ʻIhikūholu: Hawaiian Name Granted to Majestic Sea Pen
Back in July of 2022, we were flying our ROVs at nearly 3,00 meters along a never-before-surveyed seamount north of Johnston Atoll. As we explored, light fell on an incredible animal — rising from a 2-meter-tall stalk sat a large pinnate tentacled polyp — a truly enormous sea pen. This sighting was made even more exciting when identified as Solumbellula monocephalus making it the first time this animal had ever been seen in the Pacific Ocean. Within an hour we had spotted even more of these animals!
As with many OET discoveries, the moment seen live is only the beginning of the knowledge-creation process. Sea pen and cnidarian experts are still analyzing whether this is a massive range expansion for Solumbellula previously only known to live in the North and South Atlantic and Indian Ocean, or if this is a new species altogether. And other experts also continue learning about this animal. We’re here to share an exciting new update from the story of this moment — the naming of this magnificent animal witnessed in the deep.
In collaboration with the Papahānaumokuākea Native Hawaiian Cultural Working Group’s (CWG) Nomenclature Hui, and other members representing various organizations including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Ocean Exploration Trust (OET). We offer the name ʻIhikūholu to the sea pen species (Solumbellula monocephalus).
ʻIHI - KŪ - HOLU
ʻIHI - sacred, majestic, dignified; treated with reverence or respect
KŪ - to stand, stop, halt, anchor
HOLU - springy, pliable, resilient; to sway, as palm fronds; to ripple, as waves; to play back and forth
About the Name: A Story of Revelation & Meaning by Hōkū Pihana
ʻIhikūholu is the Hawaiian name that captures the sacred, majestic, anchoring, swaying, and resilient essence of the sea pen (Solumbellula monocephalus) revealed to us during the Johnston Atoll Expedition in 2022 with Ocean Exploration Trust (OET). Generally found on the sea floor of the Atlantic ocean, the name is given to honor the first recorded instance of this species to ever be found in Moananuiākea (the Pacific Ocean).
The presence of the ʻihikūholu in Moananuiākea and how it was revealed to us reflects the pilina (relationship) with Kanaloa, the akua (deity) of our oceans. From a Kanaka (Hawaiian) worldview, Kanaloa is and is of the ocean from the kai lipo (deepest ocean) realms to the shallow spaces of our coral reefs and intertidal zones. Kanaloa is also manifested in the organisms, geography, and oceanspaces.
ʻIhikūholu is a physical representation and manifestation of Kanaloa that reflects the majestic, alluring, and fluid nature of Kanaloa. We, our people and our lāhui (nation), are inspired by ʻihikūholu’s story of resiliency that is embedded within its name. As the ʻihikūholu stands firmly rooted in its deep-sea environment, it stays flexible, swaying majestically with the deep ocean currents. The name ʻihikūholu reminds us of the reverence and respect that we as humans must have for the sacredness of the ocean and ocean creatures. Like the ʻihikūholu, we stand firm, holding space for the kai lipo, our natural resources, and our cultural practices. Ola ka inoa!
Hau’oli Lorenzo Elarco, Kumu ‘Ōlelo Hawaiʻi, and Hōkūokahalelani Pihana, Native Hawaiian Specialist at the Mokupāpapa Discovery Center talk with OET's Megan Cook about this magnificent animal and the process of granting it the Hawaiian name ʻIhikūholu.
About the Nomenclature Hui
The goal of the Papahānaumokuākea Native Hawaiian Cultural Working Group’s (CWG) Nomenclature Sub-Committee (also referred to as the Nomenclature Hui) is to continue to push the agenda regarding reclaiming our spaces, building, strengthening, and continuing relationships with elements/species within these spaces. Sharing a perspective from other traditions, we understand that names and places and relationships to those elements/species evolved over time. This is an attempt to define and articulate a collective present-day relationship as a placeholder for future generations. This naming process is an evolving one. We encourage the inclusion of all senses—not only the thought and the academic process—but coming from our experiences in seeing, smelling, hearing, touching, tasting, and feeling (naʻau), reaffirming a collective sense of diversity.
About the Naming Process
The Nomenclature Hui follows a multi-disciplinary and multi-sensory naming process that includes building and maintaining pilina (relationship) to species, to researchers, and to place; examination of traditional knowledge within primary textual resources and oral repositories; and incorporation of new scientific knowledge and technological advances. This collaboration of knowledge adds to our collective understanding and relationship, especially when connecting to these species through the Kānaka (Native Hawaiian) sensibilities of sight, touch, smell, taste, hearing, and naʻau (feeling). For an in-depth review of the Nomenclature Hui’s naming process, see Pihana & Lorenzo-Elarco, “HĀNAU KA PALIHOA, LELE! The story, genealogy, and process of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument Native Hawaiian Cultural Working Group Nomenclature Subcommittee” in We Are Ocean People: Indigenous Leadership in Marine Conservation, Parks Stewardship Forum, vol. 38, Issue 2, 2022.
He Leo Mahalo
The Nomenclature Hui on behalf of the Cultural Working Group would like to thank our partners including the Ocean Exploration Trust for this opportunity to collaborate. We also send a huge mahalo to the community and all CWG members who have joined in this naming conversation. Mānuʻunuʻu ka mahalo me ke aloha.
Questions, inquiries, and feedback may be sent to J. Hauʻoli Lorenzo-Elarco (jelarco@hawaii.edu).
Deep Sea Biodiversity & Ancient Volcanoes near Johnston Atoll
Johnston Atoll, one of the most isolated atolls in the world, is located in the central Pacific Ocean, between the Hawaiian Islands, the Line Islands, and the nation of Kiribati. Around this atoll, the Pacific Remote Island Marine National Monument (PRIMNM) was expanded in 2014 to protect the full 200 nautical mile perimeter of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) encompassing many unexplored seafloor features.
