Juvenile, Waikiki Aquarium

Chromis, Midway Atoll, 75 feet

Fish Hole, Midway Atoll, 30 feet

A large inquisitive inhabitant of reefs at scuba depths around Midway and Kure Atoll but rarely seen by divers around the other Hawaiian Islands, where it prefer cooler waters deeper than 200 feet.  Dark brown with irregular white blotches that are displayed at will, juveniles with vertical columns of white spots.  Feeds upon fishes and large invertebrates.  A long-lived, commercially important species sensitive to over-harvesting, it is a member of the Deep Seven.  Attains at least 3 feet and 50 pounds.  Juveniles are known as hāpu�upu�u.  Endemic to Hawai'i.  Formerly known as Epinephelus quernus.