Pūpūkea ( Hawaiian pronunciation: [puːpuːˈkɛjə] ) is a community and census-designated place (CDP) in the Koʻolauloa District on the island of Oʻahu , City & County of Honolulu , Hawaii , United States. In Hawaiian , pūpūkea means "white shell". As of the 2020 census , the CDP had a population of 5,130. The Koʻolauloa District ends at Waimea Bay, with the Waialua District extending south and westward.
31-418: Pūpūkea is a popular area on Oʻahu's North Shore for living and for visiting. The best known surfing sites of Velzyland, Sunset (at Sunset Beach Park), Kammieland, Pūpūkea, ʻEhukai, Pipeline (these latter two off adjacent ʻEhukai Beach Park and Banzai Beach) and lesser breaks are arrayed off this shore. Popular diving and snorkeling areas known as Three Tables and Sharks Cove are located at Pūpūkea Beach Park. At
62-564: A puppet state . Kamehameha the Great conquered Kalanikūpule's forces in the Battle of Nuʻuanu . Kamehameha founded the Kingdom of Hawaii with the conquest of Oahu in 1795. Hawaii was not unified until King Kaumualiʻi surrendered the islands of Kauai and Niihau in 1810. Kamehameha III moved his capital from Lahaina , Maui to Honolulu , Oahu in 1845. ʻIolani Palace , built later by other members of
93-515: A female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 18.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.35. In the CDP the population was spread out, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 34.7% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
124-406: A handful of surfers finally paddled out and rode the giant waves that break off the northern point of the bay. While the surf only breaks big several times a year, Waimea was the most prestigious big wave surf break in the world for decades. With the advent of tow-in surfing , more and more big wave breaks have been discovered that are far superior in quality to Waimea. However, the bay still holds
155-565: A significant place even in today's world of big wave surfing. The Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational in Memory of Eddie Aikau takes place in Waimea Bay to honor the legendary surfer and the first lifeguard of the North Shore of Oahu. Since its inception in 1984, the tournament has only been held ten times, due to a precondition that open-ocean swells reach a minimum height of 20 feet (6.1 m) before
186-474: A view of Waimea Bay and the Waianae Mountain range . Waimea Bay is located along Kamehameha Highway . The bay is on the north-west side of the highway (at the entrance point). The Waimea Bay shoreline has been experiencing erosion due to both man made and natural causes. In winter, Waimea and other North Shore locations such as Pipeline and Sunset Beach host a number of surfing contests because of
217-465: Is 44.17% water, consisting of that portion of the Pacific Ocean (possibly with Waimea Bay) included in the CDP. As of the 2000 Census , there were 4,250 people, 1,455 households, and 937 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,250.5 inhabitants per square mile (482.8/km). There were 1,690 housing units at an average density of 497.2 per square mile (192.0/km). The racial makeup of
248-459: Is around 70–85 °F (21–29 °C). The island is the warmest from June through October. The winter is cooler, but still warm, with an average temperature of 68–78 °F (20–26 °C). Oahu is 44 miles (71 km) long and 30 miles (48 km) across. Its shoreline is 227 miles (365 km) long. Including small associated islands such as Ford Island plus those in Kāneʻohe Bay and off
279-718: Is located in Haleiwa on the North Shore of O'ahu in the Hawaiian Islands at the mouth of the Waimea River . Waimea Valley extends to the east of Waimea Bay. Waimea means "reddish water" in Hawaiian . Captain Charles Clerke aboard HMS Resolution stopped at Waimea Bay on February 28, 1779. Clerke had shortly before taken command of the ship after Capt. James Cook was killed at Kealakekua Bay on February 14. Waimea Bay
310-555: Is the most populated and third-largest of the Hawaiian Islands . The island of Oahu and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands constitute the City and County of Honolulu . The state capital, Honolulu , is on Oahu's southeast coast. In 2021, Oahu had a population of 995,638, up from 953,207 in 2010 (approximately 70% of the total 1,455,271 population of the U.S. state of Hawaii , with approximately 81% of those living in or near
