Zephanie’s Pizza — owned by couple Zach and Stephanie Draper — started when they were in college; she was at Hawai‘i Pacific University, and he was at Brigham Young University–Hawai‘i.
Stephanie Draper recalls how they loved experimenting with food on weekends, and how they often talked about how fun it would be to create their own unique spin on pizza.
“We spent over a year creating pizza dishes inspired by our heritage and the foods we love,” she says. “That is why our menu consists of so many Asian and Pacific-inspired dishes.”
The business — named after its two owners — started as a hobby. The Drapers created their menu based on their favorite tastes and dishes from their upbringing, which is why they offer classic pizza options, as well as Asian and Pacific-inspired flavors inspired by pho, banh mi and more.
“We began selling pizza out of our apartment in college,” Draper says. “From there, we did a few pop-up events, catering and investing into building our own food truck.
“One day, we were getting lunch on the North Shore when we overheard a family complain that all they wanted was really good pizza,” she adds. “We had been experimenting with pizza at the time, and decided that we wanted to be the ones to bring it to the North Shore.”
Classic pizza options include cheese, pepperoni, and meat lovers. Pizzas inspired by Asian cuisine include Da Pho ($19), banh mi ($21) and Steph’s curry ($19). Da Pho features hoisin sauce, mozzarella cheese, jalapenos, red onions, kalua pork, cilantro, Thai basil and a Sriracha drizzle. Meanwhile, Steph’s curry features housemade Thai green curry sauce, chicken, mozzarella, bell peppers, cilantro and Thai basil; the banh mi is topped with kalua pork, soy sesame sauce, mozzarella, fresh cucumbers, pickled veggies, cilantro and Sriracha aioli drizzle.
Zephanie’s Pizza is known for its Hukilau pizza ($21), which is a barbecue kalua pork and pineapple pizza on a taro crust. However, any pizza can be made on a taro crust, according to Draper, who says there are no preservatives in their pizza dough, and they use real Italian flour and Hawaiian sea salt.
“Both, our traditional pizza crust and taro crust are handmade in house,” she says. “The overall dough process takes three to five days, to give it the exact taste and texture that we love. We use locally sourced produce from farms located across Hawaiʻi.
“We are known for our signature taro crust, which is a Pacific-inspired take on our classic Italian pizza dough,” she adds. “We use real taro as the main ingredient to give it a nutty and sweet flavor. I’m Vietnamese, and taro plays such a prominent part in my favorite dishes, growing up.”
The banh mi pizza on taro crust is Draper’s favorite pizza on the menu. She has fond memories growing up and going to an Asian market.
“There was a sweet old lady always there, selling her signature banh mi sandwiches inside the shop,” she remembers. “My mom would always buy my siblings and me one if we were on our best behavior.
“The banh mi and Da Pho pizzas have a special space in my heart,” she adds. “Adding the taro crust to any of our pizzas elevates the taste and overall experience.”
The business recently announced on social media that it will be opening a second location soon in Lāʻie — specifically at the Hukilau Marketplace at Polynesian Cultural Center.
While the business did not suffer as much damage from the recent Kona Low storms — “We had a bit of flooding in our house, but nothing too extreme,” Draper says — she says they have been focusing on helping some of their neighbors.
“Kahuku did not get hit as intensely, so the Sugar Mill is doing great and businesses are running as usual,” she says. “Some of our neighbors are in extreme need, so we have been working on that.
“The storm has affected many families and businesses in the North Shore, but everyone has lent a helping hand to rebuild the community,” she adds. “We are impressed by the love, effort and support that has been implemented. If you are reading this, keep an eye out for volunteer work — there are businesses and organizations conducting donations for those desperately in need, whether that’s hot food, medical help, clean beds or home kits. We are grateful for our community members and the organizations that see and hear the North Shore community.”
CONTACT
Zephanie’s Pizza
56-565 Kamehameha Hwy., Kahuku
zephaniespizza.square.site
Instagram: @zephaniespizza
Open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays
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Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
