puka
1 of 3noun (1)
pu·ka
ˈpükə
plural -s
1
: a rare New Zealand tree (Meryta sinclairii) of the family Araliaceae with large resinous leaves and dioecious flowers in panicles
2
: either of two New Zealand trees of the genus Griselinia that are sometimes epiphytic:
a
: a tree (G. lucida) with long thick shining leaves and green or yellow flowers in axillary panicles
b
: kapuka
puka
2 of 3noun (2)
"
plural -s
Hawaii
: hole, tunnel
if … I ever get the giant African snails out of their favorite pukas, I shall really enjoy the gardening 
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Honolulu Star-Bulletinpuka
3 of 3noun (3)
pu·ka
ˈpükə
plural -s
: a small usually perforated wave- and beach-polished shell fragment formed from the spire of a cone (genus Conus), found along beaches of Pacific Islands, and used especially to make necklaces
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Maori
Noun (2)
Hawaiian
Noun (3)
puka shell, from Hawaiian puka hole + English shell
First Known Use
Noun (3)
1975, in the meaning defined above