According to Wikipedia, the blackfin barracuda (Sphyraena qenie), also known as the chevron barracuda, is known for its aggressive, predatory personality.[1]
Distribution
This species of barracuda ranges from the Red Sea and East Africa to the Indo and Western Pacific and as far as French Polynesia and typically live in tropical and temperate waters.[2] The Indo-Pacific Ocean has tropical and subtropical waters that make it a favorable habitat for S. qenie.[2] The first sighting of this species in Indian waters was in 1966.[1]
Although rare, this species can also be found in the tropical East Pacific.[2][3]
According to John Hoover, this species is “Rare in Hawai’i, the species is known so far from only a few locations, including South Point, Hawai’i, and off Lana’i.” They were last seen in Kawaihae Harbor on 10.04.2021.
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Interesting that they’ve not showed up in Kawaihae since 2001, especially since there were several individuals there at that time. Didn’t you see a juvenile there as well?
2021 was the last time I saw and photographed them. They were fairly consistent in the area between the beach and the dolphin piers. I was disappointed that you never got to see them there. I saw juveniles, but I couldn’t tell if they were blackfins.