Overview
Pau Pizza is a Waimea pizzeria on the Big Island that reads like a local neighborhood stop rather than a tourist-only pizza parlor. The official site describes it as a family-run, fast-casual place serving sourdough pizza, salads, sandwiches, and some pasta, with Taco Rosa operating alongside it on the same brand site. Google’s place record still matches the same Waimea address and shows the business as operational, with strong review volume and a generally high rating. (paupizza.com)
For travelers, the appeal is less about novelty and more about a dependable, flexible meal in Waimea: pizza by the slice or by the 18-inch pie, plus enough salad and sandwich options to work for mixed groups. The place seems especially relevant if you want something casual, locally rooted, and not tied to resort dining. (paupizza.com)
Cuisine & Specialties
Pau Pizza’s lane is sourdough pizza with a local-ingredient tilt, backed by salads, sandwiches, lasagna, and a few taco-related items on the broader site. The menu is not just generic pizza: several pies use Waimea greens, local tomato, Hamakua mushrooms, purple sweet potato, and pesto or gremolata-style finishes, which suggests a more ingredient-driven kitchen than a standard takeout shop. (paupizza.com)
- Overall menu style: fast-casual pizza and neighborhood lunch/dinner food, centered on sourdough crust, with slices, whole pies, salads, sandwiches, and pasta. The website also indicates a Taco Rosa overlap, so the brand footprint is broader than pizza alone. (paupizza.com)
- Notable items supported by the menu: Superfood salad; Vintners salad; The Italian sandwich on sourdough focaccia; classic meat lasagna; cheese and pepperoni slices; 18-inch sourdough pies like Margarita, Hamakua, Hella Mushrooms, Plant Based Paradise, Classico, Ahualoa, Whole Hog, and Build Your Own. (paupizza.com)
- Traveler-friendly price expectations: Google lists it as mid-priced; the menu shows slices around $5–$6.25, sandwiches at $18, salads at $8/$16, and large pies mostly in the low-to-mid $30s, with plain cheese and pepperoni pies around $24–$24.50. That puts it in the “casual but not cheap” range. (paupizza.com)
- Dietary usefulness: there are clear vegetarian and vegan options on the menu, and review snippets suggest it can be useful for gluten-free diners too, though the official site text does not spell out full allergen handling. (paupizza.com)
- Likely signature profile: sourdough crust, local produce, and mushroom/vegetable-forward pies appear to be the clearest specialties. Reviews repeatedly mention the crust, which supports that as a core strength. (restaurantji.com)
Notable Features & Ambiance
This looks like a relaxed, order-and-go or counter-service kind of place, with outdoor seating and a casual neighborhood feel. The editorial summary from Google describes it as “laid-back” with art-lined walls, and secondary listings consistently describe it as a cozy, friendly stop rather than a formal sit-down restaurant. (restaurantji.com)
- Service model and seating style: fast-casual / counter-service feel; takeout and delivery are listed; outdoor seating is noted in secondary listings. (restaurantji.com)
- Atmosphere and decor: homey, laid-back, and artsy enough to feel local rather than corporate. Google’s summary specifically mentions art-lined walls. (paupizza.com)
- Practical features: online ordering is available through the official site; hours appear to be lunch through dinner most days, with Sunday closing earlier. (paupizza.com)
- Best fit: an easy lunch, casual dinner, takeout run, or shared meal for a mixed group where some people want pizza and others want salad or sandwiches. (paupizza.com)
- Weaker fit: travelers looking for full table service, a white-tablecloth experience, or a highly polished date-night setting may find it too casual. That is an inference from the service style and menu presentation rather than a stated criticism. (paupizza.com)
History & Background
The official site says Pau Pizza is family-owned and operated by two Hawaiʻi artists, Mele and Mike Bennett, and that they have been serving food since 2015. It also says Taco Rosa was added in 2021 and is tied to chef Victor Moreno, which gives the business a broader family-and-expansion story rather than a one-off pizza shop origin. (paupizza.com)
Review Sentiment Snapshot
What People Love
The recurring praise is about crust, portion size, and friendliness. Reviews and third-party summaries consistently mention a good sourdough crust, strong sauce, generous or not-skimpy toppings, and service that feels warm and quick. The place also seems to land well with people who want vegetarian or gluten-free-friendly options without giving up a pizza outing. (restaurantji.com)
Common Gripes
The most credible downside signal is price: some review snippets suggest the pies can feel expensive, especially when compared with older versions or more value-oriented pizza places. There is also a weaker but notable complaint pattern around occasional inconsistency in topping quantity or value for money, though that is not the dominant review theme and the overall rating remains strong. (mapquest.com)
Practical Visitor Tips
- Current hours shown in both Google and review aggregators are roughly 11:00 AM–8:00 PM Monday–Saturday and 11:00 AM–6:00 PM Sunday; Sunday is the shortest window. (restaurantji.com)
- The restaurant supports takeout, delivery, and online ordering, so it should work well for grab-and-go visits. (paupizza.com)
- Expect a casual, counter-service style experience rather than a formal dining room. (restaurantji.com)
- If you want the broadest choice, go earlier in the day or at off-peak meal times; the menu includes daily and weekly specials that may sell out or change. This is an inference from the menu structure and review comments about popular items moving quickly. (paupizza.com)
- The location is on Opelo Road in Waimea, so it is easy to treat as an in-town stop rather than a destination requiring a major detour. (restaurantji.com)
Verification Notes
- Official identity matches the Google record: Pau Pizza, 65-1227 Opelo Rd, Waimea, HI 96743, (808) 885-6325, website paupizza.com. (restaurantji.com)
- Google shows the business as OPERATIONAL. (restaurantji.com)
- Minor address-format drift appears in secondary sources as Waimea/Kamuela and one source includes 65-1227a / Suite A7-style variants, but the core street address is consistent. This looks like local naming/address formatting drift, not a clear mismatch. (mapquest.com)
Sources
- Official site — Pau Pizza —
http://www.paupizza.com/— Retrieved 2026-04-02. Most useful for the current menu, ownership story, brand structure, and proof of Taco Rosa overlap. - Google Places record / place details for Pau Pizza —
https://maps.google.com/?cid=4297908116733890165— Retrieved 2026-04-01. Baseline identity anchor for name, address, phone, hours, rating, business status, and editorial summary. - MapQuest business page for Pau Pizza —
https://www.mapquest.com/us/hawaii/pau-pizza-12287575— Retrieved 2026-04-02. Useful for the family-owned/founder background claim and for a downside signal about perceived value in at least one review snippet. - Restaurantji page for Pau Pizza —
https://www.restaurantji.com/hi/waimea/pau-/— Retrieved 2026-04-02. Useful for recurring review themes, menu highlights, pricing context, takeout/delivery notes, and hours confirmation.
