Pupukea Grill, Every Surfer's Favorite Food Truck
For those who have visited the North Shore of Oahu, you are most likely familiar with the multitude of food trucks that serve up anything from pizza, poke, acai bowls, to Thai food, and more. However, one food truck sticks out as a community staple and favorite of local and winter transplant surfers including Jamie O'Brien, Mason Ho, and Conner Coffin. Pupukea Grill, owned and operated by Dean Sakuoka (Dee) and her sister Janelle Sweet, has brought delicious grinds (meals) to the seven-mile miracle since 2008. We spoke with Dee herself to get the inside scoop of the magic behind this miraculous food truck.
Dee (right) with her favorite dish, the hummus wrap
How Got Started
Before Pupukea Grill, Dee and Janelle had a restaurant in Haleiwa. In 2008, they decided to move their operations to a food truck in front of Sharks Cove, at a time where the only other food truck for miles was Sharks Cove Grill. Today food trucks have become synonymous with the North Shore food scene with hot spots in Haleiwa, Sharks Cove, and Kahuku.
“When we opened, Sharks Cove Grill was the only other food truck. They were doing sandwiches, burgers, and other types of casual food, so we wanted to do something local and healthy,” Dee describes.
“We are born and raised here on Oahu. It was our island upbringing, along with our international travels, that formed the base of our menu. We realized that the lifestyle on the North Shore was more healthy, so we tried to create healthier versions of the local and international inspired dishes we liked. That's why our menu is a little all over the place."
In the best way possible, the menu is all over the place. You'll find dishes from the traditional style Hawaii bowl, sushi, flatbreads, burritos, smoothie bowls, the best vegan cakes I've tried (the coconut matcha icing is to die for), and more. They have something for every person, preference, and dietary restriction. It’s the kind of spot you can visit every day for a month and never get bored
A Community Staple
When having a conversation with Dee, her warm demeanor makes you feel at home. It’s no surprise that after 14 years Pupukea Grill has become a staple of the North Shore community. Dee describes the business as the neighborhood truck. People see each other in line every morning and catch up. She’s seen kids come with their parents, then by themselves, and the surfers that come every year grow up, get married, and have kids. The family at Pupukea Grill attributes their success to community support.
“It’s exciting for us because, in the first few years, a lot of people started to come just by word of mouth. We've never really advertised, it is the community who backed us up and spread the word. The lifeguards have always supported us, the firefighters, Flynn Novak, Jamie, Pancho Sullivan, Eddie Rothman, and more have been with us from the beginning. The community has become like a second family.”
Reflecting on the past few years and the hardships brought on by COVID-19, Dee stresses that they are grateful for everyone. “During the Pandemic the community showed up and supported us through the hard times. Everyone was very generous, and even through the uncertainty, people were still coming out. We would be nowhere without the community."
Beyond feeding the community, Pupukea Grill also does their part to give back. They have an ongoing fundraiser that donates a portion of each sale of the Kalani and Ruby Bowls to Friends of Sunset Beach, a non-profit that brings art and music to the youth of the North Shore of Oahu.
Surfing is such an integral part of the North Shore community, it’s no surprise Dee and Janelle have a special fondness for the surfers that frequent their truck.
Every Surfer’s Favorite Food Truck
As many of us know, the North Shore of Oahu is THE surf mecca. In addition to it's incredible food, Pupukea Grill has iconic surf décor. Old magazine clips of pro surfers, signed by the pro surfers themselves, cover the eating area, and each bowl features a picture of a surfer. When I asked about the inspiration behind the surf-inspired decorations, Dee went on to describe how it highlights the local heroes they see come by.
“When we first opened, we didn’t know a lot of the surfers. Overtime we noticed that the surfers were coming, so we started to look in magazines and see who we recognized. We'd wait for them to come a few times and then ask them to sign a picture. It was kind of like how restaurants back in the day used to have celebrities on their walls.”
The surf community has supported the girls from the beginning. From locals to those on the World Surf League Competition tours, Pupukea Grill is every surfer's favorite stop.
A Must Stop Shop
Whether you're local or visiting, no North Shore beach day is complete without stopping by Pupukea Grill, grabbing some grub, and enjoying the warm Hawaiian air.
Make sure to check out the Pupukea Grill website, Instagram, or Facebook for information on hours, specials, and community updates.
Did reading about how Pupukea Grill is every surfer's favorite food truck get you psyching to hit the waves? Check out the Jamie O'Brien Surf App here for anytime, anywhere surf coaching.
People Also Read
Did we miss something? Send us a message at hello@jamieobrien.com
