Waiola Shave Ice
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Waiola Shave Ice has been operating for at least 20 years now, and located in a residential neighborhood away from shopping centers and malls. I remember my father taking me when I was in Elementary School, and for nostalgia sake, I decided to return after work. Open everyday from 11a-6:30p, its rare to see a local mom and pop shave ice shop open that late. The shave ice was as good as I remembered it 20 years ago. Can't wait to get the azuki bean one next.
This is a spot I go to whenever I am in Honolulu. It's a great price with so much flavors! I love their tigers Blood with lychee, ice cream and condensed milk! I would give more but the people serving you are not very friendly. But hey, you're just there for some shaved ice so it's ok! Haha! They also have a little store in the back to get some li hing candies or other goodies! Super small location in a neighborhood. Parking is ok too it all depends how busy they are during the day but they do have street parking and parking to the right of their store if you're facing it. But definitely one of my go to spots! Must try!
I've been going to Waiola's the past 20 yrs and have tried other shaved ice places but...This is best shaved ice in town! The consistency and finely shaved ice makes it my the best. My go to is the rainbow shaved ice with vanilla ice cream. It can get packed at times but parking is super easy, and rarely is it hard to find a spot. Lastly, they have super cute merch. I would put this on top of the list of shaved ice spots to visit when in town in Oahu!
I've had my fair share of shave ice on the Hawaiian islands, and this one was just so disappointing. Yes the ice is soft, but the syrup flavors all tasted the same and was just meh. Also, if you ask for mochi they put it on the bottom so you have to dig it up and save it for your last bites which makes no sense. The service was super strange too. The workers don't greet you they just stare at you and you just have to talk and say your order to them. Not a fan, go to Ululani's (the goat).
I can see why this shave ice is so well loved and rated very high. Waiola is in a residential area but has a parking lot and some street parking. Theres also a cute store inside with tote bags, stickers, and tee shirts, and some other snacks too. As for the shave ice, the ice is really fine and soaks up all of the syrup. I got a small POG and lychee with condensed milk. My boyfriend and I ordered really quick and got our order within 5 minutes. Even though the ice is really good, I felt like their syrups were a bit lackluster and it tasted more artificial to me. My boyfriend really liked his, since he tried their melon and Thai tea flavors, which I thought were decent, but I couldn't help but notice the artificial taste for all of the syrups. I like how affordable this place is, and maybe I should've tried something else, but POG and lychee were one of their popular flavors.
This is my favorite place to get shave ice in Hawaii! I usually get lililkoi and guava syrup which is always really fresh tasting! I always get ice cream on the bottom and li hing mui powder on top. If you're not local, you should give that a try. Its s popular crack seed in Hawaii from plum seed so it hint of bitterness with the sweetness of the fruit syrup. Delicious!!! Or ONO we say in the islands ! There are a couple benches out front so you can hang out and eat without making a mess in the car. Also check out the store which has lots of other snacks. The lady and keiki's that work there are always so nice, so be kind back to them!
A fairly popular shaved ice place recommended to many. You can get an affordable shaved ice for $4-8 depending on the size and topping. As we wanted to get to another place quickly, we opted to pay a little more for DoorDash pickup which came by pretty fast, but you lose a lot on the presentation as it is like an ice plate instead of shaved ice pile on top. This won't be my first and last time trying shaved ice, but it is something worthwhile to consider if you want the presentation. As for the shaved ice, I wish the texture was more smooth. I bit several chunks of fairly large ice and the liquid syrup tasted a bit artificial. We got the Obama rainbow which had cherry, lemon-lime, and passionfruit, and the passionfruit was my favorite while the lemon-lime tasted like cleaning liquid.
This is where the locals go to get their shaved ice! I love the flavor combinations variety and the branding of this place. They're also one of few places that carry good ahhh flan (they called it custard). Service was very quick, they have a small window to take your order, and a shop to buy merch/candy/toy.
Waiola Shave Ice is an old-school spot that feels authentic and classic. Shave ice is very cold and refreshing, perfect for the weather, with a good variety of flavors and great taste. Prices are decent, and there's plenty of parking, which is a plus. The place definitely shows its age -- the restroom is old, and there were quite a few flies around, which can be distracting. Still, if you're looking for traditional, old-style shave ice, this place delivers.
