Big Kahuna Pizza
Big Kahuna Pizza is located along a stretch of roadway that is home to warehouses, and auto body and repair shops. Since most of the surrounding area is industrial, one wouldn't expect to find a little green and yellow "shack" serving some of the Island's best pizza here.
A long time destination of both local residents and visitors, you'll have to keep your eyes open for the signs announcing da Big Kahuna's and quickly turn into the gravel parking lot. If you drive too fast, or aren't looking for it, you'll drive right past it.
Walk past the "porch" and open the screen door to enter the tiny restaurant. You'll see the menu board above the counter where the orders are placed. The menu is quite lengthy, and includes a number of pizzas and sandwiches. If you don't like waiting, take my advice and place your order over the phone -- well in advance of your anticipated pick up time. But be forewarned. If it's busy, the wait can be as long as 30 minutes or more!
After placing your order and paying for your meal, you can choose to dine-in (you food will be brought to the table), if one of the four tables inside the restaurant are available. Otherwise, you'll have to order to go.
Since I had some time to spare, I decided to eat in. It was busy, and crowded, so I ended up waiting 15 minutes for a table to open up and another 10 minutes for my food to arrive. What did I order? I had "da sumo special" (6" personal pan, US$5.95; 12" medium pan, US$16.95).
This perfectly sized pizza contains an extraordinary variety of tasty toppings. Here's the short list of what's on here: pepperoni, ham, Italian sausage, kalua pig (!), Portuguese sausage, bacon, onions, fresh mushrooms, chopped tomatoes and black olives! Is that artery clogging goodness or what? Even with all those toppings, the thick, fluffy and slightly sweet crust remains crisp and crunchy until the last bite.
I also ordered the garlic cheese balls (one dozen, US$3.35).
Fluffy and slightly chewy, these garlic cheese balls are brought to the table straight out of the over. Rich and buttery, and made flavorful with all of that garlic and cheese, the bottoms of these are crispy, making these so fun to eat. I do have to tell you that these garlic cheese balls are addictive -- you can't eat just one. In fact, before you know it, you've eaten them all.
Sometimes when I'm in the area, and don't feel like having a pizza, I'll go for one of Big Kahuna's amazing sub sandwiches. Here is the surfer sub combo/grinder (with turkey and roast beef, US$6.35).
The paper plate-sized homemade bun was slightly sweet, yet dense and fluffy. Nicely stuffed with more than a few slices of roast beef and turkey before being topped by some shredded lettuce and tomatoes, this is one heck of a sandwich.
Big Kahuna Pizza
833 Puuloa Road
Telephone: 808.833.5588
Mmm! Big Kahuna's! It's small and the room gets really hot and stifling, but this is still one of my favorite places to go for pizza. Hope you enjoyed the food there! :)
Posted by: Embla | February 17, 2006 at 06:15 AM
Awsome choice for pizza! I haven't eaten there in a while. I like the sandwiches too!! Oh and the Garlic cheese balls, forget the name but I know they changed it from Kahuna _ _ _ _ _. I guess somebody thought it was offensive.
Posted by: kyle | February 17, 2006 at 01:32 PM
love all their food! the pizza, sandwiches, and the garlic cheese balls (I forgot the name of it too!) definitely good food! gotta get some when I get back to Hawaii!
Posted by: Kat & Satoshi | February 18, 2006 at 04:24 PM
PIZZA!
how can a craving hit u that suddenly *ack*
Posted by: clare eats | February 20, 2006 at 06:30 AM
Tried their pizza but haven't been there yet. Someone brought it in at work on time. I like it, I like it!
Posted by: Trisha | February 20, 2006 at 07:38 PM
ooh, how long have they had eat-in space? I guess I haven't been there in a LONG time!
