Hawaiian Lionfish

Kauaʻi evidence

Directly documented in a Kauaʻi reef survey or monitoring report.

Names and classification

Scientific name

Neochirus barberi

Common names

Hawaiian Lionfish · Green Lionfish

Record type

species

Kauaʻi occurrence and status

Kauaʻi occurrence

Documented on Kauaʻi

Origin

Endemic

Conservation status

Not yet assessed

Evidence date

2026-09-13

Evidence limits

Occurrence is documented on Kauaʻi; abundance and ecological role may differ among reef sectors and years.

Habitat and ecology

Habitats

Reef crevices, ledges and caves

Food and resource needs

Species-specific diet and forage relationships are retained when supported by specialist or survey data

Reproduction

Species-specific spawning and recruitment requirements; local reproductive data vary

Shelter

Reef crevices, ledges and caves

Threats and conservation

Threats

Fishing pressure, habitat degradation, water-quality change, climate stress and food-web disruption as applicable

Conservation actions

Maintain reef habitat quality, appropriate fishery stewardship and long-term monitoring

Monitoring

Track Kauaʻi distribution, abundance, size structure, recruitment, seasonality and habitat associations

Data gaps

Long-term Kauaʻi trends, population structure and attendant ecological relationships can be expanded as specialist datasets are contributed.

Process and seasonal context

Seasonal timing

Present in direct Kauaʻi survey record; seasonal abundance may vary

Seasonal description

Hawaiian Lionfish is a documented Kauaʻi reef or coastal fish represented from direct Kauaʻi survey evidence.

Sources and further reading

• 2005 Rapid Ecological Assessment — Kauaʻi Reef Fish Summary

Explore field guides

• Reef Fish of Kauaʻi