Waiola Shave Ice
Waiola Shave Ice Photos
Business Info
You might also consider
More like Waiola Shave Ice
Recommended Reviews - Waiola Shave Ice
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
I've been going to Waiola Shave Ice since I was a child, so it's extra special that I now get to bring my own children here every time we visit Oahu. It's one of those places that brings back so many childhood memories and never disappoints. The shave ice is so smooth and fluffy, and I love that they offer Keiki (kids) sizes--the perfect amount for little ones. My kids always look forward to getting their shave ice when we're on the island. There's street parking available, plus a parking lot to the right of the shave ice shop, which makes stopping by pretty convenient. There are also benches where you can sit and enjoy your shave ice, although there aren't any tables. If you're visiting Oahu, definitely add Waiola Shave Ice to your list. It's a must for our family every time we're back.
The best!!! I ordered 2 fruit flavors with condense milk as topping. Delicious!!! The condense milk made all the difference - sweet and creamy. What's not to love. We also order one with ice cream in the middle. That too was very good.
7/15/26 First dessert stop on the island is waiola shave ice of course!!! Large shave ice with sugar syrup for $5 melt in your mouth yum! Service is quick and easy! Mini mart style with goodies to sell avail inside. Always a line but usually quick. Located in a residential area with a small parking space or street parking! Takes CC and cash.
Very limited seating. There are only 2 benches outside. No restrooms either. We ordered shave ice. They also have candy, dried fruit, and li hing muy inside. The service was very quick. Best thing to have on a hot, humid day!
Waiola Shave Ice is a classic, must-have for locals and visitors. I always get the Strawberry Cream, but all their flavors are delicious and go great with the wide assortment of toppings that they offer. Some of the most delicious syrups and softest ice on the island. The workers are friendly and fast! Vibe: They have outdoor seating and a little shop full of snacks, merchandise, and trinkets inside. Parking: They have a small parking lot, but parking can be difficult. We usually park on the street.
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.
Really is the best shave ice in Hawaii. The texture of the ice can't be beat and the syrups are not too sweet. Prices are also very reasonable. A small cup (perfect size for me) is $4 + toppings. The service is always quick. Parking is difficult though as it's only street parking.
The ice is smooooth and they had good selections of flavor. Service was standard and the establishment had its own parking lot and small seating areas for patrons. .
Located on Waiola Street in the heart of Honolulu is this gem. Famous for their delicious shaved jce. When ordering don't hesitate to get the ice creams and condensed milk. The service is great! The store is small and has lots of merch. Overall it's a must stop if you plan on staying on the south side of the island.
Arrived right when they opened and there were already customers waiting. The cashier was friendly, quick and somehow remembered all 4 of our orders. The shave ice was delicious and the syrups tasted homemade. Perfect way to follow up a beach day. The location felt family friendly and has a ton of merch inside the store.
So delicious and just what my sore throat needed and the staff was incredibly sweet!!! I will definitely be coming back and often
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'm surprised I haven't reviewed this place before today because it's a must stop every time I'm here in Hawaii. Waiola is our go to. The ice is soft and melts in your mouth. The mochi is chewy. The ice cream is delicious. The flavors are prominent. The service is fast. It's only a to go spot though, but there's a bench out front. This was not our first time and won't be the last. read more
10 months ago
I was never really the biggest fan of shave ice until I found my favorite flavor at Waiola's. Hands down the best. My go-to is the haupia cream shave ice with ice cream, mochi, and snowcap. It is truly the perfect combo and I can't get enough of it. Service is fast and the prices are great for a cold treat on a hot day. This is the spot that fully converted me into a shave ice lover. read more
Cool Christmas... Mahalo to the entire Waiola Shave Ice for opening it's doors on this hot Christmas Day as I decided to give them a visit which wasn't the easiest with the parking situation but was well worth the search as many took full advantage of the cool treat. I dragged mom along though she was adamant that she didn't want any only got excited for the 4oz keiki size lol! The shave ice here is very fine and not the chunky type of ice and since it was Christmas I decided to get us Strawberry and mochi but they were out of mochi...SOB! Perfectly fine without any topping I'm happy to have this cool treat along side mom to enjoy which she did as this isn't the usual location to frequent because of the parking situation but love that there's a lot of seating provided all around the shop. The staff here is nice and friendly and works fast making everyone's order in the order given so be prepared for your order to be ready and just love the shave ice mascot which makes great photo op that I couldn't resist myself and enjoyed the vibe of this bright corner on Waiola. Thank you! read more
3 months ago
