Multiple locationsWhat you’re getting: Rainbow with ice cream. When the ubiquitous local snack made its way to Hawaii from Japan during the sugarcane and plantation era, workers would take a machete to large blocks of ice, and then add fruit juice to the freshly shaven pieces. Later they were sold only on Sundays (workers’ day off) in family grocery stores as the plantation industry dwindled, until people wised up and started slinging ‘em every day.

In between visiting Oahu’s many historical, cultural, and natural sights, sample some of Hawaii's signature treats. One of your first stops should be Waiola Shave Ice, which offers flavors such as guava, milk tea, and pickled mango. “It's not just about the shave ice itself but the tradition and authenticity behind it,” explains Choy.

Almost every culture that knows the stickiness of hot afternoons also knows the pleasure of icy treats. In Hawaii, the go-to cooldown is shaved ice, a soft, fluffy mound of fine-as-snow ice drenched in flavored syrups. Waiola Shave Ice does it all perfectly, from the ice to the range of syrups.

There’s no shortage of Honolulu shave ice shops, but our tried and taste-tested favorites include the original Waiola Shave Ice in a family owned convenience store in the McCully neighborhood and Lahaina Shave Ice tucked away near the Waikiki Beach Walk.

Skip the food vendors at the park, and drive to local favorite Waiola Shave Ice for your reward—a round of Azuki Bowls, shave ice topped with azuki beans, condensed milk and mochi balls. Make one more stop at Leonard’s Bakery for a box of malasadas (because this is a vacation, after all), before returning to your hotel on Kalakaua Avenue. Walk to Tucker and Bevvy to grab a picnic lunch, then lazily sunbathe or surf Waikiki Beach’s fun waves the rest of the day. After traveling thousands of miles, you deserve this.

Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice (Multiple Locations) — Living by the motto, “All shave ice is not created equal,” with locations across Hawaii (primarily Maui) and a growing presence in California, Florida, and Texas, Ululani’s earned a reputation for serving some of the softest, most flavorful shave ice around. One of their best-selling flavor combos is No Ka ‘Oi, which literally means “the best” in Hawaiian. This tropical trio blends mango, coconut, and passion fruit for a sweet, sunny explosion of flavor.

After savoring the feathery delight of Matsumoto’s, you’ll find that Waiola Shave Ice adds another scoop of joy to your Hawaiian shave ice quest. Often touted as the local’s favorite, Waiola’s has carved out its own niche in the shave ice scene with its fine, snow-like consistency that aficionados swear by. What started as a small mom-and-pop store in 1940 has grown into a shave ice haven, with a reputation that rivals the island’s breezy palm trees in stature.

Shave ice (with no “d”) is the Hawaiian version of shaved ice that shaves the ice into tiny crystals that gets topped with your choice of syrups and other toppings like condensed milk and red bean. Waiola Shave Ice is a local favorite, with a velvety texture on their shave ice served in a small grocery/deli. We got an ice cream bowl that covers 3 scoops of vanilla ice cream with a mountain of shaved ice, and topped it with condensed milk and mochi balls.

For many, shave ice is more than just a delicious treat — it’s a symbol of Hawaii’s tropical flavors and refreshing indulgence. Tracing its origins back to Japanese immigrants who introduced the concept to Hawaii, shave ice is a dessert made by shaving a block of ice into fine, delicate flakes and then layering it with an assortment of flavored syrups and toppings. And it’s that unique texture that really sets shave ice apart from other cool treats.

If you’re looking to beat the heat on a Hawaiian afternoon, there’s no better way to do it than with Hawaiian shaved ice, which is often historically referred to as “shave ice” here. Like many Hawaiian dishes, the ancestral roots of this sweet treat are Japanese. Kakigori is a traditional dessert in which a blizzard of freshly shaved ice is doused in various syrups or sweetened, condensed milk.

Okay, I’m kicking off this list of shave ice spots on Oahu with Waiola Shave Ice simply because this is where President Obama goes. It comes in little bowls and has all the classic shave ice flavors plus some new ones worth trying. Personally, I like Waiola Shave Ice because it’s in the middle of Honolulu at a little snack shop off the side of the road with a definite local vibe.

