Love it or hate it, Hawaiian pizza—with its bold combination of sweet pineapple and savory ham—has become a polarizing pizza classic. But did you know that Hawaiian pizza isn’t actually from Hawaii? Surprise! This tropical-topped pizza was born far from the islands, in none other than Canada!

The Man Behind the Pineapple: Sam Panopoulos

In 1962, Greek-Canadian restaurateur Sam Panopoulos was the mastermind behind this sweet-and-savory creation. Sam and his brothers ran a restaurant in Ontario, Canada, and like many others at the time, they served the usual pizza options—pepperoni, cheese, and so on. But Sam, always one to experiment with flavors, decided to try something different.

One day, on a whim, he tossed some pineapple chunks onto a pizza along with ham. It was a wild idea—one that went against the more traditional Italian-style pizzas of the time. But to Sam’s surprise, people loved it! The contrast between the salty ham and the sweet pineapple was an instant hit with customers. And so, Hawaiian pizza was born.

Why the Name “Hawaiian”?

You might be wondering why it’s called Hawaiian pizza when it’s from Canada. Well, it turns out that the pineapple Sam used came from a brand of canned pineapple called Hawaiian. It was as simple as that—the name stuck, and the pizza took on a tropical vibe, even though it had never been near Hawaii.

The Great Pineapple Debate

Despite its popularity, Hawaiian pizza has always been controversial. Pineapple on pizza? Some people are totally here for it, while others recoil in horror at the thought. The debate over whether pineapple belongs on pizza has become a lighthearted yet intense battleground in pizza culture.

Even famous figures have weighed in. For instance, Iceland’s president once jokingly suggested he would ban pineapple on pizza if he could. But Sam Panopoulos always defended his creation, reminding the world that pizza is about fun and flavor—and what’s more fun than pineapple?