“If the ‘aweoweo run, that means something’s gonna happen,” said 6-year-old Ryanne Robi Caberto, of Waimea. That’s what her grandma told her, and Grandma must know what she’s talking about. Ryanne’s mom, Jolene, really didn’t know if the folktale was
“If the ‘aweoweo run, that means something’s gonna happen,” said 6-year-old Ryanne Robi Caberto, of Waimea. That’s what her grandma told her, and Grandma must know what she’s talking about. Ryanne’s mom, Jolene, really didn’t know if the folktale was true, but said: “That’s what they say.”
Fishermen and fisherwomen at Waimea Pier Monday evening all had a similar tale to tell about the schools of small red fish that have been “turning the water red” all over West Kaua‘i for the past three weeks, and they could soon be headed to Nawiliwili.
‘Aweoweo, sometimes called the Hawaiian big-eye, has bright, glowing red and silver scales and big eyes.
“The last time I remember was at Port Allen and then had Hurricane Dot, and I remember hooking all those fish,” said Alita Matsusaka. Hurricane Dot hit Kaua‘i in early August 1959.
Ellani Asuncion, her daughter Lindzie, 6, and other family traveled all the way from Kapa‘a to hook some, and in less than an hour, they filled a six-pack cooler with fish about 2 and 3 inches long. “She just loves it, it’s so fun for her,” Ellani said of her daughter, who was having a ball casting her line out into the sea, almost every time catching one.
Other people said they caught ‘aweoweo in the 1960s and 1970s but didn’t remember anything “bad” happening.
Liz Hahn, of Waimea, said she was catching a lot during the day at Waimea Pier recently, and added that an “expert” in Hanalei recently told her that once every seven years the ‘aweoweo are as abundant as they have been this month, and people often relate the phenomenon to storms or weather-related troubles.
One story says that in 1891, on the day that King Kalakaua died in San Francisco, a huge multitude of ‘aweoweo was seen schooling in Pearl Harbor. But, this is not the only red fish to be “responsible” for such ill fates.
In the Hawaiian proverb collection “‘Olelo No‘eau” by Mary Kawena Pukui, it says: “Ka i‘a ‘ula weli i ke kai,” or “The red fish that causes a red color to show in the sea,” referring to the appearance of ‘alalauwa, menpachi or other red fish in great abundance as a sign that a member of the royal Hawaiian family would soon die.
State Department of Land and Natural Resources Aquatics Biologist Don Heacock said the red-fish myth is not true. “There’s an ancient omen that somebody of royalty may die…but it doesn’t mean bad luck unless you’re the queen,” he said.
He also said that the fish can grow up to about 10 or 11 inches long, meaning the 3-inchers being caught lately are not yet fully mature. However, there is no size regulation, probably because they are so plentiful. Their abundance can depend on ocean currents, cycles of the moon and number of predators, Heacock said.
At Port Allen Monday night several dozen families lined the small boat harbor with small spinners and bamboo poles, taking advantage of the lights near the docking area.
Kura Hirokawa, 82, was being called “the Master,” by nearby anglers, and for good reason: He was catching about 10 for each one that anyone else hooked.
“It’s good eats,” they said on the Westside, and pan-frying them till crispy is the best way to do it.
Staff Writer Kendyce Manguchei can be reached at kmanguchei@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 252).
Staff Photographer Dennis Fujimoto can be reached at dfujimoto@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 253).