A classic for a reason! They know exactly what they are doing to create a flavorful, refreshing shave ice. It is always crowded these days but they have made huge efforts to encourage people to be efficient in ordering and have a 3-person process to make the line go more quickly. They offer a variety of specials as well as toppings and add-ons. They have some seating on the sides of the establishment. read more
10 months ago
This made my afternoon. I went there by Lyft and the driver said, "Man, I haven't had shave ice in a long time." If that also applies to you, this is a great spot to enjoy one of life's great treasures. read more
2 months ago
2 years ago
After a hot day at the zoo, this is the perfect treat. Dessert for 3 under $20, yes please! The staff is always quick and once you order it takes less than 5 minutes to get your order. The parking is a little hard to come by now that it's gaining popularity, but still a must try! read more
This is a nice place for shaved ice near Waikiki. Usually all shaved ice places near Waikiki are pretty expensive but this one has reasonable prices . The service is fast . There are benches right in front of the place to sit and enjoy the shaved ice . They have free parking space which is pretty cool as it's not easy to find one near Waikiki . I tried pina colada and lychee flavor with condensed milk flavor . They have kids sizes as well . You can either get one of their rainbow flavors or mix any 2 flavors . The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because I didn't like the texture as the ice itself was very very fine shaved for my liking . I would have preferred to feel the texture of the ice a lil more rather than having it so fine . But it's worth giving a try if you are around Waikiki. read more
3 months ago
3 months ago
Highly suggest going to Waiola shave ice! This was a local rec and it did not disappoint. Staff were so friendly and welcoming. The options were endless! read more
#1 Shave ice in the world. We've been coming back to this place for many many many years and nobody does it like Waiola and nobody beats their shave ice. You don't have to travel far from Waikiki or pay expensive prices - just go to this place. You won't regret it. read more
1 month ago
3 months ago
Waiola was a recommended Hawaiian shave ice spot and with all the rave reviews I thought this was going to be great. IMHO overall flavor and execution was good not great. Shaved ice wasn't as fine as we've had at other shops, the syrups left an artificial aftertaste, and the azuki beans were whole and hard. My son enjoyed his, but this wasn't "broke da mouth" for me. Parking was very limited in their tiny lot and our ride had to park far down a residential block. read more
3 months ago
My family and I were not impressed. Especially the service we recieved. It was our first time there and did not realize that we would need to order at the outside window and not at the counter inside where the man (I assume the owner was standing) and It seemed like we were bothering the owners there with our order as they were very quick to roll their eyes and be annoyed with my children trying to decided between two flavors and me asking more clarification difference between the two. It was not busy when we went and there was another family ahead of us. It was close to closing and they were more than happy to close up earlier than the posted time. The atmosphere was definitely not friendly by any means. As for the shave ice. It's no different from any of the other locations you can find in Oahu with decent ratings, it's not bad, I mean you can't mess up shave ice but it wasn't anything I would write home about. Uncle Clays House of Aloha was our original favorite until they closed but this spot definitely was not anything near it. Don't waste your time or drive. There are plenty of other spots to try. read more
2 years ago
As a returning visitor to Hawaii who grew up here, I usually recommend Waiola as the shave ice to get to friends and coworkers who ask for advice on where to go, because it's my personal favorite shave ice place (I know Matsumoto's has their die-hard fan base, but I prefer Waiola). I don't know exactly what it is (and it's possible it's just nostalgia), but the texture and taste of the shave ice here is what I think of when I think classic Hawaiian shave ice. You can't go wrong with Waiola on a hot day! read more
Visited here when on Oahu and it's a good shaved ice place. The flavor is good and the ice is smooth and refreshing. I'm glad they have the keiki size and the only thing that they need to work on is their customer service. I don't find any aloha spirit with the employees, not friendly at all. Overall is an ok experience. read more
3 months ago
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
1 month ago
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
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
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
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
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
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
8 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
3 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
1 year ago
Always a good stop .. rain or shine They now have nice menus , colorful . Parking on da side read more
More info about Waiola Shave Ice
2135 Waiola St
Honolulu, HI 96826
Mo'ili'ili
Directions
(808) 949-2269
Call Now
Visit Website
http://waiolashaveice.co
Full menu
Hours
Payment methods
Food & Alcohol
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Other Amenities
From the Business
More Info
Health Score
Waiola Shave Ice Reviews in Other Languages
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.
