Pau Pizza
Casual Waimea pizzeria serving sourdough pies, slices, salads, and sandwiches in a laid-back local setting. A practical stop for lunch or dinner with vegetarian-friendly options.
- Takeout
- Delivery
- Online ordering
- Vegetarian options
Pau Pizza is a casual Waimea stop that stands out for doing pizza with more personality than the usual takeout counter. The kitchen leans on sourdough crust and local ingredients, giving the menu a clear Big Island identity without losing the comfort of a straightforward pizza-and-salad meal. It is the kind of place that works when a group wants something easy, familiar, and flexible, but still a little more rooted in place than a standard chain.
What Pau Pizza does best
The strongest case for Pau Pizza is the crust and the ingredient-driven pies. Sourdough pizza is the headline here, and the menu backs that up with combinations built around Waimea greens, local tomato, Hamakua mushrooms, purple sweet potato, and herb-forward finishes. Whole pies and slices both make sense depending on how hungry the table is, and the lineup also includes salads, sandwiches, and lasagna for anyone who wants something besides pizza.
Vegetarian diners have real options, and there are also plant-based choices on the menu. That makes Pau Pizza especially useful for mixed groups, where not everyone wants the same thing but everyone can still eat well.
The feel of the place
This is a counter-service, fast-casual kind of restaurant rather than a formal sit-down room. The setup is relaxed, the vibe is local, and the outdoor seating adds to the easygoing feel. The business is family-run, with a story that reflects Hawaiʻi artists Mele and Mike Bennett building a neighborhood-oriented concept that has been around since 2015. That background gives the restaurant a little more character than a typical pizzeria.
For travelers, that translates into a practical stop in Waimea: good for lunch, an unhurried early dinner, or takeout after a day on the road.
Tradeoffs to know
The main caveat is value. Pau Pizza is not budget-cheap, especially compared with old-school slice shops, and some guests may feel the pricing lands closer to casual midrange than low-cost. That is easier to accept if the crust, toppings, and local ingredients matter to you; less so if the goal is the cheapest possible pizza meal.
Service style is another consideration. If you want full table service or a polished date-night setting, this is probably not the right fit.
Best for
Pau Pizza is best for travelers who want a dependable, local-feeling meal in Waimea with enough variety for families, groups, and vegetarian eaters. It is less compelling for diners looking for a more formal restaurant experience or a bargain pizza run.
