The Story of the Opihi in Hawaii
Next time you get to Hawaii, be sure to try the Hawaii seafood delicacy, the opihi. The opihi, or Cellana exarata, is an edible shellfish of the limpet specie of molluscs. There are 3 types in Hawaii. The opihi alinalina or yellow foot is one. The opihi makaiauli or black foot is the second. And the opihi ko`ele or giant opihi is the third. Most say they prefer the taste of the opihi alinalina or yellowfoot.
According to local researchers, the opihis are probably the most expensive seafood in Hawaii. In terms of cost of the delicacy (including the shell), one can value it in the range of $150 a gallon. A long time ago, pickers were selling over 140,000 pounds annually. Today, there are only 13,000 pounds harvested annually. This due to diminished stock and over harvesting. Despite this, demand for opihis remains very high.
While it isn’t a fish, some have dubbed opihis as “the fish of death.” This is because so many die from trying to harvest them. This happens when strong waves crashing upon people as they try to pry opihis off craggy seaside rooks. Opihis typically live in areas where there are rocky seashores with large crashing waves.
So it’s not unusual for people to get hurt or get killed when large waves hit their backs. And when this happens, this typically causes them to hit their heads against the rocks or even get washed out to sea. Hopefully, this gives you better understanding how difficult and dangerous it is to harvest it.
The best way to sample this delicacy is to eat it raw right out of the shell. Or you can try it with some sea salt or with limu (seaweed). You can also try it on the grill and then add some soy sauce, tobacco and a little bit of ginger. Either way, it’s ono (Hawaiian for delicious).
Because of their importance to Hawaii’s culture, State of Hawaii researchers are trying to better understand how opihis reproduce. They are also trying to see if they can grow them in aquaculture farms. The body of knowledge is steadily increasing. So there is hope that one day in the future more opihis can be grown in aquaculture farms.
“You can also try it on the grill and then add some soy sauce, tobacco and a little bit of ginger.”
May be the first time I’ve seen tobacco in a recipe.
Tobacco or should that be Tobasco ?