ISLAND HISTORY: How Coco Palms employee ‘Big John’ Kauo got his nickname

Born in Anahola, John Pakahea “Big John” Kauo (1933-2013) had graduated from Kamehameha Schools and had labored in the Kaua‘i pineapple fields, when one day in 1954, his Aunty Moki Hanohano, the night dining room manager at Coco Palms, offered him a job as a waiter.

Thus, “Big John” began what was to be a 37-year career at Coco Palms, where he retired as hotel manager.

John Kauo got his nickname “Big John” one night at the Club Jetty restaurant and nightclub in Nawiliwili, which was owned by Manji “Papa” Ouye and Emma “Mama” Ouye, and was in operation from 1950 until 1992.

That night, after the Coco Palms bar had closed, manager Grace Buscher asked then assistant manager Kauo to escort some visiting travel agents from Coco Palms to Club Jetty to dance and enjoy a show featuring the “Japanese Amigos.”

In David Penhallow’s book, “The story of the Coco Palms Hotel,” Kauo explained what happened that night at Club Jetty: “The show had started, when suddenly, a guy in the bar comes over and grabs one of the wahines at our table by the okole and drags her out on the dance floor. They were the only two on the dance floor and the show stopped because of them. “Mama” Ouye came over and asked me, ‘Boy, can you do me a favor and get ’em off the dance floor?’

“This big buggah was 6’4 and I’m 5’10, but I was more concerned about the girl as she was trying to get away from him. So I went up to him and asked, ‘Excuse me sir, could I escort the lady back to the table?’

“He starts cussing, and as I walked the lady back to the table, he grabbed a chair and came at me. I gave him one karate kick and the guy went flat on his ass. Then I picked him up and threw him out the window into the bay. I’ve been called “Big John” ever since.”

“Big John” Kauo and his wife, Marlene, had a daughter, Maile.