kahuna

Related to kahuna: 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.

big kahuna

n. the important person; the knowledgeable authority on some matter. (From the Hawai'ian word for “priest.” Sometimes capitalized.) Joe is the big kahuna around here when it comes to predicting stock market prices.
See also: big, kahuna
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • a big kahuna
  • 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
References in periodicals archive
FormatFusion, essentially, was developed to handle the challenges of multi-format production and content delivery, and has allowed Kahuna production switchers to assist the creative production community to manage otherwise incompatible signal and video formats since 2004, says David Tasker, VP systems and technology, SAM.
The Kahuna name will be discontinued, however the leadership team of KPS will join TEMPOE to continue leading the growth of the FlexPay PLUS book of business.
Swanbeck has been developing his revolutionary approach to film acting since directing his existential film comedy, The Big Kahuna. Unlike more classical acting methods that focus on the actor's internal experience to make characters seem real, Swanbeck's approach reveals that cinematic success depends on actors creating from the camera's perspective.
Featuring a 3.5-inch jaw opening, the Big Kahuna Power Blade makes easy work of cutting large diameter copper and aluminum electrical cables, resulting in clean, installation-ready cuts on high-voltage cables up to 1250 MCM in less than 20 seconds.
Still, King Kahuna was a foothill compared to Shambala, and we took our final chance to take it on during White Night - one of half a dozen nights in the year when the park's opening hours are extended from midnight to 4am.
A sister restaurant, Kahuna, opens during the summer on Tolcarne Beach.
He was Tubesteak, the Kahuna. But also he and his board racing down a wave were like a battleship coming at you, and it was up to you to avoid a collision.
Then you say in your coffin, Hoo, one kahuna told you.
Box revealed that the scientists first noticed a jagged crack in the Petermann Glacier's ice - a growing rift he dubbed 'The Big Kahuna' - in 2008.
KAHUNA WERE EXPERT SURFERS AND KIND OF LIKE HOLY PEOPLE.
Murdeach Kelly, trainer of Kahuna See story below Tony Martin, trainer of Keelaghan "He ran well at Galway and wasn't beaten too far.
SE Australia The Big Kahuna Red 3 for pounds 10 - Tesco Another offer that ends on Tuesday is the discount (from pounds 5.99) on this smooth blend named after local surfing hero Duke Kahanamoku.
On debut album Raise The Alarm (produced by a stellar tag-team of Dan Kahuna, Steve Dubb, Segs and Robert Harder, released by City Rockers), indie-rock is relocated to the heart of the dancefloor, without compromise on either side.
Having gone through a teeny bathroom remodel, I'm not sure I can face the big kahuna of a kitchen.
Stornoway Diamond Corporation (TSX: SWY), a Canada-based company that explores and develops prospective diamond properties in Canada and Botswana, has announced caustic fusion results from the Killiq and Kahuna Breccia kimberlites at the Churchill Diamond Project, in Nunavut, Canada.