HONOLULU – The humuhumunukunukuapuaa officially lost its title as the state fish more than a decade ago, but is set to reclaim the honor.
A bill reinstating the critter – known as humuhumu for short – passed the Legislature on Monday and heads next to the office of Gov. Linda Lingle for a signature.
The little fish with the long name was deposed in 1990 by a clause in the law that gave it its crown, which caused the measure to expire after five years.
But few in the state were aware of the change, and the fish, also known as the rectangular triggerfish, has continued to be touted as Hawaii’s state fish.
The lawmaker who introduced the new measure, Rep. Blake Oshiro, credits the 6-year-old son of a friend and constituent, Joel Itomura. It was Itomura who brought the lack of an official designation for the humuhumu to the attention of Oshiro, D-Aiea-Halawa.
Lingle now has 10 days to sign or veto the bill.
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