Shakey’s Pizza Parlor fires up its ovens in Hawaii after a 30-year hiatus

WAIPAHU—Driving through Waipahu Town, you find yourself passing by dozens of colorful fast food restaurants and local eateries that have lasted through the years. Names like Leeward Drive-Inn, Poke Stop, and Tanioka’s are neighborhood staples. A stop by Waipahu Town Center, however, will bring you something new—and old.

The California-based Shakey’s Pizza Parlor opened its doors in Waipahu on February 24.

After a 30-year hiatus, the national pizza chain has returned to Hawaii. Shakey’s first came to Hawaii in 1964 and was a popular place for friends and family to get together, enjoy some pizza, cold drinks, and music.

Being unfamiliar with the restaurant myself, I looked one generation ahead to ... my mom, who remembers Shakey’s as being a “happening place.”

“It was a place to hangout after school, eat pizza, and talk story,” said Norma “Mom” Zavala, who frequented the pizza parlor when she was in high school. “It was a fun environment.”

The first Shakey’s was located in Waimalu, with a pub feel and live banjo music. The banjo music was started by Shakey’s founder Sherwood Johnson. Johnson was a talented banjo player and later inducted into the Banjo Hall of Fame. He turned a grocery store into a pizza-serving pub in 1954 that would feature the who’s who of banjo players and musicians. Shakey’s would later expand from its Waimalu location to Kaneohe, Waipahu, and in town near Ala Moana. Three decades ago, however, the owner of Shakey’s in Hawaii sold the franchise, which ended in bankruptcy.

Walk into Shakey’s today and you are reminded quickly of the emphasis on family, friends, and good times. There are big tables to share pizza, fried chicken, and their famous “Mojo” potato fries. There’s also a game room, big TV screens for sports, and beer (coming soon). Shakey’s embraces the idea of uniting family and friends around a meal—something that’s a lost art in today’s fast paced, time-starved world.

“It was a very social, friendly atmosphere. It was the place to go when you didn’t have anything to do and were just looking to hang out,” Mom said. “We could always rely on that place being a spot to go to. It’s great that the reopened for younger generations to go to now.”

The Waipahu location is only the start of a resurgence in Hawaii and nationally for the pizza parlor chain. Franchisee Brad Vandeman has plans to open two more throughout the state over the next few years.

Shakey’s Pizza Parlor in Waipahu Town Center is open from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Friday through Saturday. For more information, visit Shakeys.com.

Shakey’s Pizza Parlor
94-060 Farrington Hwy
Waipahu, HI 96797
(808) 677-1919