puka

[ poo-kuh ]

noun

1. a small white shell found on Pacific, especially Hawaiian, beaches and strung in clusters to make necklaces.

puka

/ ˈpuːkɑː /

noun

1. another name for broadleaf

Word History and Origins

Origin of puka¹

First recorded in 1970–75; of uncertain origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of puka¹

Māori

Example Sentences

The general sense of the episode is that Tijuana is where bad things happen to innocent white kids who wear puka shell necklaces.

From Los Angeles Times

“The players will fill the ‘puka’ of the heart, he said, using a Hawaiian word for “hole.”

From Seattle Times

Each episode brought a new drama that, without fail, led to Ryan punching the puka shell necklace off a dude’s neck.

From Los Angeles Times

Howard Smith, who served in Hawaii before he retired from the Army, came bearing traditional puka shell necklaces to give to Mr. Bishop and his wife.

From Washington Times

The puka shell necklace would have made a strong statement with the green jacket.

From Golf Digest