Kahunaville was a tropical themed restaurant chain founded in 1996 by David Tuttleman in Wilmington, Delaware and owned by Adventure Dining Inc.[1][2] In the late 1990s, the chain became established in shopping malls throughout the United States and by 2002, it employed 3,000 employees, had an annual revenue of $48 million, the equivalent to $90,601,678in 2024 and expanded internationally to South Korea.[3][4][5] In November 2006, the original Kahunaville was closed suddenly by Tuttleman following the death of his father and two years later, its locations in South Korea shuttered.[1][5] The final Kahunaville location in Las Vegas was closed in 2016.[6] Since its closing, reunion events have been organized and held by Tuttleman to commemorate the history of Kahunaville.[7]
The Daniel S. Frawley Stadium, then the Legends Stadium, opened in 1993 as part of a revitalization effort of the Riverfront neighborhood of Wilmington, Delaware.[1][8] As part of this effort, David Tuttleman, the son of Philadelphia-based clothing maker Stanley Tuttleman, opened the Big Kahuna club in 1994 in a 35,000-square-foot (3,300m2) abandoned warehouse at 500 South Madison Street.[1][8][3][9] The theme for Big Kahuna was based from Tuttleman's travel with his family to tropical locations such as Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and the South Pacific,[3] with the club's interior featuring huts, palm trees, surfboards and waterfalls.[1] The club targeted demographics aged between 21 and 30, quickly becoming popular in the area.[1]
Kahunaville expanded internationally in 2002, opening a location in Seoul, South Korea at the Savoy Hotel in September and a second location later that year.[21] A third location in Seoul opened in 2003.[21]
Closing
By the mid 2000s, Tuttleman was a caretaker for his father, who had prostate cancer.[7] In 2004, Kahunaville closed its locations in Buffalo, Holyoke, Grandville and Tampa.[22][23][24][25] The Syracuse location closed in 2005.[14] In November 2006, following the death of his father, Tuttleman closed the original Kahunaville location in Wilmington, Delaware.[7] The Eastwood Mall Kahunaville closed in March 2007.[26]
In 2013, the location in Wisconsin Dells closed.[19] The last Kahunaville at Treasure Island Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas closed in 2016, hosting one last party for Super Bowl 50.[6]
Reunion events
The first reunion event for the original Kahunaville occurred in 2013 in Prices Corner, Delaware.[7] In April 2018, Tuttleman and Sam Adams, a promoter, hosted a Kahunaville reunion event, commemorating Michael Carroll, a graphic artist for Kahunaville who died in February that year.[7] Adams said that he and Carroll pushed the idea of a reunion to Tuttleman in order to encourage him to enter into the entertainment business once more.[7] Tuttleman, who has his own foundation, responded saying "This sounds really corny, but we all have a certain amount of time on this earth and you make the best of it, ... In my time, I chose to spend it creating great entertainment. But I had my chance at the wheel and it was amazing."[7] The event raised over $10,000, the equivalent to $18,875in 2024, for charities in the Wilmington community.[7]
Reception
Following its closure, Kahunaville was listed in multiple articles where it had locations, with individuals reported missing the restaurant and wishing for its return.[11][14][23][28][29]
In 2016, The Post-Standard listed Kahunaville in the article "Syracuse restaurants we wish we had back".[14] The restaurant was listed in "The Saddest Restaurant Closings in Las Vegas in 2016" article by Eater.[28] In the 2018 MassLive article "Massachusetts restaurants we miss", Kahunaville was "remembered for cheesy atmosphere and birthday songs."[23] New Jersey radio station WPST listed Kahunaville in its "10 Local Restaurants We Miss The Most" article in 2019.[11]Grand Rapids radio station WLHT-FM had Kahunaville present on its list of restaurants locals wanted to see return.[29]
↑ "Rising Stars". Restaurant Hospitality. 2010. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
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