LINED SURGEONFISH
Acanthurus lineatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
     Striped with electric blue, yellow and black, this spectacular surgeonfish is perhaps Hawai'i's rarest, recorded only from South Point, Hawai'i Island, and Hanauma Bay, O'ahu, where the lone individual above was seen off and on for a few years (note the endemic Hawaiian Sergeants in the background). Photo 1 shows it as a mature adult out near the mouth of the Bay in June 1993, photo 2 shows it as a subadult inshore in February 1991. Given the markings, I believe they are the same fish. Because of the O'ahu location, this fish could have been an aquarium release. However, the record from remote South Point on Hawaii Island is much more likely to have arrived naturally. Stray larvae evidently drift to Hawai'i from time to time and mature, but the species does not breed here. Elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific these surgeons inhabit the turbulent surge zone where males hold territories and maintain harems. The scalpels of this species are venomous. In many surgeons the scalpels or the area around them are brightly colored as a warning, but in this case the entire fish is the warning! To about 10 in. Photos: Hanauma Bay, O'ahu. 40 ft. and 8 ft.

UPDATE Sept. 2024. Jadine Berg found a Lined Surgeonfish at Kukio Beach on the Kona Coast of Hawai'i Island and snapped the photo below. As far as I know this is only the 3rd record of this species in Hawaii. Great sighting Jadine, and thanks for sharing!