Rainbow Shave Ice Kauai

Locally owned & operated

Vegan friendly

Stopped by Wailua Shave Ice on a hot summer day, looking for a way to beat the heat…read more When we arrived there was a small line but it was clear the staff was hard at work. After placing our order, the order came out pretty quickly considering the place was packed. I got the Lava Flow (pineapple juice, coconut milk, haupia foam, strawberry puree) - also added li hing mui powder IYKYK. The flavor was light, fresh & not overly sweet. The texture of the shave ice wasn't the softest shave ice I've ever had but not a big deal. It was still the best thing for such a hot day in Kauai & hit the spot! They also have cute merchandise available & even an OG classic shave ice maker on display. I will say this is my first time coming to a shave ice place & not being able to customize my order & choose specific flavors, but I guess that helps ensure the combinations they do offer on their unique menu are optimal. Overall, I will definitely be back especially since the staff was so friendly!

For my first Shave Ice experience, I really liked it! But just be prepared to wait…read more.. The shave ice really is a special experience. We ordered the Ube and regretted not getting it with ice cream or "snow capped." But the flavor was still good! With that being said, the operations hit a few snags. The staff is really young and not super efficient. They were chatting quite a bit and I could tell it was slowing the process down. Seating is also limited during peak hours, so prepare to take it outside if necessary. For the experience, it's worth it. For the price and the wait? I'd probably skip next time.

Crisp, clean, refreshing -- Kiwi Mint Lemonade

Blapple - Blackberry - Apple

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Same Place New Wagon!!

Skinny Mike's Ice Cream & Shave Ice

4.4(545 reviews)

2.0 mi

June 2026 This is…read moreacross the street from Dukes restaurant. Parking was ample and plenty of seats/chairs both indoors and outdoors The ice cream flavors were plentiful. From the classic to the tropical flavors of the island something for everyone. I got 2 flavors and it cost something like $10. Worth it.

Great Ice Cream. Intimidating Scooping Energy…read more Skinny Mike's feels like one of those places locals would rather you not know about - tucked into an unassuming little shopping center with vintage Hawaiian vibes and decor that makes you want to grab a cone and stay awhile. The ice cream, thankfully, was worth crossing state lines for. My kids predictably ordered something bright blue - Cookie Monster and another flavor that could only have been invented by either a six-year-old or a marketing genius. Whoever came up with those flavors is probably laughing all the way to the bank. I went with mint chocolate chip and toasted coconut topped with hot fudge, and it was absolutely fantastic. Rich, creamy, and exactly what vacation ice cream should be. The only reason this isn't five stars was the service. Let's just say the welcome felt a little more "Who sent you?" than "Aloha." Maybe we accidentally wandered into a locals-only witness protection program. Hard to say. Still, the ice cream was so good I'd happily endure another soul-piercing stare for a second scoop.

Picked own flavors

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Shaved Ice menu

Uncle's Shave Ice

4.1(185 reviews)

0.3 mi

Really good! The ice isn't as smooth as some of the ones we've have in Oahu…read more Lots of flavor options including adzuki beans and condensed milk

Wonderful time at Uncle's Shaved Ice yesterday. Met awesome Ethan, who opened the door early, since…read morewe were there at 11:50stalking the place (but they open at 12:00), and he called to us with a big smile, "Hui! You coming in?" He had us four aunties cracking up from the get go. Shave ice was delicious, flavor combos were so Ono, especially with ice cream and snow cap drizzle. But the winner was talking story with Ethan, and our new friend, Derek and his gramma Lisa, as we admired Derek's blue lips and tongue from his shave ice! Stopping here made our day, deeeelicious & refreshing shave ice, wonderful customer service, and a chance to chill, talk story, and enjoy new friends. Thank you Ethan, good luck in school (remember what we need in Kauai)...and thank you Derek (aka Sonic) and Lisa! Did I mention shave ice was super soft & very refreshing? Go get em, and make new friends too!

Grand opening

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The Fresh Shave

4.7(637 reviews)

6.9 mi

WARNING!! This place will ruin you for all other shave ice! I am not kidding. It's that good…read more When my son-in-law texted that the barber shop had shave ice, I was worried. (It's NOT a barbershop... but easily mistaken for one.) All made with real fruits. Orange is real orange; not a sugary syrup. We heard them say they had swap out the açaí cone for blueberry-basil one of our days because Costco didn't have the açaí juice. This is by far the best shave ice I've ever had anywhere and I don't know if I'll ever have another shave ice without thinking about this one. Only problem we had was going back for a second time. First time we tried, they were out of all the fruit recipes by 4:00. The next time we got there by 1:30 and the store was closed for maintenance. We are trying again today. Crossing my fingers I can get The Caterpillar.