1 year ago
Best shaved ice I've ever had. It is more like snow ice (like Bing su) finely shaved. It was so delicious and flavorful because I usually am not a fan of shaved ice read more
If you're choosing between Wailola and Matsumoto, I'd give the edge to Matsumoto. However, they're on completely different parts of the island, so if you're not making the drive out to Matsumoto's, Waiola will do, but it's a completely different experience. Waiola is in busy city setting with limited parking, while Matsumoto is in a heavily tourist area where it's the star of the show. Waiola Shave Ice doesn't have the friendliest service on some days, while Matsumoto caters to tourists coming from all different countries and has the patience to match. Waiola feels more like a hidden gem you'd find in a random street corner in LA. The flavors are very good here, but you should add the ice cream, beans, and condensed milk to your order to make it complete. read more
3 months ago
We decided we needed shave ice after our long day. They have a lot of options to choose from with the syrups and toppings, so I believe there's something for the whole family. We ordered the Obama Ice and I suddenly understood why everyone loved it. It was very refreshing and affordable for a family to enjoy. They had some outdoor seating and one of those machines that you put coins in to make a coin to keep with whatever design you want. They were very fast getting our order out and pleasant. I wish we went again. read more
I can't believe I have lived in Hawaii as long as I have and never tried Waiola Shave Ice, I fixed that today. I am a big fan of Hawaii shave ice, and after tasting Waiola, they jump to the top of my favorites list. OMG was I a happy camper! I ordered the Obama Rainbow, consisting of Cherry, Lemon-lime, Passion Fruit flavors with Ice Cream, of course, and topped with Lilikoi Cream + .50 cents. It was absolutely delicious, I really enjoyed how fine the ice was shaved and the flavors went together perfectly. Lots of customers but Service was really fast. The servers were professional and helpful in recommending topping. They also have a little store to purchase swag and / or pick up drinks or local snacks. No problem with finding parking on the street. Lots of options either in front or around the corner. They also have some benches you can sit on to enjoy your shave ice. I will definitely drive out of my way to try a different flavor. read more
My fave shave ice store on the island. I love the soft/snowy texture & so many flavors & toppings to choose from (my favorite is the mochi balls, so chewy & yummy). I tried a bunch of flavors throughout the years & some were a hit, some were a miss. Can't go wrong with blue vanilla & melona though! Must eat it quick as is it melts within minutes in the hot sun. Sadly only savored a handful of bites before I was left with half a bowl of melted shave ice. read more
6 months ago
Soft ice, amazing flavors, and generous toppings make this one of my favorite shave ice stands on the island. I got the matcha bowl with strawberry topping and azuki bean and it was the perfect combo of sweet and earthy. Best place to come after hiking! read more
Pretty good shave ice with generous toppings. I got the Azuki bowl, which was shave ice, red beans, condensed milk, and mochi - all things I enjoy. The beans and condensed milk were plentiful, but I was a bit bummed to just get 4 mochi balls. They were larger mochi balls, but still. You order outside at the window. Quick service at a decent price. There is some seating outside, but not much. Parking wasn't too hard to find - there is a parking lot adjacent to the building. read more
It's a really good place with it being my first shaved ice in Hawaii. I did not expect it to be so good (AND ADDICTING). It's a small business and I would definitely recommend considering how friendly they are. There's also a walk in store to buy candies and merch! read more
This shave ice store had a small parking lot but it was full when we arrived. There was also a lot of street parking given the surrounding residential area. This store was larger with a walk in portion that sold groceries and souvenirs. All shave ice orders were taken at the walk up window. Here they had special bowl combinations, rainbow flavor mixes and more toppings like Hershey's chocolate syrup, custard and boba. Only two flavors included on each order but each additional was just 25 cents. Benches were the only seating options. We picked orange cream (good) and calpico (too subtle) flavors. The mochi balls were a bit chewier. Overall ice was soft but the medium here seemed a smaller versus Shimazu. Unfortunately not as good as we remembered. read more
3 months ago
Best Shave Ice in Waikiki! I just returned after 13 years, and it's even better than I remembered! Get the Pina Colada with condensed milk and vanilla ice cream! It's the best! read more
