In the pizza-making industry, pizza parlors are made up of two separate, yet equally important groups: the pizza makers who dream up new creations and the loyal foodies who chow down on their masterpieces. This is Hanalei Pizza’s story. On
In the pizza-making industry, pizza parlors are made up of two separate, yet equally important groups: the pizza makers who dream up new creations and the loyal foodies who chow down on their masterpieces. This is Hanalei Pizza’s story.
On its menu, Hanalei Pizza boasts its pies are made by hand with love, which is evident by the parlor’s friendly and attentive staff — a chatty bunch of pizza aficionados with a passion for dough.
All the pies are made to order, but wait times can be onward of 30 minutes, so feel free to wander next to door to grab a beer or bottle of wine (Hanalei Pizza is BYOB).
The price of a whole pie from Hanalei Pizza begins at $11.95 and tops off at $34.95.
Slices go for $3.95 for cheese or pepperoni, and $4.75 for a specialty slice.
Their selections range from the traditional (“The Easy Cheesy” cheese pizza, complete with shiraz wine and herb sauce plus mozzarella cheese) to the exotic (the “Wild Pig,” mozzarella cheese, kalua pork, Maui sweet onions, caramelized onions and roasted garlic).
These decadent pies are piled sky high with top-notch ingredients, and cooked perfectly — thin and crispy on the outside and soft and gooey on the inside.
Local favorites include the “Veg-Head” (mozzarella cheese, olives, Maui sweet onions, roasted garlic, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto and feta cheese) and “Just Give Me the Meat Baby” (mozzarella cheese, Canadian Bacon, Kalua pork, pepperoni and sausage). And don’t be afraid to speak up — the folks at Hanalei Pizza can tailor its pizzas to accommodate any type of pizza you dream up.
All of the ingredients are fresh and all natural, and patrons who wander by the North Shore restaurant in the morning can watch the staff as they ready the day’s dough.
Adding to its charm is the pizza parlor’s informal logo — a peace sign and the symbol for pi (that’s the sixteenth letter of the Greek alphabet, not the baked pastry dish).
The pizzeria has enough seating to fit a baker’s dozen inside, which leaves many patrons opting to eat their slices outside — who wouldn’t want to soak in the rays of a beautiful North Shore day?
Adding to the charm of the local pizzeria are ukuleles, drums and other instruments that adorn the walls. But these musical instruments are not just for looks.
Hanalei Pizza hosts an open mic night every Thursday throughout the summer.
The action takes place outside and draws a legion of locals. As an added bonus, those who perform get a free slice of pizza.
To save yourself a line, order ahead for pickup. And if you are a diehard Hanalei Pizza fan, buy a T-shirt. The money goes to purchasing a larger oven.
Hanalei Pizza is open 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily. Hanalei Pizza is located at the Ching Young Shopping Village, off of the Kuhio Highway in Hanalei. Visit www.HanaleiPizza.com for a complete menu.
