Pūpūkea is a popular area on O'ahu's North Shore for living and for visiting. The best known surfing sites of Velzyland, Sunset (at Sunset Beach Park), Kammieland, Pupukea, Ehukai, Pipeline (these latter two off adjacent Ehukai Beach Park and Banzai Beach) and lesser breaks are arrayed off this shore. Popular diving areas known as Three Tables and Sharks Cove are located at Pupukea Beach Park. And, at 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. The only drawback to living in this part of the island is the considerable driving distance to Honolulu.
The U.S. postal code for Pūpūkea and the communities of Waiale'e, Sunset Beach, Lihilani, Waimea, and Kawailoa is 96712.
Geography
Pūpūkea is located at 21°40'11" North, 158°2'58" West (21.669740, -158.049349)1, along Kamehameha Highway (State Rte. 83) west to southwest from Kawela Bay and northeast from Hale'iwa.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 15.8 km² (6.1 mi²). 8.8 km² (3.4 mi²) of it is land and 7.0 km² (2.7 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 44.17% water, a figure that can only be interpreted as that portion of the Pacific Ocean (possibly with Waimea Bay) included in the census tract.
Demographics
As of the 2000 Census, there were 4,250 people, 1,455 households, and 937 families residing in the town. The population density was 482.6/km² (1,250.5/mi²). There were 1,690 housing units at an average density of 191.9/km² (497.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 55.95% White, 0.24% 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 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 town 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 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 town 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 town was $25,682. 15.2% of the population and 11.4% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 15.8% were under the age of 18 and 6.1% were 65 or older.