Very cute spot Reasonable prices Now the shaved ice is made of what you think fresh snow fall texture feels like ! Absolutely amazing , but the liquid flavors weren't my favorite. The li hing Mui didn't have much flavor :( overall just a bit disappointed ! read more
Loved it. Had "Da works" which is mango, POG and lychee. It also comes with ice cream, condensed milk, and normally mochi balls and lychee jelly. I asked for no lychee jelly and they were out of mochi balls which was a shame but it was still delicious nonetheless. Glad we managed to make time to try it since there's just so much food and dessert to choose from, but I think I'd make sure to make room for this. Service was quick and friendly, line was short, and there are a couple benches or chairs to sit at. read more
The typical classic shave ice flavors, gives this place a nostalgic feel. The syrup doesn't taste homemade but thats part of the old school charm. This ice here is super fine and compact that it turns to an Italian ice texture when the syrup is applied. read more
4 months ago
This is the superior Waiola location in my opinion. The shaved ice here was super soft and pillowy. - what I got: Cherry, Strawberry and POG shaved ice with condensed milk and with ice cream underneath you can't go wrong with any flavors here. It's just your preference on what you like. one tip I would suggest is to add vanilla ice cream, which they put first and then the shaved ice on top. This helps prolong your longevity of your shaved ice and keeps it from melting faster! some of us had shaved ice soup but it was good nonetheless. read more
1 year ago
Always a good stop .. rain or shine They now have nice menus , colorful . Parking on da side read more
Super soft shave ice that melts in your mouth! I tried the Azuki Bowl with mochi and condensed milk--so good. Also got the Rainbow shave ice (strawberry, vanilla, banana) which was colorful and tasty. Small local spot with quick service and great prices. Cash only, but totally worth it. A perfect treat on a hot day! read more
2 years ago
Eh, I thought this place was just ok. First off, my custard shaved ice looked nothing like the photo they had up, there was only one tiny piece of custard with a small blob of ice, and the flavors were below average. Maybe I should've gotten something else? Either way, the shaved ice itself wasn't that good. I did however, enjoy the look of the blue shop and the liquor store vibe it gave off. I understand to the locals, this place means a lot and is a true neighborhood gem but for my first time here, my experience and order wasn't that good. I will consider coming back though, just to give it another chance. read more
2 years ago
My grandfather and I make a weekly trip to nostalgic waiola shave ice for our sweet treat fix! Its parking lot is small, but well worth the wait to have the smoothest ice you've ever tasted and a huge variety of flavors and toppings. The window moves quickly and service is efficient. Nothing like old timey Hawaii feels in the middle of the week! Gung gungs favorite is a small cup with strawberry syrup and no toppings. I'll change it up with fun flavors like ube, Thai tea, and rainbow!! Small cup is $4 but their bowls, which are more like a full size dessert range in price up to $7 plus add ons. read more
The ice is so soft! I never had ice this soft before. We ordered the azuki bowl. I found the red beans not as soft or sweet as I would've liked it. And the condensed milk on top wasn't enough for all the ice below. The bites with more condensed milk and red bean were good, but some parts didn't have any or too little and tasted meh. I found myself eating just plain ice towards the end, and my bowl was pretty small. They had their own little parking lot that was very packed. But we waited a few minutes and a car left luckily. There was a line when we came, but it moved quickly. I liked the ice itself, but I wish that they were more generous with their condensed milk for the red beans because the beans themselves weren't sweet enough. read more
2 years ago
Fluffy shaved ice. Probably the best I've had on all 4 islands. They are generous with the toppings and its never over $10 for the largest portion which is perfect for sharing with 2 people. I didn't like the matcha flavour. But the nest flavours I have had are Guava, passionfruit, coconut or lychee. They really are so delicious I found the additional toppings made my shaved ice too complicated in flavour. So stick to the basics. I visit here every year when I am in Hawaii. And it's my fave place for shaved ice! read more
We have visited Waiola multiple times and it seems like the amount of shave ice is less than what it used to be. The ice is still so soft and yummy with all the different combinations that you can make. Adding ice cream, condensed milk and mochi will be an extra cost. Our favorite is Blue Hawaii, pineapple, lime and cherry. I would skip the Azuki bowl the next time because the beans were hard and not cooked all the way through. Tip - They have a 4% surcharge if paying with credit card. read more