Not a fan, sadly. Don't order the chai shave ice unless you want super watered-down chai ice. I had…read moreto request for the worker to add more syrup, which did not make it better. They could make that syrup wayyyy more concentrated and added a thicker topping as their cream. The ice is acceptable but not as soft as other shave ice places in Hawaii. I would skip. Perhaps their other flavors are better. I give 2 stars for the cool mustache/barber theme and the effort from the workers.

Shaved Ice

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Hamura Saimin

3.8(2.6k reviews)

1.2 mi

SAIMIN!! One of The best on the islands!! No this is not Ramen!!! Its Hawaiian Saimin!!! Its a must…read moretry for anyone visiting Kauai!! Come in and grab a stool at any open counter. Menu is up on the wall. Service is friendly and Food comes quickly. This is a no frills place!! Oh yes and dont forget about the Lilikoi Chiffon Pie!!!! This is always my first stop when returning to Kauai!!!

the vibes are cute like a diner but it's hot in there!!…read more first time trying saimin so i have no point of comparison. i generally thought the dish was bit of a one note even with the addition of the mustard. i didn't want to really put the vinegar in because the containers that held it didn't look so clean nor safe? it was in a plastic container that used to contain pepper the broth is dashi broth like an udon. noodles are a bit of a mush on arrival. the dish itself is cute like something straight out of anime lol it's good as a junk food snack maybe - i had this about 3 hours before my flight and i didn't feel so hot afterwards service was pretty quick and straightforward!

Interior

Crispy Fried Won Tons (8pcs)

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Sumo Saimin

Uncle's Shave Ice

3.7(504 reviews)

8.0 mi

Located in the heart of an outdoor mall with plenty of parking. They limit the number of people…read moreentering as the place is small and without indoor seating. There are benches outside. Staff lethargic. Unwelcoming. No smiles. Not a good first impression!! Shaved ice underwhelming, overpriced, and flavor of Mango or Taro undetectable. Served in small bowls that allows shaved ice to spill over. Won't recommend and will look for other places serving shaved ice when back in Kauai.

Very pleased with their soft shave ice and delicious fruity flavors…read more I especially love a vanilla center with pog. Portions are big enough to share.

Tiger's blood & Pina Colada with Mac-nut ice cream and snow capped! Delish!

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Tropical Dreams

4.4(542 reviews)

7.7 mi

Going to be in Kapa'a soon and can't wait to visit Tropical Dreams Ice Cream Shop! It's been 8…read moreyears since we've been in Kapa'a and my husband and I found this gem when it first opened and like to visit it frequently whenever we're there. It's the best ice cream you'll ever taste and the owner is incredibly kind. Can't wait to see you again in a few weeks and enjoy your ice cream. Thank you so much!

Tropical Dreams is located in the same shopping mall as Wailua Shave Ice. We decided to switch…read morethings up and get ice cream one night. We got 1 scoop of ube and 1 scoop of mac nut. We sampled a few other flavors too and these were our favorite. This is a popular spot for dessert, and I like how they have tropical flavors too. The staff member serving us wasn't the most friendly, but I'm sure he's had a long day. For this reason only, I'd probably choose Wailua Shave Ice next time.

Dole Whip topped with a pineapple gummy candy!

Menu 4/23

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Dole Whip, Soft Serve and Swirl.

Halo Halo Shave Ice

3.5(13 reviews)

1.2 mi

I arrived at the counter and found no one there. After ringing the bell for 5 minutes, a teenager…read morecame out. I asked about their shave ice flavors, and the kid told me they are out of a lot of flavors. I finally settled with some weird (available) flavor. To make the long story short, it was terrible. I would have had a better time sucking on an ice cube. 1 star off: no syrups 1 star off: no mac-nut ice cream 1 star off: no service 1 star off: there's nothing here!

No idea if they're still around. Enjoyed the shop when I was there a few years ago. There are spots…read morethat offer more of a selection, but they had ample choices for me. Atmosphere, as most places in the Islands, is relaxed. If this place is gone, just be sure to grab some shave ice elsewhere. I suggest a scoop of the macadamia nut ice cream in the bottom. Yum! I'll confess that I'm writing this so I can get the $*#! Tyler from Dallas off my screen (thanks for continually suggestion I write this review Yelp!).

Tyler from Dallas approves this snowcone!

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Island Treats and Gift Shop

4.7(78 reviews)

2.0 mi

We ordered the coconut shaved ice with ube ice cream and condensed milk and let's just say--WOW!!!…read moreThe ube ice cream is homemade, sooo flavorful and creamy!

Food 9/10 All the sweets we got here was perfect…read more Service 9/10 All the servers were great Ambiance 8/10 The place is a little cramped but they didn't have a lot of people there all the time so there was ample seating for everyone.

