Inside the Honolulu Fish Auction
It’s 5 in the morning on an unusually humid Hawaiian morning. At Pier 38, Honolulu’s bustling fishing port, fishermen, chefs and buyers are gathered outside the United Fishing Agency in the dark blue light of pre-dawn. Some are eating a classic Hawaiian breakfast (Spam and eggs with rice from Styrofoam containers), others are drinking coffee from flasks; all are awaiting the clanging bell that announces the start of business. On a good day, almost 60,000 pounds of fish will be sold here, with prices of top-quality big-eye tuna often reaching $8 per pound or more. Tours are conducted, by reservation only, on select Saturday mornings from 6 to 7:30 am. The tour costs $25 for adults and $20 for children 8–12 years old. Tours are not generally scheduled mid-December to mid-January. To make a reservation, click here.
