map of Oahu with a few of it’s best diving and snorkeling spots located, most notably Hanauma Bay. The map is a scaled-down version of Franko’s Map of Oahu, showing the island’s lovely shape and green mountains, and the beautiful surrounding Pacific Ocean. A humpback whale, spinner dolphin, and Hawaiian monk seal are depicted on the map. Oahu’s main towns, Pearl Harbor and it’s highways and freeways can be seen. Below the beautiful mini-map is a fabulous photo of Oahu’s most popular snorkeling destination, Hanauma Bay. There is nowhere else on earth that is snorkeled by so many. Just beyond the reef line, which can easily be seen in the photo, the snorkeling just gets better and better. There might be 2000 visitors at any time in the shallows, but out where it is 12 to 18 feet deep there will usually be no one else out there with you. Visibility might reach 80 feet or more. I just had to put it on the fish card to represent the truly fabulous underwater Oahu.
Side 2 shows the wonderful reef life of Oahu. Oahu has such great snorkeling and scuba diving that it must have it’s own quality fish card. This is it! This picture of Oahu’s fish is the result of personal inspiration, as Franko has snorkeled and scuba dived all around Oahu, and especially at Hanauma Bay. The fish card, which measure 6" x 9", is printed on plastic and then laminated so that it is stiff, shiny and waterproof. It has a hole for a lanyard, so you can actually take it diving or snorkeling. I’ve used a thick rubber ban
d as an effective lanyard for mine. The reef creatures depicted on these cards are taken from my own artwork on Franko’s Map of Oahu. The fish shown include over 80 species, including a dozen or so that are found nowhere else on earth. The Hawaiian fish shown are selected from about 435 species that exist in Hawaii, and are based on Franko’s personal exploration. The colors and the means of showing them are based on personal observation. The naming of the fish in Hawaiian as well as English is helped by the experts at the Maui Ocean Center, The Pacific Whale Foundation, Hanauma Bay rangers, The Waikiki Aquarium, and local knowledge. I love them all, but maybe my favorite is the Humuhumu Nukunuku Apua’a, Hawaii’s State Fish.
Franko’s Map of Oahu, The Gathering Place
Franko’s Map of Oahu, The Gathering Place
Side 1 shows Franko’s Map of Oahu, with a view of the whole island, it’s mountain ranges shown in beautiful green shaded relief, as well as it’s freeways and major roads, plus creeks, trails and things to see or places to go. Beyond the island, the ocean waters are shown in beautiful shades of tropical ocean blue, indicating ocean depth contours. All about the island there are descriptions of it’s fabulous scuba and snorkeling spots, famous surfing spots, and great places to visit. Favorite dive spots include Hanauma Bay, possibly the most snorkeled spot on earth, and also Magic Island right next to Waikiki, the wreck of the Y0-257, which is visited by the Atlantis tourist submarine right out of Waikiki, the M/V Mahi on Oahu’s west where eagle rays soar by, Turtles, where numerous green sea turtles can been seen on almost any day, U’lua Cave, or Black Rock, where white tip reef sharks guard a big cave, and many more. The North Shore not only features dive spots like Shark’s Cove, Snagles, Turtle Street and Hale’iwa Trench, but also great surfing spots like Sunset Beach, Banzai Pipeline, Waimea Bay, Chun’s Reef, Laniakea, and Hale’iwa. Follow Franko’s map to Laniakea and check out the old, 300-pound green sea turtles grazing on the algae right at the beach, or even resting on the beach there, as they have for thousands of years. The East Shore shows the map owner where to find the Polynesian Cultural Center (the PCC to the locals), the Mormon Hawaii Temple, which is probably the most beautiful edifice in the State of Hawaii, and Sandy Beach, famous for it’s body-whomping heavy shorebreak, which commonly ruins a few unwary tourists’ vacations, as they find out just how powerful the beautiful ocean can be. Around the map there is a collection of artwork of tropical fish, which are named in Hawaiian and English, and depicted in a reef environment with photos by Franko.
Side 2 shows Franko’s Map of Waikiki & Oahu South Shore Details. The entire South Shore from Honolulu to Makapu’u Head, Oahu’s easternmost point, is shown so that the viewer can get a close-up view of the island topography, including Diamond Head Crater. More things to do, places to visit, dive and diving sites are shown. The highlight of this side of the map is the superbly detailed map of Waikiki, which shows where everything is, including most of the hotels, Kapiolani Park, Ala Moana Beach Park, Waikiki Beach, the Ala Moana Shopping Center, the International Market Place, over 200 buildings, the DFS Galleria, the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, Ala Wai Harbor, Ala Wai Canal, Ala Wai Golf Course, and much more. Local well known surfing, snorkeling and diving spots are shown with descriptions as well. This map of Waikiki is the very best there is, except for the one that appears on Franko’s Map of Waikiki and Oahu with Things to See and Do. In depth topographical map of Oahu with detailed listing of beaches dive sites and the tropical fish in the area. Printed on waterproof tear-resistant paper. Measures 21 x 14 open 7 x 4.25 folded.
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