Rain or shine, there’s always a line out the door at Waiola Shave Ice (no matter which of the two locations you visit). Known for its soft, pillowy ice and a list of flavors and toppings that span five menu boards, Waiola Shave Ice is a favorite among locals and visitors alike. The combinations are seemingly endless at Waiola, but if it’s hard to choose, don’t worry!

Tourists will encounter no shortage of also-rans in the shave ice department, as Waikiki has many stalls peddling snow cones in artificial flavors. But Waiola, which is in a converted three-bedroom home on a residential street right off Kapahulu Avenue, is not only cheaper but also better. Syrups are made in-house from cane sugar and kept refrigerated for freshness.

Even the president of the United States stops here on his vacations to Oahu. Another permant fixture of the Hawaiian food scene, it serves the classic Hawaiian treat shave ice with options like snow cap, which is a condensed milk or if you’re a little hesitant you can always get it with ice cream. This Hawaiian treat only cost a few dollars and is worth every cent.

Waiola Shave Ice might’ve first shot to international fame when Barack Obama visited with his family, but locals have been enjoying shave ice at this no-frills Honolulu spot since 1970 (the store opened in 1940). Waiola proudly makes its own azuki beans and mochi balls (soft and chewy rice cakes). Choose your flavor and sit beneath the rainbow mural outside.

I grew up eating the local snack of shave ice (no, it's not "shaved") on the hottest afternoons. My mom would always drive my sister and me to Waiola Shave Ice on Waiola Street in Honolulu after school for a sweet treat. As adults, my sister and I will still always stop at the original Waiola after a blazing beach day (there's another location in Kapahulu).

Opened in 1940, Waoila Shave Ice is the oldest shave ice on Oahu, and has the long menu of exciting flavors to prove it. The abundance of homemade syrups ensures that everyone will leave happy at this simple, no-frills shop. The most popular combinations is President Obama’s favorite: cherry, lemon-lime and passion fruit, aptly named the Obama Rainbow.

Waiola Shave Ice is a must-visit for anyone looking to cool down with a quintessential Hawaiian treat. Famous for its finely shaved ice and a wide variety of flavors, this spot offers unique combinations like tropical fruits, mochi, and condensed milk. Locals and tourists flock here for its refreshing desserts, a perfect way to beat the Hawaiian heat.

Despite the somewhat strict ordering criteria and some difficult parking at peak times, Waiola is always worth a visit on a hot summer day. Whether you like to hike it over to the Kapahulu location or chill on a side street in McCully, this is a destination for shave ice connoisseurs. Waiola comes in at second place on our list with 7.7% of the vote.

Waiola Shave Ice $I was a skeptic about shaved ice until I tried it at Waiola, an unassuming, low-key dessert joint. Originally a mom-and-pop grocery store, Waiola serves ice bowls flavored with homemade syrups from sugarcane sugar. You can top your ice bowl with azuki beans, custard pudding and mochi which are made in small batches for freshness.

If you’re coming all the way to Hawaii you absolutely can’t miss out on sampling Hawaiian shave ice. This isn’t your mainland snow cone or shaved ice but a fluffy, soft, pillow of super fine ice that resembles snow and is covered in homemade syrups. We recommend trying out one of the “multiple flavor” options like banana split or root beer float.

2135 Waiola Street; 3113 Mokihana Street; and 1050 Ala Moana Boulevard. No true Hawaiian day in paradise is complete without shave ice. This local favorite, which now operates three locations, uses small-batch homemade syrups for all the flavors on its robust menu, which include Hawaiian specialties like Haupia, Li Hing Mui, and Melona.

Waiola Shave Ice is consistently voted the best shave ice spot, not just in Honolulu, but in Hawaii in general. After all, it’s frequent appearances on Hawaii Five-0 and its lengthy list of flavors certainly help its reputation. All of that said, Waiola Shave Ice is where you want to go if you’re all about the toppings and fillings.