A local favorite known for its melt in your mouth shave ice! So many choices available here. Flavors, add ons and more. I've been coming to this place for longer than I want to admit. I've seen this place grow and become so popular with locals and visitors alike. It's beautiful to see a local place like this thrive and continue to stay strong. Service here is very organized. Instructions are posted for you to follow. The problem is when you have someone like me request last minute add ons. Take pictures with the shave ice characters in the front of the store. Walk inside and you can find treats to take home and brand merchandise as souvenirs. Support Local! read more
4 months ago
1 year ago
Trying to hit as many shave ice spots on the island as possible! Lol Got an Obama small cup with vanilla ice cream. Pretty good shave ice! read more
Sooo good and adorable! Since visiting we've been craving shave ice. We tried two other spots but this one was perfect for me! Do not let the outside fool you. I ordered a Melona with ice cream and it was amazing. Service was quick, I turned around and it was already ready. They also have a cute little store inside that sells merch (I love stickers so this was perfect) and a bunch of different snacks. There's some parking and seating is limited to outside benches. Will definitely come back! read more
1 year ago
OG Shave ice spot in the neighborhood!!! Been around forever and is good every. single. time. Texture of ice perfectly melts in da mouth & love how they get crack seed store connected for shop in also !! Prices $ are great & they have keiki cups read more
One of the better shave ice places. Good flavors. Big menu to choose from. A great dessert. I saw some positive reviews on here. However the place is hole in the wall style. Waiola seemed like its been here for awhile. Staff was a bit dry and rushes you even with no line. But the Ice was very soft. Fluffy and melts in your mouth right away. Softer than some of the other shave ice places. We got two large, 1 Passionfruit and Cherry / 1 Guava and Orange Cream. We also added condensed milk. Street parking but its in a residential area read more
The Waiola location (also the original location) is a local shave ice favourite right outside the heart of Waikiki (about 30 mins walk or 8 mins drive). I would recommend driving over if you're a visitor since it isn't in close proximity to any other notable/tourist spots. The shave ice business is a walk-up window on the side of the Waiola store. They offer a wide range of flavour combinations and sizes, and you can add toppings like mochi balls, condensed milk, and azuki beans. I ordered a small shave ice with passion fruit and coconut cream syrup, and quite enjoyed it. The flavours were refreshing, and the shave ice had a nice fluffy texture. The service here was quick, and there's some benches along walls outside the shop if you don't want to take your treat to go. read more
Super delicious and affordable shave ice. This is the super soft snowy kind and not the crunchy ice kind like Uncle Clay's. This shack has a great local vibe and hasn't been all corporatized. It's also half the cost of the chain places. We came here more than once and will go back whenever we're in Honolulu. read more
Our family couldn't get enough Waiola Shave Ice during our trip to Oahu. We stopped at this location after doing the Manoa Falls hike and it was a great cool treat after a fun but sweaty hike. The parking was full so we parked in the park down the street and walked over. I got my usual order of red bean bowl and the kids got fruity syrups with ice cream. So delicious and the ice is so fluffy and light. The other location had more tables and chairs, which was nice but the shave ice was amazing at both locations. read more
11 months ago
Waiola Shaved Ice is hands down one of the best shaved ice spots on Oahu and definitely a must try. We ordered one of their recommended combinations, the custard shaved ice, and also tried a customized single flavor, strawberry lemonade. The custard is freshly made there and you can definitely taste the difference because it was so creamy and delicious. The shop itself is super cute and even has a little store inside with souvenirs to browse while you are there. The owner is very friendly and welcoming which makes the whole experience even better. read more
More info about Waiola Shave Ice
2135 Waiola St
Honolulu, HI 96826
Mo'ili'ili
Directions
(808) 949-2269
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http://waiolashaveice.co
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Ask the Community - Waiola Shave Ice
Do they have any sugar free things?
They have sugar free syrup for their shave ice.
Are the syrups made of actual fruit?
I don't believe so. The syrups don't taste like the fruits they are supposed to resemble.
What are the prices for sizes?
Keiki $6 (Kid's size) and Small $6.75. They currently aren't serving other sizes due to low supply of ice.
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Waiola Shave Ice - icecream - Updated July 2026
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