Best shaved ice on our trip to Hawaii! This place was recommended by a friend and it definitely did…read morenot disappoint. This small storefront is located near Koko Head Trail, so we stopped by after a pretty intense hike. There is a variety of sizes and lots of flavors to choose from. I personally got the cotton candy and lychee, and it was a perfect balance. The shaved ice was soft and flavorful without being overly sweet or sticky, and a small was the perfect size. The worker was also very nice and patient with our large group. To our surprise, we also learned that Obama had visited this place and that his favorite flavors were lime and cherry. I can confirm those flavors are also very good.

Some places become part of your family tradition whether they're perfect or not. I've been coming…read moreback to Hawaii for over thirty years and Kokonuts has somehow found its way into almost every trip. It isn't the best shave ice on the islands, that still belongs to Matsumoto's for me, but it's good enough that I keep coming back. I'd put it right up there with Waiola. The shave ice is soft, the flavors are great and sitting by the marina afterward has become part of the ritual. The celebrity wall with photos of President Obama, Ben Affleck and countless others tells you this place has been around for a reason. Unfortunately, so has the service. Every trip seems to remind me why I've hesitated to write this review. This time we visited four separate times and every visit felt strangely uncomfortable. We waited patiently with our kids for close to twenty five minutes before anyone even took our order. The employee was busy making shave ice which is understandable but there's no system explaining what comes next. Do you wait inside? Outside? Will they call your name? Is there a speaker? A screen? You're left awkwardly standing around hoping you don't lose your place. Nobody was rude to us outright. It just felt like everyone working there would rather be somewhere else. While waiting, I started noticing things I wish I hadn't. The refrigerators, vents and equipment all looked like they could use a deep cleaning. Maybe everything is perfectly sanitary behind the scenes, but perception matters when someone is preparing food right in front of you. Instead of looking forward to dessert, I found myself wondering how often everything gets cleaned. The frustrating part is that once you finally get your shave ice, it's really good. That's what makes this review difficult. I genuinely like this place. I have decades of memories here. I'll probably end up back here again on another trip to Hawaii. But great food only carries a place so far. Hospitality matters just as much, especially somewhere that's become a tradition for so many families. I really want to give Kokonuts four or even five stars. Instead, I'm leaving three because after thirty years, I'm still hoping someone behind the counter will make the experience feel as welcoming as the dessert.

We got food and açaí bowls and we were super happy. Staff were quick and friendly. Like the little…read morelocation they have in Kailua can pull and walk inside. Go check them out for quality food.

Honestly my friends and I were super disappointed with our acai bowls. All of them came out melted…read moreand they didn't have a ton of flavor. The service was fast but the employees working at the cash register weren't friendly. It's cute inside with a good amount of seating. I had high hopes after reading all the praise but was sadly disappointed.

Best acai bowls on island. Kailua location is congested with tourists but the bowls are worth it…read more Be patient and wait for parking to open up or park across the street and walk. You can order online and pickup. Staff seems to rotate often but they're always friendly and helpful. My fav is the Acai Extravaganza bowl. Other family choose the Strawberry Shaka smoothie, or Acai Super Food bowl.

I stopped by Lanikai Juice in Kailua because I needed a healthy pick-me-up, and being vegan, it can…read morebe hard to find places you really trust with clean ingredients. This place has always been solid for me. It was my first time at the Kailua location, and they were super helpful. I ordered the Kailua Monkey and had them go light on the peanut butter, and they had no problem customizing it. Everything was quick and easy, even though it was pretty busy. Parking was easier than I expected too. There are a lot of shops there, but I didn't have any trouble finding a spot. Inside is a little tight, especially with a couple strollers in there, but honestly it wasn't a big deal. I still got my smoothie fast, and it was really good. Just a heads up -- they may use Skippy or organic peanut butter, so if that matters to you, just ask for organic. I'll for sure be coming back when I'm in the area here, they made it quick easy and I was out the door in no time. Definitely recommend! SYOY! Deb B

Housed in a former gas station, it would be easy to drive right on by without a second thought, as…read morenothing from the outside hints at the culinary treasures within. Despite the fact that it's a considerably trek for city-dwellers, factoring either traffic or bus schedules into the equation, or both if you're particularly unlucky, it's a journey always worth taking. Hit Hanauma Bay along the way and make it a day trip; the only way to top those dazzling sights is to follow them with a stellar meal. Boasting a menu composed of locally-sourced produce and entirely vegan options, you'll want to take a number of friends for the best experience. Heck, get out there and make some new friends! Join one of the long communal picnic tables out back and introduce yourself; there are no friendlier folks on earth than those living in paradise, as far as I've seen. That said, if there was only one dish to order, it would have to be the Oh WOW Laulau. Wow, indeed! No where else on earth have I found vegan laulau, let alone such a stellar rendition. Traditionally consisting of fatty pork and/or fish steamed in taro leaves, this version eschews the meat in favor of hearty root vegetables, adding creamy coconut into the mix for richness. Not to be overlooked is the Tofu Poke provided on the side, claiming to be spicy but really bearing just enough warmth to taste perfectly balanced. This was easily my personal favorite from the small sampling of dishes provided, but it's a close call when all the options are so good. Another front runner is the BBQ Portobello Sandwich. Mushrooms marinated in a bright, smoky barbecue sauce practically sing between two whole wheat buns. Coconut slaw tops off the assemblage with just the right amount of subtle sweetness to contrast the deeply savory flavors within. Simpler but no less spectacular dishes include the Roasted Veg Platter and Roasted Veg Avocado Sandwich. The way that the vegetables are treated with respect, from the moment they're harvested from nearby farms to the care taken when they reach the kitchen is evident with every bite. Cooked with care and proffered generously with each serving, even the basics make the trek out here worthwhile. I'm still trying to recreate that impossibly umami gravy offered on the side. It's one of those things that are so astoundingly, inconceivably delicious, it's impossible to deconstruct. Each entree promises an ideal amount of food; satisfying diners without over-stuffing them. That said, you'll still want to make room for dessert, especially when you see the towering bowls full of Outta This Swirled Soft Serve. Cool, naturally sweet spirals of banana-based soft serve are dressed to the nines with cacao sauce that hardens much like magic shell, granola and coconut flakes tumbling down the mountainous terrain, and fresh fruits that vary based on local availability- Expect papaya always to be in ample supply, based on the thriving papaya trees on premise. Each order is abundant enough to be a considered a full meal in and of itself.

