For those of you who don’t know, shave ice is not the same thing as a snow cone. A snow cone has crushed ice, while Shave Ice has… shaved ice. It holds the syrup better and is a more smooth texture. When ordering, you only tell them the number, size, and whether or not you want ice cream. This is not the time to explain your flavor selection. We order 2 smalls with ice cream, most of the time. After your white ball of ice has been patted into the cone, you will be asked for your flavors.
We’re sad to report that it took us a year of living on Oahu before we ever tried this addictive frozen piece of heaven. Now we’re hooked. We’ve tried many places on the island to get an idea of our options. Some of these stores have become a Mecca and others were total bombs. We have listed here our rankings in order that you might benefit from our successes and avoid the shave ice hell of our mistakes.
Our rankings (to see our updated 2012 reviews click here):
8. Ice Gardens
The only reason we went here was because it was the closest shave ice to our old house near the airport. We only made that mistake once.
Mochi ball topping
Ice
Very crunchy
Syrups
If you get what you ordered (which is questionable because of language differences), then it is only okay. Syrups didn’t soak into the ice properly so we were left with patches of plain ice.
Ice Cream
Didn’t bother
Price/Size optimization
Size fits the price
Utensils
Styrofoam bowls and plastic spoons
Atmosphere
Inside a run-down mall. Limited seating in the hallway outside the store.
Service
Nice enough people, but the language barrier was a serious problem. Very slow moving.
Bonus Features
Abundant parking. Lots of topping options (mochi balls, custard, peanuts, azuki beans, etc.)
7. Rainbow Crack Seed
The only reason we go here is for the sheer convenience. It is within walking distance from our house.
Autumn waiting in line at Rainbow Crack Seed
Ice
Crunchy
Syrups
Generic flavors
Ice Cream
Very soft vanilla
Price/Size Optimization
Not generous portions, but fits the price.
Utensils
Cup with plastic spoon and straw
Atmosphere
Strip mall near our house in Kaneohe.
Service
Nice staff and quick order fulfillment.
Bonus Features
You can get crack seed, candy, and bubble tea all in the same store!
6. Island Snow
This may be the place President Obama goes, but we would rather cross the mountains into Honolulu than go here.
Island Snow: The Presidential Touch
Ice
Smooth, small shavings
Syrups
Good but nothing special
Ice Cream
We’ve never tried the ice cream here.
Price/Size Optimization
Not a good ratio. Small portions, large price.
Utensils
Paper cup, and the spoon straw, the bane of our existence.
Atmosphere
This is a surf store with a shave ice component. Bench seating outside.
Service
Nice teenagers
Bonus Features
Bragging rights: You can say you’ve eaten at the same shave ice store as the President.
5. Matsumoto’s
It might be the most famous North Shore shave ice, but we strongly recommend Aoki’s over Matsumoto’s for ice, flavors, and atmosphere. They are next door to each other, so make the wise choice.
Me and the long line of customers
Ice
Medium-sized shavings
Syrups
Homemade flavors. The Matsumoto mix of coconut, pineapple, and lemon was colorful but the pineapple syrup tasted off.
Ice Cream
Vanilla. Clayton felt like he got a large portion of ice cream, but I thought mine was normal.
Price/Size Optimization
Good amount of ice for the price.
Utensils
Wooden stick spoon and straw
Atmosphere
There is a circus feeling about this place because it is the most famous shave ice location on the island. This means that it is a giant swarming pool of tourists both inside and out. The line can be very, very long.
Service
Quick once you’ve made it to the counter to order
Bonus Features
An absurd number of T-shirt designs, and other kitschy souvenirs.
4. Kaka’ako Kool
Autumn's free Memorial Day shave ice
Ice
Small shavings
Syrups
Good, and they give you a good amount to really seep into the ice.
Ice Cream
Haupia ice cream as an option for only $0.50 extra.
Price/Size Optimization
Smaller portions, even smaller price. The small is a great deal for $2, and a large for $3.
Utensils
Wooden stick spoon and straw.
Atmosphere
Not in a beautiful area of town, but there is excellent outdoor seating in their shared space with the café next door.
Service
By far the best service of all the shave ice stores. They offered free shave ice all Memorial Day weekend, and were quick to fulfill three shave ice requests. In addition, they were talkative and interactive with us and our daughter, a trait that won us over.
3. Waiola
Two locations make this shave ice store convenient. They also have the most powdery soft ice of all.
Clayton and Amie at Waiola's window
Ice
Powdery
Syrups
Homemade syrups. We’ve enjoyed everything we’ve had although nothing stands out.
