Sitting right on Oneo Bay in the heart of historic Kailua Village, Kai Eats + Drinks has been serving up wood-fired pizzas with an oceanfront view since opening in June 2021. 🌊
Locally-owned and ohana-operated, this isn’t a tourist-trap pizza joint riding on location alone — it’s a genuine neighborhood favorite where Italian technique meets island flavor.
With a lanai overlooking the water and a Neapolitan-style pizza menu crafted with imported Italian flour, Kai Eats + Drinks has quickly become one of Kona’s most beloved dining spots. 🍕
How Kai Eats + Drinks won Kailua-Kona’s hearts
Crafted with Italian flour that bakes up genuinely crisp and airy, the restaurant’s 12-inch pies have earned a reputation as some of the best Kailua-Kona pizza on the island, backed by fresh, high-quality ingredients rather than shortcuts. 🍕
That commitment to real craft, paired with a stunning bayfront setting, has made it a go-to answer for anyone searching for the best Hawaii pizza restaurant.
Part of the appeal is how the menu blends true Italian tradition with local island touches — this isn’t a generic pizza list, it’s genuinely creative.
That combination of a wood-fired pizza oven, imported ingredients, and a laid-back island attitude has made the restaurant feel like it belongs to the community rather than just occupying prime real estate on Ali’i Drive.
Beyond the pizza, the oceanfront lanai overlooking Oneo Bay gives Kai Eats + Drinks an edge that few other Kona restaurants can match — sunset views paired with a rotating tap list and happy hour have turned it into a regular gathering spot rather than a once-a-visit stop.
That mix of genuine hospitality, real Italian-inspired pizza, and one of Kona’s best sunset views is exactly why locals keep making it part of their weekly routine. ⭐
Food Highlights
- Luau Pizza: Kalua pork and roasted pineapple get finished with a hoisin honey mustard glaze for a true local-style pie. 🐖
- Pollo Bianco Pizza: Chicken, arugula, fontina, and gorgonzola come together over roasted garlic white sauce. 🧄
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Ezzo Pepperoni Pizza: Spicy Ezzo pepperoni layered over red sauce and mozzarella for a bold, classic bite. 🌶️
- Meatsa Pizza: Pepperoni and sausage combine with olives and onion over a rich tomato sauce base. 🍕
- Pear and Gorgonzola Pizza: Bacon and mozzarella meet a creamy white sauce, finished with a sweet balsamic drizzle. 🍐
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Gamberoni Pesto Pizza: Shrimp, pesto, mushrooms, and onion come together for a fresh, seafood-forward pie. 🍤
- “Fun Kai” Funghi Pizza: Ali’i mushroom and Italian sausage tossed with pesto and mozzarella. 🍄
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Mango Tango Pizza: Roasted pineapple and a spicy coconut curry sauce bring a genuinely tropical spin to the pizza menu. 🍍
Atmosphere
Kai Eats + Drinks offers genuine oceanfront dining, with an open-air lanai overlooking Oneo Bay and front-row seats to Kona’s famous sunsets.
The vibe is relaxed and unmistakably local, with a glass-enclosed taproom keeping the beer selection perfectly chilled.
It’s the kind of spot where a casual pizza dinner turns into a full sunset experience. Family-friendly and easygoing, it suits everyone from beachgoers to happy-hour regulars. 🌅
Bottom Line
Visit Kai Eats + Drinks for its wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas, genuine island-Italian flavor combinations, unbeatable oceanfront lanai seating, family-owned hospitality, and Kona’s most memorable sunset views. 🍕
Address:
75-5776 Ali’i Dr, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
📞 (808) 900-3328
🕔 Open Mon-Fri, 12 PM–9 PM; Sat-Sun, 9 AM–9 PM