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Lappert's Hawaii

4.2(908 reviews)

8.0 mi

Very good ice cream but expensive…read more They have so many ice cream flavors and all are terrific. They let you sample them and it was hard to choose what to order. Very Hawaiian flavors which we love!

Hubby got three scoops, great flavors, lots to choose from. He ate it all!!…read more He also enjoyed the big waffle cone

Pukalani pineapple sorbet

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Oreo flavor

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Marisa R.

0

1

1 year ago

I visited this shave ice truck with my family on our first visit to Oahu together. The owner went above and beyond to make sure we were happy with our orders! I tried the mixed berry, lemon, and lilikoi syrups with the condensed milk and coconut foam. It was SO delish! I thought I wasn't a shaved ice girl until I tried Rainbow Shave Ice Kauai. Plus the truck was so cute for pictures! I highly recommend you try this place!! read more

Ashley S.

0

1

0

8 months ago

Definitely stop here if you are looking for a shave ice. Wonderful and friendly service and this is easily the best shave ice I have during my 2 week vacation to Hawaii. The flavor is so fresh and not artificial tasting at all! read more

Karissa W.

0

1

0

10 months ago

Best shave ice we've had on the island! The fresh fruit put it over the top! The only thing better than the dessert was the super friendly customer service! We will be back! read more

Megan M.

0

1

0

7 months ago

Such good shaved ice, good shareable size, and beautiful too!!!! I also love that the syrups are made from real fruit. Would come here again and again!!! read more

Rainbow Shave Ice Kauai - shavedice - Updated September 2026

People who viewed Rainbow Shave Ice Kauai also viewed

The Good Stuff Shave Ice

4.8

(41 reviews)

Step away from Jojo's and come here! You won't regret it…read more Absolutely delicious, with fresh fruit syrups you can see some pulp in. The owner makes them fresh every morning. No dyes so you can see the natural color. Best shave ice on the island, by far!

We hit a minimum of one shave ice every day (sometimes 2 or 3!) in Hawaii and this trip to Kauai…read moreall 7 of us agreed this was the best we found. The Ube flavor was so creamy and delicious. The stand is small and they are made one at a time, but that's ok. It's a small truck in a parking lot, and that's ok. It feels like a homemade specialty treat. I wish we could have gotten another, but we are back on the mainland

Hee Fat General Store

4.6

(413 reviews)

I think this had to be my favorite shaved ice on the island. I got a POG, and the flavor was so…read morespot on and tasted so much like the actual fruit. The portion size was also so generous. There's a parking lot around the back and a beach a block away to enjoy your shaved ice.

We've been going to Hee Fat for shave ice for nearly two decades. It used to be our favorite place…read morefor shave ice, mostly for the high quality syrups. But it both hasn't kept up with some of the more creative offerings at other shave ice places, and the quality was lower on our most recent trip (June 2026). Here are the rankings of the shave ice places from our last trip: Kauai Shave Ice Rankings 2026 1. (Tied) North Shore Bowls in Kilauea - very enjoyable and creative pre-designed flavor combos, nice fluffy ice, good ice cream, flavorful syrups 1. (Tied) Wailua Shave Ice - very enjoyable and creative pre-designed flavor combos, delicious toppings, very good ice texture and ice cream; too light on the syrup for one of our two trips 3. Wishing Well in Hanalei - good fluffy ice and really flavorful natural syrups; downside is it's very crowded (always!) and pretty basic 4. JoJo's in Hanalei - this is a standard shave ice place; ice was a bit compact and icy, but the syrup was plentiful (maybe too much, if you can believe that, for our one visit) and the ice cream was both generous and good 5. Hee Fat in Kapaa - great flavors but the syrup was light coverage, and the ice cream seemed gummy/freezer burned, ice was decent texture; used to be our favorite in Kauai in years past, but it hasn't kept up with other places and maybe the quality has gone down hill 6. Honu Shave Ice in Kapaa - syrup was very light, almost nonexistent on one of our shave ices, ice was clumpy/chunky, ice cream was really minimal, flavors were decent

Sunskai Shave Ice

5.0

(16 reviews)

Came here after spending time in Waimea Canyon State Park. Very friendly and patiently explain…read moreflavors to our party of 10. Flavors were phenomenal, especially the ones they made in house. I especially enjoyed how vibrant the dragonfruit syrup was. Got to try the pineapple, haupia, ube, li hing mui. Mochi balls see more like Chinese tangyuan than the ones you see at frozen yogurt places stateside, which I enjoyed. Hands down best overall shave ice place I've been to. All natural and not just sugar dyed ice.

Sunskai Shave Ice was recommended to us by the locals and it didn't disappoint! The service was…read moresuper friendly and warm. The flavors were all delicious! My family's favorite on the island! Highly recommend!