You might also consider
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
234 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
4 years ago
8 months ago
13 years ago
3 years ago
2 years ago
1 year ago
3 years ago
8 months ago
13 years ago
18 years ago
17 years ago
1 year ago
9 years ago
15 years ago
15 years ago
13 years ago
13 years ago
13 years ago
Waiola Shave Ice - icecream - Updated September 2026
Best of Honolulu
People found Waiola Shave Ice by searching for…
Trending Searches in Honolulu, HI
Asian Dessert near Waiola Shave Ice
Asian Fusion near Waiola Shave Ice
Bakery Birthday Cake near Waiola Shave Ice
Banana Split near Waiola Shave Ice
Birthday Dinner near Waiola Shave Ice
Brownies near Waiola Shave Ice
Chinese Buffet near Waiola Shave Ice
Chocolate Cake near Waiola Shave Ice
Chocolate Chip Cookies near Waiola Shave Ice
Cinnamon Roll near Waiola Shave Ice
Cocktails near Waiola Shave Ice
Coffee Shops Open Late near Waiola Shave Ice
Cupcakes near Waiola Shave Ice
Desserts near Waiola Shave Ice
Dive Bars near Waiola Shave Ice
Funnel Cake near Waiola Shave Ice
Hawaiian near Waiola Shave Ice
Ice Cream near Waiola Shave Ice
Italian Beef near Waiola Shave Ice
Korean Bakery near Waiola Shave Ice
Korean Restaurant near Waiola Shave Ice
Late Night Dessert near Waiola Shave Ice
Late Night Study Spots near Waiola Shave Ice
Loaded Tea near Waiola Shave Ice
Malaysian near Waiola Shave Ice
Milkshake near Waiola Shave Ice
Popcorn Chicken near Waiola Shave Ice
Refreshing Drink near Waiola Shave Ice
Restaurants With Private Party Rooms near Waiola Shave Ice
Snow Cones near Waiola Shave Ice
Soft Serve near Waiola Shave Ice
Speakeasy Bars near Waiola Shave Ice
Study Cafe near Waiola Shave Ice
Study Spots near Waiola Shave Ice
Sugar Free Bakeries near Waiola Shave Ice
Taco Truck near Waiola Shave Ice
Tiramisu near Waiola Shave Ice
Vegan Donuts near Waiola Shave Ice
Browse Nearby
BEST of Honolulu, Hawaii Restaurants near Waiola Shave Ice
BEST of Honolulu, Hawaii Coffee near Waiola Shave Ice
BEST of Honolulu, Hawaii Desserts near Waiola Shave Ice
BEST of Honolulu, Hawaii Things to Do near Waiola Shave Ice
BEST of Honolulu, Hawaii Breakfast near Waiola Shave Ice
BEST of Honolulu, Hawaii Parking near Waiola Shave Ice
BEST of Honolulu, Hawaii Boba near Waiola Shave Ice
BEST of Honolulu, Hawaii Gelato near Waiola Shave Ice
BEST of Honolulu, Hawaii Shopping near Waiola Shave Ice
BEST of Honolulu, Hawaii Thrift Stores near Waiola Shave Ice
Browse Brands
Related Searches in Honolulu, HI
Bakery Birthday Cake Choices in Honolulu, Hawaii
Best Bagels Available in Honolulu, Hawaii
Best Gluten Free Breakfast Places in Honolulu, Hawaii
Best Mangonada Flavors in Honolulu, Hawaii
Best Milkshakes to Try in Honolulu, Hawaii
Best Places for Pastry Treats in Honolulu, Hawaii
Best Rolled Ice Cream Shops Around Honolulu, Hawaii
Best Shakes Available in Honolulu, Hawaii
Best Slushies to Enjoy in Honolulu, Hawaii
Best Smoothie Spots and Cafes in Honolulu, Hawaii
Best Vegan Restaurants to Try in Honolulu, Hawaii
Best Vietnamese Dessert Spots in Honolulu, Hawaii
Cool Down With Hawaiian Shaved Ice in Honolulu, Hawaii
Cool Off With Icee Treats in Honolulu, Hawaii
Cool Off With Korean Shaved Ice in Honolulu, Hawaii
Cool Off With Taiwanese Shaved Ice in Honolulu, Hawaii
Delicious Carrot Cake Bakeries Near Honolulu, Hawaii
Delicious Chinese Dessert Choices in Honolulu, Hawaii
Delicious Cookies You Can Find in Honolulu, Hawaii
Delicious Custom Cookies Baked in Honolulu, Hawaii
Delicious Ice Cream Sundae Options in Honolulu, Hawaii
Delicious Ice Cream Treats in Honolulu, Hawaii
Delicious Late Night Dessert Spots in Honolulu, Hawaii
Delicious Shaved Ice Cream Options in Honolulu, Hawaii
Discover Asian Dessert Options in Honolulu, Hawaii
Discover Authentic Filipino Cuisine in Honolulu, Hawaii
Discover Delicious Ube Dessert Options in Honolulu, Hawaii
Discover Fresh Acai Choices Available in Honolulu, Hawaii
Discover Popular Iced Coffee Spots in Honolulu, Hawaii
Discover Soft Serve Ice Cream in Honolulu, Hawaii
Discover Top-Rated Cheesecakes Near Honolulu, Hawaii
Discover Vegan Desserts Near Honolulu, Hawaii
Discover the Best Boba Drinks in Honolulu, Hawaii
Discover the Best Macarons Available in Honolulu, Hawaii
Discover the Best Matcha Ice Cream in Honolulu, Hawaii
Enjoy Authentic Chinese Cuisine in Honolulu, Hawaii
Enjoy Classic Dole Whip Desserts in Honolulu, Hawaii
Enjoy Classic Hamburger Options in Honolulu, Hawaii
Enjoy Custard Ice Cream in Honolulu, Hawaii
Enjoy Dairy Free Ice Cream Flavors in Honolulu, Hawaii
Enjoy Delicious Bubble Waffle Treats in Honolulu, Hawaii
Enjoy Delicious Crepes in Honolulu, Hawaii
Enjoy Delicious Hot Dogs in Honolulu, Hawaii
Enjoy Delicious Korean Dessert Places in Honolulu, Hawaii
Enjoy Fresh Cinnamon Rolls in Honolulu, Hawaii
Enjoy Strawberry Matcha Beverages in Honolulu, Hawaii
Enjoy Tasty Taiyaki Treats in Honolulu, Hawaii
Enjoy a Delicious Matcha Latte in Honolulu, Hawaii
