In the time of ancient Hawaiians this fish was reserved for royalty.

Milkfish or Awa
Chanos chanos

Description • This large silvery fish can grow up to 6 feet in length. It has small scales with a small pointed mouth, deeply forked tai l and a single almost shark like dorsalfin. The only species of the family Chanidae. Their mouths are large and the lower jaw juts out.
This very important food fish was reared in fishponds by ancient Hawaiians in which they were more productive than the natural habitat of coastal reef. Today the milkfish is the species of choice for aquaculture projects. They have dry bony flesh which is good for making fishcake.

Habitat • Found occassionally along reefs and in bays and sometimes enter shallow water to eat algae.

Diet •. The milkfish is a herbivore and feeds on micro-plankton and algae.