Ice Cream
Scooped vanilla is a little harder than other places which means it doesn’t integrate into the ice quite as well. Still tasty.
Price/Size Optimization
Smaller portions, same prices.
Utensils
Served in cups and bowls. Plastic spoon and straw.
Atmosphere
Their Waiola Street location is similar to a neighborhood convenience store. Not very pretty surroundings, but bench seating available. Their Waikiki location has several covered tables and exhibits a cleaner feeling.
Service
We have experienced the staff as slightly rushed and at times unhelpful, but they get you your order pretty quickly.
Bonus Features
Lilikoi cream topping. 2 store locations.
2. Aoki’s
Part of the reason we love this shave ice location is the North Shore atmosphere. It’s also the first place we ever tried shave ice.
Ice
Smooth
Syrups
We really like their menu of flavor combinations. It makes the many flavor options easier to tackle. Two of our favorites are the Local Mix and the Hale’iwa Mix. Syrups are homemade and we’ve never experienced an off-flavor in any of them.
Ice Cream
They offer 10 ice cream flavors, and although we always stick with vanilla it’s nice to know we have options.
Price/Size Optimization
Good amount of ice for the price.
Utensils
Plastic spoon and straw
Atmosphere
Mary and I are happy customers
Located in the North Shore town of Hale’iwa, this beach town is the perfect place to stop for an icy treat. The storefront is colorful and while there is almost always a line of tourists and locals, the wait is never long. You can either sit outside their shop at a few tables or stroll down the busy main road and window shop as you eat.
Service
Staff are friendly and quick to make orders.
Bonus Features
The T-shirts have the best design of all the other shave ice places.
1. Shimazu
Shimazu hands-down ranks #1 for us in the world of shave ice. Their sheer enormity (I’m pictured with a “small” here) and selection of specialty flavors can’t be beat.
Shimazu's: Where a small is bigger than your head
Ice
Creamy
Syrups
Because they make several of their own specialty flavors, they have the most unique syrup options of any place on the island. Check out any of their specialty flavors, especially those with the word “cream” in their title, such as Melon Bar Cream, Red Velvet Cream, and Chocolate Peanut Butter Cream. They also have the normal mango, pineapple, cherry, etc. Unfortunately I would give the thumbs down to Lychee, as it was slightly bitter.
Ice Cream
Creamy vanilla
Price/size optimization
Serving is LARGE for the price. Relative to the other shave ice stores on Oahu, Shimazu’s small is a large, their large is an extra-large, and their extra-large is “galactic” (as Clayton says). We almost always split a large for $3.75. Occasionally we absolutely must have our own, in which case it is $3.
Utensils
Plastic spoon and straw
Atmosphere
The mom n’ pop store is located on a hot road adjacent to the freeway, with no shade and very limited outdoor seating and no parking of their own.
Service
The biggest drawback is that they never open at 11am, as posted. In fact, I have no idea when they ACTUALLY open. We have to go after noon to make sure the door is open. Park at the nearby grocery store and walk down, and expect a long line.
Bonus Features
Haupia topping. Fresh popcorn sold as well.
For lunch we took advice on a place to get local food and ended up at Roco’s. The menu was all over the place (spaghetti to Hungarian goulash), so I asked the waitress what dish was local. She recommended the Samoan Oka. Having no idea what this was, Brad and I enthusiastically ordered two. Turns out it is a way that Samoans prepare raw fish, by marinating small pieces in coconut milk, lime juice, onion, and bell pepper. It was served cold topped with some kind of seaweed (“limu fofo”, in the local language), and a side of steamed taro. This is not a pregnant friendly dish (both raw fish and tuna), but I didn’t know that when I ordered so I ate heartily and didn’t look back. Normally I’m not a huge fan of taro, as it is basically a flavorless, pasty starch root. But the dish came with a wedge of lime and it turns out that slices of steamed taro are very good with fresh lime on top!
On the way back from lunch we stopped at Mari’s Mini Mart to take a look at the snacks. There were a lot of Australian and New Zealand snacks, such as UFOs (Burger Flavored chip rounds) and Corn bars from Indonesia. Brad got a bag of UFOs and I got Roasted corn and Tutti frutti corn bars for Autumn. The UFOs tasted basically like Fun-Yuns with more spices. The corn bars… we’ll have to wait till Autumn tries it to know!
The marinated octopus was tasty. I ate a little, then poked at it a bit and eventually saw tentacles. Normally I’m not a fan of octopus because it is quite rubbery, but this was tender and not bad! I still didn’t eat a lot of it, because come on, it’s octopus.
That’s right, crack seed. Sounds like a euphemism for something terribly offensive. It is actually preserved fruit.
