a big kahuna

big kahuna

The most important or powerful person in a group, organization, business, or movement (e.g., the boss, leader, etc.). Primarily heard in US, South Africa. I think it sounds like a great idea, but you'll have to ask the big kahuna first.
See also: big, kahuna
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

a big kahuna

or

a grand kahuna

AMERICAN, INFORMAL
A big kahuna is a very important person in an organization. Suncorp Metway big kahuna Steve Jones may be thinking twice about his plans to start a business in North Queensland. Note: The word `kahuna' is from Hawaiian and means `wise man'.
See also: big, kahuna
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
See also:
  • big kahuna
  • big enchilada
  • grand poobah
  • a member for Barkshire
  • a plum in (one's) mouth
  • a plum in your mouth
  • double Dutch
  • be streets ahead
  • blues and twos
  • give up the ghost
References in periodicals archive
The case really can't be overstated - Exposed is a once-in-a-lifetime slice of awfulness, a Big Kahuna Burger of badness that may actually topple 2000's Battlefield Earth as the worst film of the millennium.
EXPOSED [...]
The case really can't be overstated - Exposed is a once-in-alifetime slice of awfulness, a Big Kahuna Burger of badness that may actually topple 2000's Battlefield Earth as the worst film of the millennium.
EXPOSED; Movies
Craig is now planning a Big Kahuna Street Food Market to take place from 9am to 6pm on Saturday, July 26, at Nelson Mandela Corner behind the library in Huddersfield town centre with a range of huts sellinga wide variety of hot food.
Craig proves a bright spark!
Take Calpers -- the California Public Employees' Retirement System -- a big kahuna with $172 billion in assets and holdings in more than 1,700 public companies.
Big pension fund weighs in on reform. (Business Briefs)
He tried a Big Kahuna last week but had to quit three-quarters of the way through.
I meat my match in a 205oz steak