puka

It's Not a Shell: The Real Meaning

If you grew up in the 90s, you probably think Puka refers to a white shell necklace.

• The Truth: The shell is called a "Puka Shell" only because it has a natural hole in the middle.
• The Definition: In Hawaiian, Puka literally means Hole, perforation, or opening.

1. Versatile Usage (Doors & Windows): In Pidgin, we use "Puka" to refer to any opening in a wall.

• "Close da puka" usually means "Close the door."
• "Get one puka in my shirt" means "I have a hole in my shirt." or you get some Puka Pants

2. Place Name Example: The town of Pukalani on Maui perfectly illustrates the real meaning. It translates to "Hole in the Heavens" (or Sky), named for the distinct gap in the clouds that often lets the sun shine through on that specific upcountry area.

Kalani had spent forty-five minutes ironing his favorite Reyn Spooner shirt for his first date with Leilani at the Kukui Grove Center. He was leaning against the railing outside Times Supermarket, trying to look effortlessly cool, when she finally walked up. She smiled, but her eyes immediately darted down to his stomach.

"Nice shirt," she said, her voice tight with suppressed laughter. Kalani looked down and realized he had missed a button, but worse, the fabric had caught on the iron. Right above his belt buckle was a perfectly round, burnt puka the size of a fifty-cent piece, exposing his pale belly button to the entire Lihu'e shopping crowd.

He quickly slapped his hand over the hole, his face burning hotter than the iron he'd left plugged in at home. "Ah, shoots," he mumbled, desperately trying to pull his jacket closed while a group of aunties walking out of the store pointed and giggled. "Must be one... speed hole for aerodynamics."