Frommer's Kauai - Jeanette Foster [20]
mahimahi dolphin fish (the game fish, not the mammal) or dorado, a classic sweet, white-fleshed fish requiring vigilance among purists, because it’s often disguised as fresh when it’s actually “fresh-frozen”—a big difference
monchong bigscale or sickle pomfret, an exotic, tasty fish, scarce but gaining a higher profile on Hawaiian Island menus
nairagi striped marlin, also called au; good as sashimi and in poke, and often substituted for ahi in raw-fish products
onaga ruby snapper, a luxury fish, versatile, moist, and flaky
ono wahoo, firmer and drier than the snappers, often served grilled and in sandwiches
opah moonfish, rich and fatty, and versatile—cooked, raw, smoked, and broiled
opakapaka pink snapper, light, flaky, and luxurious, suited for sashimi, poaching, sautéing, and baking; the best-known upscale fish
papio jack trevally, light, firm, and flavorful, and favored in island cookery
shutome broadbill swordfish, of beeflike texture and rich flavor
tombo albacore tuna, with a high fat content, suitable for grilling and sautéing
uhu parrotfish, most often encountered steamed, Chinese-style
uku gray snapper of clear, pale-pink flesh, delicately flavored and moist
ulua large jack trevally, firm-fleshed and versatile
5 The Natural World: An Environmental Guide to the Islands
The first Hawaiian Islands were born of violent volcanic eruptions that took place deep beneath the ocean’s surface, about 70 million years ago—more than 200 million years after the major continental landmasses had been formed. As soon as the islands emerged, Mother Nature’s fury began to carve beauty from barren rock. Untiring volcanoes spewed forth rivers of fire that cooled into stone. Severe tropical storms, some with hurricane-force winds, battered and blasted the cooling lava rock into a series of shapes. Ferocious earthquakes flattened, shattered, and reshaped the islands into precipitous valleys, jagged cliffs, and recumbent flatlands. Monstrous surf and gigantic tidal waves rearranged and polished the lands above and below the reaches of the tide.
It took millions of years for nature to shape the familiar form of Diamond Head on Oahu, Maui’s majestic peak of Haleakala, the waterfalls of Molokai’s northern side, the reefs of Hulopoe Bay on Lanai, and the lush rainforests of the Big Island. The result is an island chain like no other—a tropical landscape rich in unique flora and fauna, surrounded by a vibrant underwater world.
THE ISLAND LANDSCAPES
OAHU Oahu is the third-largest island in Hawaii (behind the Big Island and Maui). As the home of Honolulu, it’s also the most urban island, with a population of nearly 900,000. Oahu is defined by two mountain ranges: the Waianae Ridge in the west, and the jagged Koolau in the east, which form a backdrop for Honolulu. These ranges divide the island into three different environments. The windward (eastern) side is lush with greenery, ferns, tropical plants, and waterfalls. On the leeward (western) side, the area between the Waianae Ridge and the ocean is drier, with sparse vegetation, little rainfall, and an arid landscape. Between the two mountain ranges lies the central Ewa Valley; it’s moderate in temperature and vibrant with tropical plants, agricultural fields, and trees.
HAWAII, THE BIG ISLAND By far the largest island at some 4,034 square miles (and still growing), the Big Island is twice the size of all the other islands combined. Here you’ll find every type of climate zone existing in Hawaii. It’s not uncommon for there to be 12 feet of snow on the two largest mountain peaks, 13,796-foot Mauna Kea and 13,680-foot Mauna Loa. These mountains are the tallest in the state; what’s more, when measured from their true base on the ocean floor, they reach 32,000 feet, making them the tallest mountains in the world. The 4,077-foot Kilauea Volcano has been continuously erupting since January 3, 1983, and has added more than 600 acres of new land to the Big Island since then. Just a few miles from the barely cooled barren lava lies a pristine rainforest. On the southern end of the