Kapuhili--Oval or Redfin Butterflyfish

Rich and I saw a pair of these at Two Steps.

 Vertical black eye bar, bluish stripes on body, distinctive red anal fin.

An uncommon species that almost exclusively occurs in pairs.

Kikakapu--Pebbled or Multiband Butterflyfish

There were many of these at Two Steps.

Black eye-bar, small black band at base of tail and edge of tail and five beige verical bands on its cream colored body. These bands can appear at times only faintly.

Kikakapu--Teardrop Butterflyfish

Finally saw one a couple of days ago. I have been looking every time we have come here.

The teardrop butterflyfish is a hard and soft coral grazer, using its large, protruding jaws to bite of polys as wll as pierces of the hard coral's skeleton or chunks of soft coral.. He also ingests larger crustaceans, algae, small clams, and sponges.

Usually found in pairs. Juveniles are usually solitary.

Kikakapu--Saddleback Butterflyfish

I have been looking for these beautiful butterflyfish and just saw them today!!!

Golden snout and chest, larger black part on upper part of body, including dorsal fin, white line around black patch. Also note red markings at base of tail, and blue stripes along side of body.

Relatively uncommon in Hawaii.

Lauhau--Four Spot Butterflyfish

The Fourspot Butterflyfish is a very active, but rather shy species. If startled or frightened this fish will dart around frantically. It is powerful, can jump quite well to avoid getting caught, and caution should be used when handling this fish, as its top dorsal spines can inflict a rather nasty poke. 

Orange eye bar bordered with black or blue followed by a yellow bar. Two white spots on each side of dark part of upper part of body. Lower body yellow. Easily approachable.

Lau-wiliwili-nukunuku-'oi'oi--Long-nosed Butterfly Fish

One of the most beautiful fishes. We see these when we snorkel at Captain Cook and Two Step.
Yellow body, long snout and black spot on anal fin. Uses their extended snout to reach deep into crevices and coral to catch their prey.

Yesterday, Rich saw an all black one. It is a phase which is seen along the Kona coast, but is rare elsewhere. Black Longnose Butterflyfish when placed into aquariums will revert back to their more common yellow phase.

Saw

Kikakapu--Lined Butterflyfish

The largest of all butterfly fish. Called Kikakapu here is Hawaii. We see a pair of them when snorkeling. They are almost always found in pairs.

They are quite large and elegant. A treat to see.

Kikakapu--Ornate Butterflyfish

Another beautiful butter fish to see when snorkeling.

The Ornate butterflyfish, Chaetodon ornatissimus, is a butterflyfish of the family Chaetodontidae found in the Indo-Pacific oceans from Sri Lanka to the Hawaiian, Marquesan and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe and Rapa islands, and throughout Micronesia, at depths down to 118.11 ft (36 m). Its length is up to 7.87 in (20 cm).

Kikakapu--Threadfin Butterflyfish

Another beautiful butter fish of the reef.

The Threadfin Butterflyfish, Chaetodon auriga, is found in the Indo-Pacific region from the Red Sea and eastern Africa (south to Mossel Bay, South Africa) to the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Ducie islands, north to southernJapan, south to Lord Howe Island and Rapa Iti, at depths of between 1 and 35 m. Length is up to 23 cm (9 in). Chaetodon auriga has a neck patch of ascending and a belly patch of descending oblique dark lines. 

Kikakapu--Racoon Butterflyfish

There are many beautiful butterfly fish on the reefs of Hawaii. The first one I noticed is the raccoon butterflyfish, Chaetodon lunula, also known as the crescent-masked butterflyfish or lunule butterflyfish, is found in the Indo-Pacific region and in the southeast Atlantic. Its length is up to 20 cm (nearly 8 in).

Although the coloration of this group varies greatly, they are all largish butterflyfishes with an oval outline, and most have a pattern of ascending oblique stripes on the flanks. Except in the red-tailed butterflyfish, there is at least a vestigial form of the "raccoon" mask, with a white space between the dark crown and eye areas.

racoon butterflyfish at kahalu'u