Kingdom Animalia Order Perciformes Genus Kuhlia Higher classification Kuhlia | Phylum Chordata Family Kuhliidae Scientific name Kuhlia sandvicensis Rank Species | |
 | ||
Similar Flagtail, Kuhlia, Kuhlia xenura, Spotted flagtail, Perciformes | ||
Kuhlia sandvicensis, the Reticulated flagtail, is a species of flagtail native to the waters around several Pacific islands where it occurs in fresh, brackish and marine waters. This species can reach 21.4 cm (8.4 in) in standard length. It is popular as a game fish and can also be found in the aquarium trade.
In Hawaii, the common name is ʻāhole for the mature fish and ʻāholehole for the juvenile. The name is probably derived from the word hole in the Hawaiian language which means "to strip away", since the fish was used to "strip away" evil spirits and as an aphrodisiac. A proverb was, "He ʻāhole ka iʻa, hole ke aloha", meaning roughly "ʻāhole is the fish, but love is restless". It was also sometimes known as puaʻa kai, literally "pig of the sea". European visitors were sometimes called ʻāhole due to their pale skin.
The current location of Kona International Airport, Keāhole Point, is named after this fish, because it was found in this area.
The name "Hawaiian flagtail" has also been used for Kuhlia xenura.