Added on April 22, 2023  Honolulu Vibes   ,

Honolulu Fish Auction: A Unique and Fascinating Experience

Honolulu Fish Auction: A Unique and Fascinating Experience
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Behind the Scenes at the Honolulu Fish Auction

The Honolulu Fish Auction is a unique and fascinating place to visit. It is the only fresh tuna auction in the United States, and it is a vital part of the Hawaiian economy. The auction takes place every morning at Pier 38 in Honolulu, and it is not open to the public.

Not only is the Honolulu Fish Auction one of the largest fish auctions in the world it’s also the only one between Tokyo and Maine. The environment is a fast-paced and exciting live event. Fish are brought in from all over the Hawaiian Islands, and sold to buyers from restaurants, grocery stores, and other businesses both locally and internationally.

Long rows of fish are laid out for inspection as local buyers determine the quality of the fish. An auctioneer calls out the prices while buyers compete to get the best deals. This competitive bidding process allows higher quality fish to command higher prices producing a more fair pricing system.

The auction features an array of the different types of fish that are caught in Hawaii. Some of most common local fish represented there are tuna, mahi-mahi, swordfish, and marlin. From the moment the fish arrive to the dock they’re processed and prepared for sale. Hundreds of fish, up to 100,000 in a day, pass through the auction doors six days a week.

Next door to the Honolulu Fish Auction there are restaurants & stores where you can buy the fresh catches of the day. Fish-eaters in Hawaii consume nearly three times the national average per person and the fish sold at the auction is very fresh and of high quality. Try Nico’s at Pier 38 where you can buy fish to take home and cook, or grab a table and order your fresh catch of the day prepared for you for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It’s also a great way to support the local economy and to get fresh, high-quality seafood.

Check our photo slideshow below for a sneak peek at the Honolulu Fish Auction

  • Fishermen unload their catch of fish at Pier 38 in the early morning hours. (Honolulu Vibes photo Ronen Zilberman)
  • The day starts before sunrise on Pier 38 where fishermen can be found six days a week unloading their fresh catches of fish to be sold at the Honolulu Fish Auction. The fish are sold same day to buyers in a competitive bidding environment. (Honolulu Vibes photo Ronen Zilberman)
  • A fisherman hooks fish to maneuver them onto a flatbed before transporting the fresh catches from the dock to the fish auction to be bid on by local buyers later that morning. (Honolulu Vibes photo Ronen Zilberman)
  • Cuts of ahi await inspection by competitive bidders at the Honolulu Fish Auction. (Honolulu Vibes photo Ronen Zilberman)
  • United Fishing Agency NACCP Manager Nelson Aberilla inspects each fish for quality and safety before they are bid on. (Honolulu Vibes photo Ronen Zilberman)
  • Wholesale, retail, and restaurant buyers gather around rows of ahi to place their bids at the Honolulu Fish Auction. The competitive open bidding process lasts each day until every fish is sold. (Honolulu Vibes photo Ronen Zilberman)
  • Cuts of ahi await inspection by competitive bidders at the Honolulu Fish Auction. The fresh fish display style auction is the only fresh tuna auction in the United States. Fish sold here are plated both locally and around the world. (Honolulu Vibes photo Ronen Zilberman)
  • Fish buyers from wholesale, retail, and restaurant sectors inspect each cut of fish for quality before making their bids at the Honolulu Fish Auction. (Honolulu Vibes photo Ronen Zilberman)
  • Fish buyers from wholesale, retail, and restaurant sectors inspect each cut of fish for quality before making their bids at the Honolulu Fish Auction. The competitive bidding process allows for higher quality fish to command higher prices producing a more fair pricing system. (Honolulu Vibes photo Ronen Zilberman)
  • Close-up on a cut of ahi from the Honolulu Fish Auction. Samples are cut so buyers can see and feel the quality of each catch before bidding. (Honolulu Vibes photo Ronen Zilberman)
  • Discarded samples of fresh ahi after the bidding process is done. Fish-eaters in Hawaii consume nearly three times the national average per person. (Honolulu Vibes photo Ronen Zilberman)
  • Long rows of fresh fish line the floors of the Honolulu Fish Auction. Hundreds of fish, up to 100,000 in a day, pass through the auction doors six days a week. (Honolulu Vibes photo Ronen Zilberman)
  • Fish just sold at the Honolulu Fish Auction are immediately loaded into trucks to be transported to their destinations in the wholesale, retail, and restaurant sectors. (Honolulu Vibes photo Ronen Zilberman)

by Honolulu Vibes

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