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Pupukea Beach Park,  North Shore, Oahu

Beach Image
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Introduction

Lands given to the kahunas were Waimea, Pupukea, Waiahole, and Hakipuu. These lands belonged to the priests from ancient times down to that of Kahahana. In the time of Kahekili and Kalanikupule, these were given to their kahunas and so also in the reign of Kamehameha I. Pupukea belonged to the priests of Kualii.

“Ka Moolelo o Na Kamehameha” by S. M. Kamakau

Kuokoa, Hawaiian language newspaper

November 16, 1867

Pupukea, or “white shell,” is a long, narrow 80-acre beach park with a rocky shore. Two small pocket beaches lie within the rocks, one at either end of the park. Among the most popular dive sites on the North Shore, these small beaches are known as Sharks Cove and Three Tables.

Sharks Cove was named by the scuba divers who use it as an entry/exit point. One popular story says that the outline of a reef outside the cove resembles a shark when seen from above. Three Tables was named for the three sections of flat reef that lie off the beach. The tables emerge above the surface of the ocean at low tide. Both of these beaches are primarily summer dive sites, the powerful winter surf precluding most in-water activities in the park.

The Honolulu Fire Department’s Sunset Beach Fire Station is located in the center of the park. An important rescue base for the North Shore, the fire fighters at this station respond to many ocean rescues.

Public amenities: parking, restrooms, showers.

Ocean activities: bodyboarding, fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing, swimming.

This description is taken from John R. K. Clarks book "Beaches of Oahu - Revised Edition" which is published by University of Hawai'i Press and available from amazon.com at this link. We thank John R. K. Clark for providing his description of Hawaii's beaches to improve beach safety.