The Ultimate Hawaiian Seafood Guide: From Ono to Opakapaka
I’ll never forget the first time I tried opakapaka — steamed whole, with ginger and scallions, at a small restaurant on Oahu’s windward coast. The flesh was so delicate it flaked at the touch of a fork, and my kids Lily and Ethan, who usually pick at fish, asked for seconds. That’s the thing about Hawaiian seafood: it’s not just fresh — it’s a whole different category of quality. The Deep 7 bottomfish complex, which includes opakapaka and onaga, is the most culturally and economically important group of reef fish in the islands, and it’s managed carefully to keep