Professor Kukui (Japanese: ククイ博士Dr. Kukui) is a Pokémon Professor from the Alola region, as well as the founder of Alola's Pokémon League. He is the only character in the games to have the Trainer classPro Wrestler (Japanese: プロレスラーPro Wrestler) under the alias the Masked Royal (Japanese: ロイヤルマスクRoyal Mask). He specializes in Pokémon attacks.
Professor Kukui is a passionate man who lives in the player's new hometown. His area of expertise is Pokémonmoves, and is known to take direct hits from them if he thinks he can learn something about them. In his youth, Kukui participated in the island challenge with his childhood friend, Molayne. Afterwards, he traveled to Kanto, where he challenged the Indigo League, defeating the Gym Leaders and making his way to ChampionLance. It is unclear what the end result of his battle against Lance was. He is married to Professor Burnet.
Professor Kukui also frequents the Battle Royal Dome under the masked alias "The Masked Royal". As the Royal, Kukui invites the player, Hau, and Gladion to participate in a Battle Royal with him.
On top of Mount Hokulani, the professor directs the player's attention to the other mountain on Ula'ula Island, Mount Lanakila. It is here that Kukui plans to build Alola's own Pokémon League. Kukui believes that the time has come for Alola to make a name for itself in the world, and that establishing a Pokémon League will help achieve that. He then introduces the player to Molayne.
Later, after the trial of Hokulani Observatory, the player is asked by Molayne to return the Professor's Mask to Kukui, who is at Malie Garden. There, Kukui is confronted by the boss of Team Skull, Guzma. He calls both the professor and himself "fellow rejects who never could become captains." The boss then criticizes Kukui's idea of building a Pokémon League. Kukui then reveals he chose not to become a captain because he had other goals to pursue. Those goals are what lead him to build the League. The professor then asks the player to battle Guzma. The player wins, and Guzma leaves. Kukui thanks the player by giving them the Z-Crystal for the final evolution of the starter Pokémon they chose; Decidium Z, Incinium Z, Primarium Z for Decidueye, Incineroar, and Primarina, respectively. He also takes back the mask, while continuing to deny he is The Masked Royal.
Much later, the Professor greets the player at the gates to the now completed Pokémon League. Kukui welcomes the player, and if SolgaleoS/LunalaM is in their party, Kukui will share a few words with the Legendary Pokémon, as well. Once the player enters the League gates, Kukui explains how the Elite Four challenge works, and wishes the player luck.
Upon defeating all four members of the Elite Four, the player makes their way to the Champion's chamber and sits on the throne. However, Kukui approaches the player, saying they have one more challenge to complete before they can rightfully take their place as Champion. Professor Kukui challenges them to a battle for the Champion's throne, acting as the final battle of the player's Pokémon League challenge. He uses the final evolution of the starter the player's choice is weak to. After being defeated, Kukui congratulates the player, and names them the first ever Champion of the Alola Pokémon League, entering them in the Hall of Fame.
Kukui can be battled again as a challenger in a Title Defense battle, despite not wishing to be the Champion of a League that he created.
In Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Professor Kukui will be the one who will give the player their starter Pokémon on Route 1. Additionally, when the player sits on the Champion's throne after defeating all four members of the Elite Four, Kukui will joke about being the one who will be the last opponent the player must face to rightfully take their place as Champion before he presents Hau as the final opponent. After Hau's defeat, Kukui congratulates the player, and names them the first ever Champion of the Alola Pokémon League, entering them in the Hall of Fame.
Like in the original games, Kukui can be battled during a Title Defense battle and he uses the final evolution of the starter the player's choice is weak to. He can also appear as an opponent at the Battle Tree.
The Masked Royal may reappear occasionally during a Master Rank challenge of the Battle Royal, using three of the following Pokémon. The Abilities are chosen from any of the possible ones, including Hidden Abilities.
Professor Kukui as the Masked Royal in Pokémon Adventures
Professor Kukui debuted in The Delivery of Rotom and the Girl. He was first seen at his laboratory, where he tested the moves of his Rowlet and Popplio. The attacks caused Kukui to be sent flying through the roof and land in front of his house.
There, Kukui encountered Sun and Moon, the latter of which was tasked with delivering a Rotom to Kukui. Kukui explained that he needed Rotom, which aren't found in Alola, because they are capable of combining with Sun's Pokédex. When Rotom attempted to go inside the Pokédex, it ran away because the Pokédex was dirty and smelled bad due to Sun constantly mishandling it. Angered by this, Kukui forced Sun to retrieve Rotom while he cleaned the Pokédex. Later that night, Sun returned to Kukui's house with Rotom.
The next day, a sleep-deprived Kukui angrily asked Sun why he wasn't informed about Sun's encounter with Tapu Koko the previous day. To Sun's annoyance, Kukui also revealed that he decided to enter Sun in a tournament being held at an Iki Town festival later that day.
In The Decision and the Tournament of Six, Kukui participated in the Iki Town festival tournament while disguised as the Masked Royal. In the first round, Kukui was paired up against Sun. Due to the lack of a monetary reward, Sun refused to take the battle seriously until Hala revealed the prize for winning the tournament, an island challenge amulet. Assuming the amulet was valuable and he could sell it money, Sun became motivated enough to battle seriously, allowing him to win the battle and advance to the next round. Afterward, Kukui watched the remaining battles alongside Hala.