341-423: The poverty line . Out of the total population, 15.8% of those under the age of 18 and 6.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. The Hawaii Department of Education operates the public schools. Sunset Beach Elementary School is located in the CDP. Pupukea Schoolhouse is another educational option (non-DOE/public), starting in 2022 in upland Pupukea. Waimea Bay, Hawaii Waimea Bay
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#1733093388746372-415: The CDP was 55.95% White , 0.24% Black or African American , 0.66% Native American , 14.56% Asian , 6.52% Pacific Islander , 1.18% from other races , and 20.89% from two or more races. 8.38% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 1,455 households, out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples living together, 10.3% had
403-623: The Honolulu urban area). The Island of Oahu in Hawaii is often nicknamed (or translated as) "The Gathering Place" . The translation of "gathering place" was suggested as recently as 1922 by Hawaiian Almanac author Thomas Thrum. Thrum possibly ignored or misplaced the ʻokina because the Hawaiian phrase " ʻo ahu " could be translated as "gathering of objects" ( ʻo is a subject marker and ahu means "to gather" ). The term Oʻahu has no other confirmed meaning in Hawaiian . The island rose above
434-458: The Islands. The first great king of Oahu was Maʻilikūkahi , the lawmaker, who was followed by generations of monarchs. Kualiʻi was the first of the warlike kings and was succeeded by his sons. In 1773, the throne fell upon Kahahana, the son of Elani of Ewa. In 1783, Kahekili II , King of Maui, conquered Oahu, deposed the reigning family, and made his son, Kalanikūpule , king of Oahu, turning Oahu into
465-565: The Wild Surf and the Jan and Dean song "Ride the Wild Surf", which played at the end of the film and became a Top 20 National hit , made Waimea Bay famous. Waimea Bay was not the primary filming location for the television series Lost , although some scenes may have been shot in the opark in the valley. (The downed plane was at Mokuleia at the end of Dillingham airstrip almost to road's end at Kaena Point.) The actual main location and filming area
496-454: The Wild Surf" and "Big Wednesday" filmed there, as well as many surf movies. Waimea Bay's shorebreak waves, and the large surf off the point have been the topic of many media documentaries and features 21°38′25″N 158°03′50″W / 21.640296°N 158.063779°W / 21.640296; -158.063779 Oahu Oahu ( / oʊ ˈ ɑː h uː / oh- AH -hoo ; Hawaiian : Oʻahu pronounced [oˈʔɐhu] )
527-491: The amount of rain per year Honolulu receives. It rains on average on 247 days a year with 54.7 inches of rainfall here, whereas it only rains on 89 days with 17.1 inches of rainfall annually in Honolulu. According to the United States Census Bureau , the CDP has a total area of 6.1 square miles (16 km), of which 3.4 square miles (8.8 km) is land and 2.7 square miles (7.0 km) is water. The total area
558-520: The competition can be held. Open-ocean swells of this height generally translate to wave faces in the bay of 30 feet (9.1 m) to 40 feet (12 m). The most recent tournament was in January 2023. On January 28, 1998, Hawaii issued its first ever "condition black" legally closing all North Shore beaches including Waimea Bay. The Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational in Memory of Eddie Aikau was canceled due to above-average behemoth surf. The 1964 film Ride
589-611: The eastern ( windward ) coast, its area is 596.7 square miles (1,545.4 km ), making it the 20th-largest island in the United States . The city of Honolulu —the state's capital and largest city is located on the island. As a jurisdictional unit, all of Oahu is in Honolulu County , although Honolulu occupies only part of its southeastern end. Well-known features of Oahu include Waikiki , Pearl Harbor , Diamond Head , Hanauma , Kāneʻohe Bay , Kailua Bay , North Shore , and
620-477: The island, however, is the considerable driving distance of 37 miles (60 km) to Honolulu . The U.S. postal code for Pūpūkea and the communities of Waialeʻe, Sunset Beach , Lihilani, Waimea, and Kawailoa is 96712. Pūpūkea is located at 21°40'11" North, 158°2'58" West (21.669740, -158.049349), along Kamehameha Highway (State Rte. 83) west to southwest from Kawela Bay and northeast from Haleʻiwa . Due to its geographic location, this area gets three times
651-469: The large waves found here. These waves are created by winter storms in the North Pacific , and their arrival on O'ahu's North Shore is typically forecast accurately several days in advance. In summer, Waimea typically has clear and calm water. The surf break at Waimea Bay was significant in the development of big wave surfing . Larger surf at the bay went unridden for years until November 7, 1957 when
