Hapuʻupuʻu

Hapuʻupuʻu, or Hawaiian Grouper, is one of Hawaiʻi's Deep 7 Bottomfish (the others are: ‘Ōpakapaka (pink snapper) Ehu (squirrelfish snapper), kalekale (Von Siebold’s snapper), lehi (silverjaw snapper), onaga (longtail snapper), gindai (Brigham’s snapper).  

This fish can live for more than 50 years, and is one that can turn into a male after being born a female.  

The Hapuʻupuʻu is cooked based on the traditional method of lāwalu, in which fish was wrapped in ti leaves and broiled over an open fire.  

The fish is topped with a dried seafood butter, and topped with nori puff rice.