Pupukea is a palm-fringed community on the North Shore of Oʻahu. The name means “white shell”, and you’ll see plenty strewn along the beach. Sunbathe, swim and snorkel at Pupukea Beach Park. Choose from several swimming points, including Shark’s Cove, which is fringed by black lava rocks. Don’t worry, there are no sharks! The cove is named after the shark-shaped reef just offshore.
Three Tables Beach features soft white sand and a long stretch of coral reef that’s perfect for snorkeling. At low tide, the water recedes and reveals crystalline tide pools filled with colourful sea creatures. There’s fantastic scuba-diving just offshore, with the chance to explore lava tubes and underwater rock formations.
Watch surfers ride monster waves at Banzai Pipeline, one of the top surf spots on the North Shore. In winter, the waves around nearby Waimea Bay reach heights of more than nine metres. In summer, the conditions are perfect for swimming and snorkeling.
You can grab a bite to eat at one of the roadside food trucks. Enjoy spicy tuna poke bowls topped with avocado, crispy fish tacos and fresh-squeezed pineapple juice. Cool off with a cup of Hawaiian shave ice drizzled with fruit-flavoured syrup.
Getting there
Pupukea is in the Koʻolauloa District on Oʻahu, between Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach. The community is a one-hour drive from Honolulu and Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.