In The Final Match and a Surprising Finale!, Kukui, as himself, transported Sun and Moon to Akala Island on his yacht. While they traveled, Kukui allowed Moon to take his Rowlet, as he noticed the bond the two developed. Moon also revealed that the Rotom she delivered actually fused with a spare Pokédex she received from Kukui to become the Rotom Pokédex. After arriving at Akala Island, Kukui told Sun and Moon to wait on the docks while he went to the Dimensional Research Lab to talk to his wife, Professor Burnet.
In Going Ashore and Neighboring Akala Island, Kukui sent several Pokémon documents to Burnet, who was still at Kukui's house. As they talked, Burnet revealed that Nebby is actually the Legendary PokémonCosmog. Burnet suggests that Lillie may have been trying to keep Nebby away from someone, but she refused to clarify who she was trying to escape from. To Kukui's surprise, Burnet suggested that he make Lillie his assistant, as it may help her begin to open up more.
In Flash and Cosmog's Secret, Kukui arrived at Konikoni City, where he, Sun, Moon, Kiawe, Mallow, and Lana went to Mallow's restaurant, where they talked to Burnet over a video phone. Burnet revealed that earlier that day, she witnessed Nebby clawing at the sky, creating a crack in the sky in the process. With this information, everyone came to the conclusion that the various cracks seen around Alola were caused by Nebby and that Lillie must have been running away from some villains in order to keep Nebby away from them. Worried that Burnet may not be able to keep Lillie safe alone, Kukui suggested Burnet take Lillie with her to meet up with him, Sun, and Moon at Ula'ula Island. To his shock, Lana stated that she and the other Captains will head to Team Skull's hideout in Po Town to have a discussion with them.
In Shipwreck and "Oh, What Sharp Teeth You Have, Bruxish!", Burnet and Lillie used Mantine Surf to travel over the water to Kukui's yacht as it heads off to Ula'ula. Shortly after they arrive, the group is attacked by a wild Bruxish, which uses its psychic powers to give everyone headaches and pass out. Although Sun successfully rescues Lillie, who was knocked into the water, he and Lillie end up passing out as well and are separated from the others. Later, Burnet, Kukui, and Moon are rescued by the Aether Foundation and taken to Aether Paradise. There, they meet Faba and Wicke, who explain what happened to everyone and offer to give a tour of Aether Paradise.
In Truth and the Mastermind Behind Team Skull, after leaving Aether Paradise, Kukui, Burnet, and Moon take Kukui's yacht to Ula'ula Island. Kukui, sensing a strange change in the atmosphere, fears that a battle may have started in the hour since the Captains' group arrived at Po Town. With nowhere to dock the yacht, Moon told Kukui to get as close to Ula'ula as he can while she has Rowlet carry her to Po Town by flying through the air. After finding a place to dock, Kukui and Burnet met back up with Sun and Moon in Po Town. Kukui gave Sun one of the Mirage Berries that was left behind on the yacht so that Sun and Moon could feed it to Tapu Bulu.
In The Truth and Island Kahuna Hapu, Kukui, Molayne, Sophocles, Acerola, and Gladion fought off Celesteela and Guzzlord at Route 10 to prevent them from reaching Hokulani Observatory, which was being used as a shelter for those caught up in the Ultra Beasts' rampage. Gladion managed to easily defeat Celesteela, but was distracted when Lillie appeared and called out to him, allowing Guzzlord to attack. Gladion's Type: Null easily defeated Guzzlord and evolved into a Silvally in the process. To Kukui and the others' surprise, Gladion and Lillie revealed themselves to be brother and sister as well as the children of Aether Foundation President, Lusamine. Lillie explained that three months ago, she stole Nebby from Lusamine in order to prevent her from using its power to further her plans. When Lillie presented a Sun Flute she also took from Aether Paradise, Gladion decided that they should head to the altar.
Lycanroc is Professor Kukui's fourth known Pokémon. As a Rockruff, it was first used to battle Sun's Incineroar, Dollar, at the Iki Town festival tournament and lost. Sometime later, it evolved into a Midday Form Lycanroc.
Snorlax is Professor Kukui's fifth known Pokémon. It was first used as a Munchlax to battle Sun's Incineroar, Dollar, at the Iki Town festival tournament. With its powerful moves and resistance to Fire-type attacks, Munchlax easily held the advantage over Dollar. By lining its hairballs around the battle field and setting them on fire, Dollar surrounded Munchlax in a field of flames, damaging it enough to knock it out. Later, it was revealed to have evolved into a Snorlax, where it was used to try and prevent a Celesteela and Guzzlord from reaching Hokulani Observatory, only to be defeated.
Snorlax's only known move is Rollout, and its Ability is Thick Fat.
Rowlet originally belonged to Professor Kukui. He was first seen being used to test out moves alongside Popplio. He was given to Moon after seeing how he bonded with her.
Kukui requested that this Rotom be delivered to him in order to combine with Sun's Pokédex. Due to its weakness, Rotom was unable to be delivered electronically, so it had to be hand-delivered by Moon, whose pharmaceutical skills kept it healthy along the way. Once Rotom was delivered, Kukui attempted to try and get it to possess Sun's Pokédex, but Sun's mishandling of the Pokédex left it dirty, causing Rotom to run away in disgust. Later, it combined with Moon's Pokédex to become the Rotom Pokédex.
Professor Kukui's Pokémon Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format. Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.
Professor Kukui's Trainer ID is 161118, which is the release date (2016-11-18) of Pokémon Sun and Moon in all markets except Europe.
Professor Kukui in Sun and Moon has an Incineroar in his Battle Tree team which has a Firium Z but does not have a Fire-type move, meaning this Z-Crystal has no possible use during that battle.
In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, this same Incineroar had Outrage replaced with Flare Blitz possibly because of this situation.
