Rays in Hawaii
Rays may look very different from sharks, but they are close relatives. Both have skeletons made of cartilage instead of bone. Rays are best known for their flat bodies and wide pectoral fins, which help them glide through the water with a smooth, almost flying motion.
In Hawaii, rays are known as lupe, meaning “kite,” and hihimanu, meaning “magnificent.” Those names fit the way manta rays and eagle rays move through the ocean with broad, graceful fin strokes.
Manta Rays, Eagle Rays and Other Rays
Some rays live close to the ocean floor, where they search for crustaceans, mollusks and small fish. Others, such as manta rays, swim through open water and filter tiny plankton from the sea.
Manta rays are especially famous on the Big Island, where night snorkeling experiences near the Kona Coast are popular. Lights attract plankton, and the mantas glide in to feed, often looping and turning through the water.
Safe Viewing
Rays should be watched calmly and respectfully. Do not chase, touch, ride or block their path. If you see one resting near the bottom, give it plenty of space and avoid stepping close to it.
Their quiet movement and broad, wing-like fins make rays some of Hawaii's most memorable marine animals. Related pages include the Hawaii fish guide, Hawaii sharks, sea turtles, crabs and Big Island manta ray snorkel tours.
