Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 7, 1 July 1994 — Ke ao nani Naturally Hawaiian [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Ke ao nani Naturally Hawaiian

by Patrick Ching artist/environmentalist

' A crustacean with taste

Lobster, a favorite gourmet delicacy, is also a desirable entree for many marine animals. Monk seals, sharks and large fish such as ulua all weleome an order of lobster when they ean get it. The most eommon type of lobster in Hawai'i is the spiny lobster or ula. There are two varieties of ula: one with a bluishcolored shell and striped legs and the other with a maroon-tinted shell and solid maroon legs. The latter exists only in Hawaiian waters. Another popular Hawaiian lobster is the slipper lobster or ula

pāpapa. Their flattened bodies and mottled coloration help them to blend in with their surroundings. Neither spiny nor slipper lobsters have large pincers, but the spines on their bodies ean inflict a painful puncture. There are a eouple of species of Hawaiian lobsters with large pincers. These are relatives of the Maine lobsters, and like the spiny and slipper lobsters, they live in caves and crevices in the reef. Lobsters are invertebrate crustaceans possessing a shell or "exoskeleton" whieh is shed periodically. Other types of crus-

taceans include barnacles, shrimps and crabs. When a lobster molts or sheds its old shell, a new soft shell is already formed beneath it. While the shell is still soft the lobster grows rapidly. During this time it is very vulnerable to predators. When its shell hardens, the lobster stops growing until the next time it molts its shell. Scavengers of the sea, lobsters will eat just about anything they eome across. Decaying plant and animal material make up most of their diet. One way to capture lobsters is to plaee some bait in a trap with a

funnel leading to it. The Hawaiians made traps out of woven 'ie'ie (climbing screw pine). In more modern times, wire and plastic traps are used. (Note: traps that are lost at sea or neglected ean capture and kill fish for years unless fashioned with an escape hatch of cotton mesh that decays rapidly.) Other ways of capturing lobsters are by diving for them and grabbing them by hand (use a glove) or by catching them as they crawl over the shallow reefs at night, when lobsters are most active. The summer months of June,

July and August are closed season for lobster fishing. It is during these months that most of the spawning occurs. It is also illegal to spear lobsters at any time. These modern-day kapu were enstated to ensure the survival of this important food resource that has been severely depleted in recent years. In old Hawai'i, lobster was sometimes used as sacrifice in the plaee of pigs when they were unavailable. When used for food, the shellfish were usually broiled or eaten raw, sometimes mixed with the innards of wana (sea urchin).