Waiola Shave Ice was the last shave ice store that we visited and I feel like we really left on a high as it was one of my favourites. It is located about 30 minutes walk from Waikiki in a quiet neighbourhood. There are actually two locations but we visited the original on Waiola Street (there's another one near Leonard's Bakery).

Waiola Shave Ice is an Oahu classic with two locations in Honolulu. I stopped by the original shop on Waiola Street for their popular rainbow shave ice, aka, the Obama style order. When you think of fun places to eat in Oahu, cheesy dinner shows might come to mind, but this simple pleasure was enough to delight my inner child.

You can find Waiola’s shave ice in the original mom-and-pop grocery store once known as the Koide Store. Waiola’s syrups are homemade in small batches with local fruits grown in Hawaii to preserve their freshness. This place is popular, so the line might be long, but it's so worth the wait—and the line moves quickly!

A post shared by SOCAL FOOD & TRAVEL ✨ (@janessalourdeseats). Waiola Shave Ice is minutes by foot away from Honolulu Stadium State Park. This adorable blue grocery store offers almost everything you could need for groceries and has a counter in the back where you can get some of the best shaved ice on the island.

Waiola is a popular spot for shaved ice that’s not the famous Matsumoto Shave Ice that’s at North Shore. We thought the ice quality here was actually better than Matsumoto because it was much smoother. I recommend getting the condensed milk topping at minimum, and ice cream to really add some creamy flavors!

Simple and sweet is what best defines the shaved ice treats served at Waiola Shave Ice. There is nothing grand to Waiola’s concoctions, but as one of Hawaii’s oldest shaved ice stops that are still in existence, we’d like to think that this local master has perfected the art of making this icy treat.

Hawaii native Barack Obama famously loves shave ice, and one of his staple places to get it is at Waiola Shave Ice, near Waikiki. This mom-and-pop shop sells no-frills, super simple shave ice in an unassuming residential neighborhood. Plan to bike or drive here if you’re staying in Waikiki/Honolulu.

Waiola Shave Ice: Don’t wanna leave the Waikiki area in search of some icy goodness?. Look no further than Waiola’s, the longest running shave ice establishment on the island (which opened in 1940). Be sure to add some sweet azuki (red) beans to the bottom in order to up the sweetness a bit further.

Address2135 Waiola Ave corner of Paani Street, Honolulu, HI 96805 Map,. Tel(808) 949-2269 Call,. This small shave ice window in a neighborhood market, a short car ride from waikiki is a local favorite because the ice is especially thinly shaven and the syrups are more natural tasting than most.

2135 Waiola St, Honolulu, HI 968263113 Mokihana St, Honolulu, HI 96816 SITE / INSTA. Waiola, the best shave ice on Oahu!. You've probably heard the most about Matsumoto's on the North Shore, which is fine and a tradition to stop at even for us, but honestly there's nothing better than Waiola.

You’ll see it spelled two ways (Shave Ice and Shaved Ice), and the debate rages on about which is correct (and don’t you dare call it a snow cone!). At the end of the day, it’s finely chopped/shaved ice with sweet syrup poured over top. Some syrup is artificial; other places use fresh fruit.

Shave ice preference can serious territory because it’s such a refreshing dessert and everyone has their favorites. Waiola Shave Ice was a nice Oahu alternative to our favorite shave ice spot, Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice from Maui. Waiola Shave Ice has served this frozen treat since 1940.

Waiola Shave Ice has been a Honolulu institution since 1940, known for its finely shaved ice and wide array of syrups. Their Waikiki location offers classic Hawaiian shave ice as well as modern twists like condensed milk and azuki beans. It’s the perfect treat for a hot Waikiki afternoon.

Matsumoto’s might be king of the North Shore, but Waiola Shave Ice is the longest running establishment on the island, since 1940. Town side locals will swear you have to go no further than Waikiki to satisfy your craving!. Waiola Shave Ice has perfected the art of making this icy treat.

