More Articles
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- June 2007
- April 2007
Ha’uke’uke — Shingle Urchins of Hawaii
Posted: January 11, 2008
Shingle or helmet urchins, known as “ha’uke’uke kaupali” in Hawaiian, are some of the most unusual sea urchins to live in Hawaii. Except for a fringe of spines that extend around the perimeter of their shells, their spines have shrunk and flattened to form a plated dome to withstand the intense pounding of surf in the wave impact zone.
Here is a photo of four purple ha’uke’uke an inch and a half across in a seaweed garden at low tide at Ho’okipa Beach on Maui. Once these urchins anchor themselves to a rock, they are impossible to remove by hand.
Here is a close-up of a shingle urchin (Colobocentrotus atratus) which shows how the spines on the dome of the urchin have shrunk and flattened to form little plates or shingles, which gives the urchin its name. The plates fit together to form a protective dome which allow ha’uke’uke to survive the relentless pounding of waves in the impact zone.
This photo shows a tide pool at low tide along the coast of Ka’ena Point on Oahu. Look closely in the foreground to see more than a dozen purple domed ha’uke’uke on the rocks. Ha’uke’uke was a favorite food in old Hawaii – its yellow roe (eggs) were highly prized and were eaten as a delicacy.
I went spearfishing one day with a Hawaiian friend of mine. In the Kahana area. When we rested on the rocks my friend pointed out the Ha’uke’uke kaupali urchins on the rocks just under the water. He used a rock to hit the urchin on the side and it came loose. Turning it over he scooped out the orange substance from underneath and ate this. I was daring enough to do the same and it tasted like sweet jelly.
Yes… the yellow-orange eggs are delicious!