We stopped here to get a smoothie to enjoy while traveling through and we are glad we did. First…read moreoff, the ambiance of this place? Very relaxing, welcoming, and cozy. The lady working at the front counter gave us a rundown of the menu and was very kind. My choice was the Cupid's Dream smoothie, which consisted of strawberries, oat milk, chocolate, maple, and dates. Who knew healthy could taste this good ? The smoothie was sooo fresh, and flavors blended together flawlessly. Dare I say, this was one of the best smoothies I have had to date? Highly recommend stopping in so you can experience the deliciousness that Ai Love Nalo has to offer!

If they're busy, expect locked doors. Someone was coming…read moreout so we got in, asked if they were closed he says we only have a staff of 2 so yeah we're closed ..... If you want to come back in 10 minutes..... uh no, we left.

Jamba seems to have gotten rid of their non dairy yogurt options so you can't make the smoothies a…read morenon dairy frozen yogurt option unless it just contains fruits and non dairy milk, they do offer non dairy milk options but they also run out of products so would need to check what is available Tried the pumpkin smash and pumpkin crunch. I was expecting the pumpkin crunch to look like the picture, white bottom, but the pumpkin crunch and smash and the exact same smoothie except they added a scoop of crunch, looked like oatmeal or granola, the smoothies were lacking in pumpkin flavor and had way too much frozen yogurt just tasted like sweet drinks. Hopefully it was just made wrong I remember having a pumpkin drink last year and it was so good it was like pumpkin pie in a drink. You can get discounted Jamba Juice cards at Costco $100 for $79.99, comes with a pack of 4 $25 cards so you can split it up for gifts. The cards are paper not plastic. Wish they'd bring back the non dairy frozen yogurt option.

While visiting Hawaii we were out exploring different parts of the islands when what we had planned…read morefor the afternoon was closed to our surprise. So while driving about and going to the Botanical Gardens we decided we needed a treat. So we started our search and came across the SunRise Shack. This was a great find and really refreshing at the same time. We had 5 different treats and each one of us enjoyed them and felt refreshed and fueled up for the rest of the day. It was a great find on our adventure for the day.

Want a nice healthy treat? This is the place. I'm all bout…read moreefficiency and getting the rundown before I go places so here we go... Logistics Breakdown: -Free Parking (I LOVE free parking), however really busy all the time. Mostly packed during peak hour. -Long lines but you'll be out in 5 mins after you place your order -Online ordering is an option if you're in a rush -Some tables, mostly occupied though They also sell cute apparel to browse while you wait. My only gripe is that it costs a bit much for what you're getting. Flavor is nice and healthy, you don't taste the chunks of dates which I appreciate. But it's still a little more on the bland side but it's good for you! The smoothie doesn't get watery fast at all, so you can enjoy it slowly. If you need a little AC since you've been beaching all day, that's the spot :)

After an hike at Manoa Falls Trail, we (as a group of 9) were very exhausted from the heat and…read morehike. We were craving something cool and refreshing so came across SUGAR DADDEH's on Yelp. The drive was 40 minutes. Luckily, there was a parking lot available and shade inside the plaza. Inside the store itself, there was A/C which kept us all cool. We ordered the sugar cane juices (different ones) and gelato. Gelato was very good and melts in your mouth. The sugar cane juices were so refreshing and delicious -- took a few sips and before I knew it, half was already gone. As a fan of the sugar cane juices, Sugar Daddehs Kane Juice is definitely one of the best sugar cane juices that I've had in a long time. So glad that we came across this spot; will crave this until my next visit. Would highly recommend!

First off... I was CRAVING Sugah Daddehs for awhile now and so have passed by this way to find a…read morebathroom in Kailua... I had to come here and yes... there's a bathroom available. Whew Uila was so sweet and very kind to have helped us. On a Saturday afternoon it was not busy at all. Definitely, gonna come back here now that I know it's here in Kailua!

Kalapawai Waimanalo is by far the best location ever PERIOD ‼…read moreI just can't say enough about the staff. I love the vibe it's so down to earth so cruise. I just love that It's right there in the heart of Waimanalo and I just love the staff. Did I say I love the staff⁉ they hook me up all the time with my fav au jus (they no lol) seriously get yo okolé down here I promise promise you you won't be disappointed. I love you guys. Thank you so much.

Solidly good food w quality ingredients. Friendly folks…read moreworking. Cool things to purchase. This is another go-to when I dont feel like cooking. I've had breakfast sandwiches and an italian sandwich for dinner. Definitely looking forward to the summer burger - just wish it was year-round. Anyway... you'll find what you're looking for here.