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#1733093388746682-675: The morning of December 7, 1941, brought the United States into World War II . The surprise attack was aimed at destroying the American will to fight and forcing the US to sue for peace. They attacked the Pacific Fleet of the United States Navy and its defending Army Air Forces and Marine Air Forces . The attack damaged or destroyed 12 American warships, destroyed 188 aircraft, and killed 2,335 American servicemen and 68 civilians (of those, 1,177 were
713-555: The resort destination Ko Olina . The island is composed of two separate shield volcanoes : the Waiʻanae and Koʻolau Ranges , with a broad valley or saddle (the central Oahu Plain) between them. The highest point is Kaʻala in the Waiʻanae Range, rising to 4,003 feet (1,220 m) above sea level. Oahu, along with the rest of the State of Hawaii, relies on tourism as a driving force of
744-529: The result of the destruction of the USS ; Arizona alone). Oahu became a tourism and shopping haven after World War II. Over five million visitors (mainly from the contiguous United States and Japan) flock there every year. Oahu is known for having the longest rain shower in recorded history. Kāneʻohe Ranch reported 247 straight days of rain from August 27, 1993, to April 30, 1994. The average temperature in Oahu
775-727: The royal family, still stands, and is the only royal palace on American soil. Oahu was apparently the first of the Hawaiian Islands sighted by the crew of HMS Resolution on January 19, 1778, during Captain James Cook 's third Pacific expedition. Escorted by HMS Discovery , the expedition was surprised to find tall islands this far north in the central Pacific. Oahu was not actually visited by Europeans until February 28, 1779, when Captain Charles Clerke aboard HMS Resolution stepped ashore at Waimea Bay . Clerke took command of
806-525: The sea during the Pliocene period from 4 million years ago when volcanoes erupted and formed the peaks from two shields. Then a period of extensive erosion followed, leaving the Wai‘anae and the young Ko‘olau Range as dormant volcanic ranges from remnants of volcanism. The island has been inhabited since at least the 3rd century A.D. The 304-year-old Kingdom of Oahu was once ruled by the most ancient aliʻi in
837-572: The ship after James Cook was killed at Kealakekua Bay ( island of Hawaiʻi ) on February 14, and was leaving the islands for the North Pacific. With the discovery of the Hawaiian Islands came the introduction of disease, mosquitoes, and aggressive animals. Although indirect, simple exposure to these foreign species caused permanent damage to the Native Hawaiian people and environment. The Imperial Japanese Navy 's attack on Pearl Harbor , Oahu on
868-461: The southwest end of Pūpūkea is Waimea Bay , with one of the most popular beaches on the island forming the shore at Waimea Beach Park. Popular residential areas here include the beach lots at Sunset Beach and the uplands of Pūpūkea. As the properties in this area were subdivided in the 1950s and 60s and classified then as country , the lots in the uplands were all measured out in 1 acre or greater parcels. The biggest drawback to living in this part of
899-404: Was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 114.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 119.8 males. The median income for a household in the CDP was $ 56,146, and the median income for a family was $ 62,375. Males had a median income of $ 41,015 versus $ 32,332 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $ 25,682. 15.2% of the population and 11.4% of families were below
930-462: Was at Kawailoa Beach, about 1/2 mile north of Pueana Point. Waimea Bay is mentioned in the 1963 Beach Boys' song Surfin' U.S.A. Waimea Bay is mentioned in the Jimmy Buffett song Beautiful Swimmers Waimea Bay is mentioned in the 1987 cult film Surf Nazis Must Die when Adolf asks a young gang member where the best surfing beaches are. There have been many other Hollywood movies such as "Ride
961-412: Was the only O'ahu anchorage visited by the expedition. Waimea Valley was densely populated at the time, and the remains of Pu'u o Mahuka , an important heiau (Hawaiian temple) can still be seen above the bay. Pu'u o Mahuka Heiau State Monument is a Native Hawaiian historical site located just above the bay, off Pupukea Road. It is a historically important site on the North Shore, as well as providing