The North Shore
Pūpūkea Marine Life Conservation District
Protected reef and tide pools
A protected stretch of North Shore reef and tide pools, managed by the state.

Photo Credit
In the area: Surfers on the lip of a huge winter wave. Image courtesy of © Fosterand sons · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout Pūpūkea Marine Life Conservation District
The Pūpūkea Marine Life Conservation District, designated in 1983 and managed by Hawaiʻi’s Department of Land and Natural Resources, protects the reef here: fishing is prohibited with limited exceptions and fish feeding is banned. The Kapoʻo tide pools were added in 2021 (DLNR).
Our take
- Snorkelling
- Tide pools
- Wildlife
- Address
- Pūpūkea, Hawaiʻi
- Website
- dlnr.hawaii.gov
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Pūpūkea Marine Life Conservation District before you go.
Last checked: November 2026 How we choose
Location
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