Grand Island native Tonia Reeser is a huge Chicago Cubs fan who cooks with Hawaiian flair at the Big Island Diner in the middle of landlocked Nebraska. She’s held almost every job in the restaurant business but now she can add owner to her title.
“It’s just laid back, a nice place to hang out with friends and family. Come in for a quick lunch and chill for awhile afterwards.”
Tonia graduated with a degree in the culinary arts. After college, she lived in Hawaii for four months and worked in a Japanese restaurant.
“People are pretty laid back and it was like not being too far away from home, but still it was just beautiful there, cooking with the fresh flavors.”
Tonia named the restaurant Big Island after her time spent on the big island of Hawaii. She cooks everything from scratch and brought many recipes across the ocean to Nebraska’s island.
“Making something real, bring a little flair to it.”
The Big Island Diner is located at a Bosselman Pump N’ Pantry along Highway 30 where a Grandma Max’s used to be. Many diners stop in for a quick bite to eat and Tonia’s there to greet everyone with a big aloha.
“I tell employees cook like it’s for your mom, cook with love. You don’t want to be sending her out something burnt, if grandma comes out or whatever. Cook with love and enjoy doing it.”
With kalua pork and the loco moco on the menu, diners might think they’re actually in Hawaii. Tonia invites everyone to take a vacation to the Big Island located in Grand Island.