[4] It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the Hawaiian archipelago (from which its species epithet is derived), in the eastern central Pacific Ocean.

It dwells at a depth range of 11 to 53 metres (36 to 174 ft), and leads a benthic life, forming burrows in sand.

Males can reach a maximum standard length of 59.8 centimetres (23.5 in).

[3] This eel appears during sunrise and returns to its burrow around sunset, making it a diurnal animal.

[5] The Hawaiian garden eel's diet consists of zoobenthos.