Posted by: Kat & Satoshi | February 21, 2006 at 01:39 AM
reid--
the last time i went to big kahuna's (sometime early in '05) there were signs saying that they would be moving due to the work the C&C or state would be doing on Puuloa. are they not moving? did they somehow get a reprieve? if so, that's great! because besides tsunami's on kuhio ave, i think big kahuna's pizzas are the most ono, if unconventional.
sometimes the pics you post are the bane of my conviction this year to eat more healthily....mmmm garlic cheese balls...*mouth watering*
Posted by: nai | February 21, 2006 at 12:08 PM
Hi Reid - How was the crust on that "sumo"? Sometimes when there are too many topping the crust gets really mushy.
Posted by: Kirk | February 22, 2006 at 09:07 PM
the Mexican pizza is my favorite. Sumo is my 2nd favorite.
Big Kahunas rules!!! :o)
Posted by: John | February 27, 2006 at 12:59 PM
I love the big kalua pork sandwich from there... Its enough for me for like 2 days! I've never tried the pizza so I guess I'll definatly have to check it out now!
Posted by: Lindsay | February 27, 2006 at 06:44 PM
What happened to the Big Kahuna Pizza place. I went by there on 23 May and the place/building/hut was gone???? Could it be because of the road construction???
Ivory Thomas
Posted by: Ivory Thomas | May 23, 2007 at 02:15 PM
They moved to the shopping center on Pai‘ea Street, next to Blimpie's. Wow, prices have gone up since last year. Da Sumo Special is now 6.95/18.95. Dozen garlic cheese balls are now $4.95. Sandwiches are now $7.25. Just had the kālua pork sandwich, finished the whole thing.
Posted by: Jason | June 06, 2007 at 10:06 PM
Big Kahuna's is now located on Paiea St. off of Nimitz Highway, in the airport trade center between Blimpie and L&L! They added new items to the menu!!! Miss the ol' shack feeling but they did a great job with the new place!!! same number too! 808-833-5588
Posted by: Janelle | June 09, 2007 at 08:16 PM
Please post menu.
Thank you
Posted by: Jana | July 11, 2007 at 07:12 PM
That looks delicious! I miss that place! The kalua pig pizza is a winner!
Posted by: Kehau | July 21, 2007 at 05:24 AM
Do you think they will overnight it? Yeah, I know it won't be the same, but better than nothing. I'm a former resident and the cheese balls, although I remember them under a different name, are second to none.
Posted by: Jen | August 02, 2007 at 06:50 AM
You probably know this already, but Big Kahuna Pizza is now in the Airport Trade Center, in the space that used to be the ramen restaurant next to the 24-hour L&L.
Posted by: scrivener | August 02, 2007 at 12:41 PM
I just ate there, great news Atm machine is just down the side walk & they even have bathrooms, just down the hall.
Same great charm & wonderful staff. Family oriented! A must for tourists
Posted by: Jeanie | August 17, 2007 at 05:27 PM
In Ewa for 5 days and never got to da Big Kahuna (not planned that way). Finally did find it on the way to the airport (too late). Oh well, next trip! Until then I will remember the ol' location and many surprise meetings with friends as I passed through on business.
Posted by: Stuart | November 03, 2007 at 08:13 AM
A friend has moved to Hawai'i, and I sorely miss Big Kahuna's. I hope he'll send some to me here in the Mainland.
Posted by: Coondog | March 05, 2008 at 10:30 PM
Besides being a bit bigger for seating (still small though) and convenient rest room access, they now are air conditioned. The old shack had great atmosphere, but I do appreciate that air conditioning!
Still great food!
Posted by: HawaiiBob49 | March 13, 2008 at 06:24 PM
I only had a Day in Hawaii and that was the request of my family was to bring a big kahuna pizza home. We did and they loved it.
crazy but it is to fly for
Posted by: val Young | June 24, 2008 at 08:43 AM
Stopped in for a day last week on the way home from Taiwan and wanted pizza for supper so off to the Big Kahuna for the personal Mexican. Next trip through will be doin it again.
Posted by: Stuart | December 27, 2008 at 06:31 PM