Creature Feature: Hawaiian grouper

Hawaiian grouper. Photo Credit: Greg McFall

The Hawaiian grouper (Hyporthodus quernus, hāpuʻu in Hawaiian) is endemic to the Hawaiian Archipelago and is most common around Midway and Kure Atoll, but very rarely seen on the other Hawaiian Islands. Adults can reach impressive sizes of up to 4 ft. in length and 50 lbs. in weight. Although this grouper can occasionally be seen by snorkelers or SCUBA divers, it prefers much deeper waters and has been spotted as deep as 380 ft. The Hawaiian grouper is carnivorous and feeds on fishes and large invertebrates.