The Moorish Idol Fish is one of the world's most beautiful fishes. The Hawaiian people have named this fish " Kihikihi" which roughly means that it has flowing curves, with angular shapes, outside corners and zigzags. A quick look at the photo shows how aptly the name fits the interesting and unusual pattern. The body is short, high, oval-shaped, and compressed with small scales. The dorsal fin is long and slender, with a gracefully flowing curve. The body has vertical bands of black, white and yellow. Viewed from the side, the entire perimeter of the fish is dominated with sharp, outside corners ("Kihi"). Adults often reach a length of nine inches. This beautiful fish is predominantly seen near shore coral reefs. It is found in warm tropical waters throughout the world, from Hawaii to Australia, as well as the west coast of Central America, Africa and the Red Sea. Moorish Idols often swim in pairs and are occasionally found in schools. They are very difficult to maintain in captivity because they are active, surprisingly aggressive, and often hard to feed. They do best in the wild, where they can be appreciated by all.
The green sea turtles are endangered species, protected by Federal Law. Please do not touch or harass the Animals. Many other interesting marine animals can be found inhabiting coral heads in the surrounding terrain. Large octopuses, moray eels, leaf scorpion fish, and schools of tangs and file fish are common place and provide additional attractions. A permanent mooring has been constructed in the shallows on the north side of the pinnacles. For photographers and videographers this site is almost always productive, offering fascinating subjects in an area protected from rough ocean conditions.