What ocean creature in Hawaiʻi topped the Big Island Now poll? Hint: It wasnʻt the stingray

Well, the winner of the Big Island Now poll for this week — What is your favorite creature that lives in the ocean around Hawaiʻi — is not the stingray.

Not one single person, out of the 660 votes cast, chose the cartilaginous fish that is related to sharks. Itʻs the first time a choice on our poll got zero votes.

So which marine creature did?

Well, it wasnʻt eels either, although they did garner 9 votes. Sharks, despite being a favorite during Shark Week, also did not fare very well with only 31 votes, for 4%.

The overwhelming winner was the sea turtle, with 239 votes for 36%. The beloved endangered species beat out humpback whales and spinner dolphins that took second and third place, respectively.

But all marine creatures are special on World Oceans Day, which was celebrated on Saturday in Hilo.

Here are the results of the poll:

• Sea turtle: 239 (36%)
• Humpback whale: 119 (18%)
• Spinner dolphin: 118 (17%)
• Manta ray: 85 (12%)
• Hawaiian monk seal: 68 (10%)
• Octopus: 64 (9%)
• Tropical fish: 57 (8%)
• Shark: 31 (4%)
• Eel: 9 (1%)
• Poor stingray: 0

Total: 660 votes