Aloha Shave Ice

5.0

(6 reviews)

A new venture for this truck business and they're doing it up right! Super friendly service…read more Delicious shave ice at half the price in Lihue. We shared one with lychee, pineapple and watermelon and of course added on vanilla ice cream with cream topping. Can't wait to return to try the melona.

Was looking for shave ice after spending the day at the beach and came across this little truck…read morelocated in what looks like a food truck parking lot. Husband and I ordered a shave ice each and the price was good as it seemed the same as other spots around the island. One thing different is that the portion is much much bigger than other places we've tried. Also the scoop of ice cream I asked for wasn't just a tiny scoop, but a large portion of ice cream. We each asked for 3 flavors and it was also drizzled with coconut cream. One of the flavors that I had was Melona (melon), which reminded me of the Melona ice cream bars at the Asian Markets. Was hot the day we got it, so it was melting fast, but not to worry, we had the straw and it because a nice slushy drink. Highly recommend stopping by here to try. Park in the little lot next to this food truck lot. We parked across the street and it was hard to cross with all the traffic.

Riptides Shave Ice & Snacks

4.8

(191 reviews)

Right off the beach, there's a little shaved ice truck. It's got great flavors of real fruit syrup…read moreand classic syrup. They also sell other items--it all sounds so tempting and refreshing in the hot, humid weather! Got the guava and mango real fruit syrups. I'm a super big fan of the guava!! It's sweet, but like juice sweet, not pure sugar sweet. The ice melts fast, but knowing that, they give you a straw. I'd come back!

This was right across from Lawa'i beach and it was very very popular. The service was friendly but…read morethey were definitely on island time. I didn't mind waiting - stood there and enjoyed the nice ocean breeze! I ordered the coconut cream and guava plus a snowcap. I decided to go with the organic syrups but they also have the more traditional flavors too. In addition to shave ice, they also sell snacks. Compared to some of the other shave ice places, I felt like the syrup was more on the sweeter side ... most people don't mind that but for me, I like it less sweet so it tastes more like "natural" sweet. Don't get me wrong though, I ate the whole thing! I would definitely get this place again if I was in the area! Highly recommend!

Longies Shave Ice & Treats

4.4

(38 reviews)

Hanapēpē is Hawaii's biggest little town and was once the capital of Kaua'i, once bustling with a…read morebusy harbor, train station and military base. Today, it's a sleepy town with art galleries, restaurants, gift shops and auto parts stores. Nestled in the corner of a former hotel and brothel is Longies. Offering refreshing and delicious (and legal) delights, it's somewhat of an oasis in a hot and dry region. On this visit, I had the Longies special, which is a bed of vanilla ice cream with shave ice flavored with Blue Hawaii, haupia (Hawaiian coconut pudding) and ube. There's also a vanilla cold cream cap on top of the shave ice. The place is family run with parents and their kids serving you with nothing but genuine West Side aloha. Ignore the reviews on other sites that say it's "lightly flavored water." This place is great.

Fantastic treat! Friendly staff. Delicious. Glad we stopped! Would totally go back.read more

The Green General

4.7

(40 reviews)

shave ice was really good. wanna try the acai bowls next time. friendly staff, flavors would good…read more would come again.

If you love The Green, shave ice, and happen to be Kauai..this place is for you! I love how they…read moreplay the Green inside as well. Service was okay.

Jojo's Shave Ice

4.3

(274 reviews)

While planning our trip and going through Hawaii's best magazines to see what was ranked best for…read moreeach category and all the runner ups, Jojo's shave ice was recommended not only from Hawaii's best magazines, but also by so many people on youtube. There are different locations of Jojo's shave ice and we were lucky that there was one by our hotel! There was no line and we shared a a lilo and stitch (red raspberry and blue raspberry) with li hing mui and vanilla ice cream! The shave ice was super soft, and the syrups were not sweet! The staff were super friendly and the service was fast.

In the coconut shopping area, there is a little hut with icy desserts. We came over as the shopping…read morearea is close to our hotel. It has many gift shops, a grocery and restaurants. The center also has some entertainment, and our main reason for the visit was the hula and fire dance that was put on by a local hula school. Jojo's has many shaved ice options with ice and ice cream and many flavor syrup options. We had the tropical breeze, and it had tropical syrups and ice cream covered by shaved ice. Two sizes available. We shared a large for the show. Quick service and nice treat location.

Hawaiian Blizzard

4.9

(209 reviews)

My husband grew up visiting his family on Kauai every summer, and having shave ice here was a key…read moredaily event. We incorporated Hawaiian Blizzard shave ice as a part of our wedding reception and it was a lovely way to beat the heat and share a treasured family memory together! Best on the island!

Hawaiian Blizzard shave ice is the best! Aaron's homemade…read moresyrups are the best. Aaron's shave ice stand outside Big Save in Kapaa is the best. Aaron is the best.

Island Treats and Gift Shop

4.7

(78 reviews)