Sponges of Hawaii — De Laubenfels 
mon species of the genus 'Rhahdodermella of 
the American Pacific coast. 
The species name which is here selected is 
that of the famous ancient Hawaiian noble- 
man, Prince Kaiana. 
Leucetta solida (Schmidt) Dendy and Row 
Described in de Laubenfels (1950: 34). 
This species appears to be moderately com- 
mon about the Hawaiian Islands. I found it 
on Oahu, and R. W. Hiatt found it at Halape 
in August, 1945. 
ECOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 
My first study was made in Hilo Harbor, 
near Coconut Island. The representative of 
the Territorial Board of Agriculture and 
Eorestry who accompanied me was a capable 
diver and brought up much material for 
examination from depths of about 2 meters. 
The location, although on the windward side 
of the island, is sheltered from the full force 
of the sea. No sponges were common in this 
area, nor were any found to be large. On the 
other hand, the fauna here was unique. Eive 
species were found — three were new, one 
{Halichondria) perhaps new although tenta- 
tively identified, and another has been re- 
ported from only one other locality (Oahu, 
also in the Hawaiian Islands). The species are: 
Halichondria dura (.^) : also East Indies (.^) . 
Toxadocia violacea: also Oahu. 
Mycale maunakea: new. 
Axocielita kilauea: new. 
Microciona maunaloa: new. 
My second study was made at Keaukaha, 
near Hilo on the windward coast but a loca- 
tion which was much more exposed to the 
force of the ocean than was the one at Hilo. 
Only a few years previously (1946) this coast 
had been devastated by a huge tsunami (a 
so-called "tidal wave”). Here the collecting 
was done by wading at low tide. Eour species 
of sponge were found: three are certainly 
world-wide and the fourth {Spirastrella) is 
possibly also world-wide although here it is 
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tentatively identified as a new species. These 
species are: 
Tedania ignis: also Oahu, Kaalualu, Halape, 
West Indies, etc. 
Reniera aquaeducta: also Halape; circum- 
equatorial. 
Plakortis simplex: also Oahu; circumequa- 
torial. 
Spirastrella keaukaha: new (.^) ; also Ka- 
alualu and Honaunau. Closely related 
species are equatorial. 
My third study was made at Kaalualu, near 
the extreme southern point of the Hawaiian 
Islands. Here again we collected by wading at 
low tide. I found the greatest variety of 
sponges here of any place studied on the 
island of Hawaii — 10 species in all. They are: 
Callyspongia diffusa: also Oahu, Indian 
Ocean, East Indies. 
Xytopsiphum meganese: new. 
Tedania ignis: also Keaukaha, Halape, 
Oahu. West Indies, etc. 
Carmia contarenii: also European, etc. 
Hiattrochota proteus: also Oahu and Ho- 
naunau. 
Phycopsis aculeata: also Philippines. 
Rhaphisia myxa: new. 
Spirastrella keaukaha: also Keaukaha and 
Honaunau. 
Terpios zeteki: also Oahu, Halape, Ho- 
naunau, and Panama. 
Tethya diploderma: also Oahu, Halape, Ho- 
naunau, and circumequatorial. 
My fourth study was made at Honaunau, 
on the sheltered lee coast (Kona Coast) on 
the west side of the island. Here collections 
were made with the help of representatives of 
the Territorial Board of Agriculture and 
Forestry, who dove down to depths of 2 
meters to collect specimens. 
After collections at Honaunau, studies were 
made along the Kona Coast as far north as 
Kailua, but by so doing we were able to 
locate just one additional species {Damiriana 
hawaiiana ) . 
