In 1967, our father, Gilbert Sakaguchi, borrowed $905 from our grandfather Jackson M. Sakaguchi and founded Magoo’s Pizza in Honolulu, Hawaii with its rst location at 1980 Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki. Over the next four decades, you could find Hawaii’s favorite island-style pizza in over 27 locations throughout Hawaii, the West Coast, Philippines and even Dubai!
The Sakaguchis were Kona coffee farmers on the Big Island so our father knew what hard work was all about before he decided to become a cook. After graduating from Konawaena High School, he moved to Oahu to attend Kapiolani Community College and graduated with a degree in food and beverage management. He worked at some of the top hotels in Waikiki during school and then at various pizza parlors around Honolulu. Shortly after graduation, he noticed Hawaii’s newly developing lifestyles, saw an opportunity for a new concept and Magoo’s Pizza, the first pizza delivery in the Hawaiian Islands, was born.
From it ’s humble beginnings, Magoo’s Pizza was definitely a family affair. Our grandfather Jackson helped to deliver pizzas with our younger uncles Glenn and Clifford in the backseat of the car. Our grandmother Patsy (Baba) worked in the kitchen and made our famous potato salad by hand. I remember going with my father to the grand openings of new locations around the islands and once to Manila for my 12th birthday. By the time I was in high school, I was working at the Kalakaua location as a “phone girl” for Uncle Glenn to pay my debt for my friends and I ordering delivery late night. As time passed, franchisee locations closed and the Kalakaua location was the only one left standing.
In 1997, our father and uncle decided to close the Kalakaua location and opened a new Magoo’s concept at Puck’s Alleyin the University of Hawaii area. This location eventually became known as Magoo’s 2.0 offering XXsf of dining with 100+ beer taps, sports screens and a sushi bar. Named by Playboy as one of their “Best College Bars,” it was THE place to go for people of all ages, backgrounds and intent. Families ate dinner beside college students drinking pitchers of beer and professionals enjoying happy hour after a tough day downtown. It brought everyone together.
After nine years and due to a change in building ownership/management, our father made the difficult decision to close down the Puck’s Alley location in 2007. He had given me the business with the option to reopen in another location but the timing wasn’t right. Then covid happened in 2020. Our catering kitchen in Kapahulu was not being used so my brothers, Marshall and GJ, along with my husband Kekoa talked me into relaunching Original Magoo’s Pizza as a takeout and delivery. We were overwhelmed at the community response to our reopening and when we needed the catering kitchen back in 2022, we moved to a full bar and dine-in space on Waialae Avenue at the top of Kaimuki. This is our new (old) hood as we once had a location at Waialae & 9th Avenue which was run by our Aunty Linny & Uncle Clyde.
To this day, our signature slogan No Hu Hu – Call Magoo’s ignites a nostalgia for the wonderful world of Magoo’s - painted volkswagen bugs, red and yellow striped uniforms, our father’s cigarette racing boat and that jukebox – with memories ingrained in the minds and culture of Hawaii and it’s people. Keep the stories coming!
XOXO Sakara