Waiola Shave Ice is a family-owned and operated shave ice shop in Honolulu. These delicious treats have been the talk of the town for years – it’s easy to create your perfect dessert with a large selection of syrups and toppings to choose from. You can’t say no to Waiola Shave Ice!

Waiola Shave Ice is known for making azuki beans daily and custard pudding and mochi balls twice a week. Their syrups are homemade using sugar cane, some with natural flavors, and Waiola offers more than a thousand flavor combinations. Open every day but Tuesday, 10am to 6pm.

Shave ice should definitely be on your list of must-try Hawaiian food. Wailua Shave Ice is a local treasure and a good place to pop your shave ice cherry. The main ingredient of shave ice is shaved ice, but the magic comes from the many toppings and juices that are added.

Trying shave ice, otherwise known as Hawaiian shave ice, is one of the tastiest things to do in Honolulu. The recipe is a delicious concoction of shaved ice mixed with syrup and sugar. The ice comes in different flavors and colors, served in a little cone with a spoon.

With so many flavor combination possibilities, Waiola Shave Ice in Waikiki has a unique flavor for everyone!. Waiola is a mom-and-pop shop, so the attention to detail is exceptional. This shop’s shave ice has a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture and a refreshing taste.

Waiola Shave Ice has been open since 1940, and is still one of the most popular shave ice shops in Hawaii today. They have two locations in Honolulu, and a menu with over thirty different syrups, ice cream, and toppings like azuki beans, mochi, and condensed milk.

Waiola was another fantastic and one of the best shave ice on Oahu. This place has a large assortment of places and is popular for having “Obama’s Rainbow” -lemon-lime, cherry, and passion fruit. The ice was very smooth and the flavors were very flavorful.

I noticed it first when we strolled through Ward Warehouse a few days before. The great Waiola Shave Ice just off Kapahulu Ave now has an operation at the Warehouse. Plus, there are places to sit down in a common eating area shared with other restaurants.

You’re looking for a good spot for shave shave ice with a really fine texture with popular favorites like lychee, lilikoi with toppings including li hing mui, condense milk, boba pearls, and mochi balls. Address: 2135 Waiola St, Honolulu, HI 96826

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (190 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (3.5/5), Value (4.5/5), Atmosphere (3.5/5)- Type of cuisine: Dessert, Hawaiian- Price: $- Address: 3113 Mokihana St, Honolulu, Oahu, HI 96816-6500- Read more on Tripadvisor

Here’s another delicious shave ice stand for you near Waikiki (they have two locations). It’s adorable and affordable and definitely worth the stop. I tried the Obama Rainbow flavor- which was good, but I’m not the biggest fan of lime flavoring.

Shave ice is synonymous with Oahu’s North Shore, but the iconic spot is Waiola’s. Tucked away in the residential neighborhood of Mo’ili’ili, it’s worth the short Uber. A family-owned business since 1970, you’ll truly be supporting local!

Shave ice (“shave” not “shaved”) is the quintessential treat for that post-beach craving. Waiola Shave Ice has been Hawaii’s favorite since the 1940’s, but check out Monsarrat Ave Shave Ice if you’re looking for a fruit-based shave ice.

To my surprise, one of the best shave ice joints happened to be the easiest to get to and the most accessible. Waiola is a longstanding mom-and-pop shop not too far from Waikiki. The shave ice is light, fluffy, and super affordable.

Nothing compares to the snowy texture at this trio of Waiola Shave Ice shops. Imagine the most pillowy doughnut puff covered in sugar. That’s a Portuguese malasada, and Leonard's Bakery makes the best.

Fix up your sweet tooth at UBAE, Liliha Bakery, Banan, Scoop of Paradise, Waiola Shave Ice, Matsumoto Shave Ice, and Leonard’s Malasadas

Your kids will love to eat (and look at) the Rainbow Ice Cream Bowl, which you can customize with any of the shop’s fruity flavors.

Waiola is always a front runner for the “best shave ice on the island” award so it’s worth the pilgrimage from Waikiki to try it.

You don’t call this shaved ice; in Hawaii, it’s shave ice, and on Big Island, people call it ice shave.