1. n. Hole (perforation; cf. lua, pit); door, entrance, gate, slit, vent, opening, issue. Cf. pukaihu, puka kui, lei pūpū puka. Ka puka kahiko, the ancient hole [the anus]. hoʻo.puka To perforate, puncture, make a hole or opening. (PCP puta.)
2. vi. To pass through, appear, emerge, come out, get out of, issue, come into sight; to rise, as the sun. Kua puka, a sore on the back, as a saddle sore on a horse's back. Puka mau, to appear frequently, as a newspaper. Puka lā, daily issue. Puka mahina, monthly issue. Puka makahiki, annual issue. Puka wā, to appear irregularly, as a paper. Puka ka niho, to teethe. Puka kinikini, puka kinikini, ʻaʻohe ona puka e puka aku a (riddle), many many holes, many many holes, no hole to go out through [answer: a fish net]. Puka mai ka lā, the sun rises. Puka ka niho o ke keiki, the child gets his teeth. hoʻo.puka To issue, as a permit; to acquit, as a defendant in court; a chant to which dancers issue. Hoʻopuka ʻana, edition. Hoʻopuka mua, first edition. Ua hoʻopuka ʻia paha mamuli o ka palapala hoʻopiʻi kūpono, acquitted after a proper indictment. Hoʻopuka i kai ka lā i Unulau, let the sun rise at the sea at Unulau. (PCP puta.)
3. vi. To graduate. hoʻo.puka To graduate. E hoʻopuka ʻia ana ka papa i kēia makahiki, the class will be graduated this year.
4. vi. To say, utter, speak. Puka maila kāna ʻolelo, he spoke (lit., his word came out). hoʻo.puka To proclaim, speak, say, pronounce. Hoʻopuka ʻana, pronunciation. Hoʻopuka manaʻo, to suggest, comment. Hoʻopuka hewa, to speak out of turn, make a slip of the tongue. Hoʻopuka ʻino, hoʻopuka pono ʻole, to insult, slur, say evil or blasphemous things. Hoʻopuka kū, to speak rudely, uncivilly, bluntly. He wahi manaʻo hoʻopuka, a modest comment. Kou naʻau e hoʻopuka aku i kekahi mea (Kekah. 5.2), your heart to say something.
5. nvi. To gain, win, profit; to draw interest; winnings, gain, profit. Puka o ke kālā, interest. Puka nui, large profit or gain. Puka a me ka pohō, profit and loss. hoʻo.puka To invest; to make a profit; profitable. Cf. waiwai hoʻopuka.
6. n. Trap, snare. Cf. kīpuka.
7. idiom. Almost. Nā anana ʻeono ā puka hiku, six and a fraction fathoms. Kaʻu kaupaono, ua puka haneli, my weight is almost one hundred.
