Island Snow Kailua: Great Shave Ice and Some Wonderful Memories!…read more
BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front): Island Snow has been a Kailua favorite of mine for years, and it was wonderful to visit again! They offer a terrific selection of shave ice flavors, including several all-natural options, and there's plenty of shaded seating outside to enjoy your treat. My biggest recommendation? Get your shave ice with a scoop of vanilla ice cream underneath. It's worth it!
The Details: I have some really fond memories of Island Snow going back to when I lived in Kailua's Enchanted Lakes neighborhood. On weekends, my son Zack and I would hop on our bicycles and ride over from our house on Alahaki Street for shave ice. It was a fun little adventure for the two of us, and having a delicious treat waiting at the end of the ride certainly didn't hurt!
Zack is now 31 years old, which is pretty hard for me to believe! Where did all those years go?! Coming back after so much time was a wonderful trip down memory lane.
The Shop: Island Snow has grown quite a bit since I used to visit. In addition to the shave ice counter, there's now a beach apparel shop offering shirts, hats, shorts, flip-flops, and other beachwear.
The shave ice shop itself is bright and clean, with a large menu and a colorful assortment of flavored syrups behind the counter. And there are a LOT of flavors to choose from! You'll find everything from traditional favorites to some interesting Hawaiian-inspired combinations.
The Shave Ice: One thing we particularly appreciated was the selection of all-natural flavors. Rather than choosing from the traditional syrups, we decided to make ours entirely from the natural selections. Natural options included Laie Lilikoi, Pupukea Lychee, Pineapple Orange, Pua POG, and Haiku Haupia.
Our shave ice was a refreshing treat, especially after spending time outside in the warm Hawaiian sunshine.
Now, here's a little advice from someone who's enjoyed his share of Hawaiian shave ice over the years. Pay the extra money and get a scoop of vanilla ice cream underneath! As you work your way through the shave ice, the flavored ice melts into the vanilla ice cream, creating a delicious combination that's almost as enjoyable as the shave ice itself.
Seriously, don't skip the ice cream!
A Nice Place to Relax: Another thing I like about this location is the outdoor seating. There are several benches beneath the shade trees, making it easy to find a comfortable spot to sit and enjoy your shave ice.
After picking up our treats, we headed outside to relax in the shade. Nothing fancy, just a nice little place to enjoy something cold on a warm afternoon.
Final Thoughts: It was great returning to Island Snow after all these years. The shop may have expanded, and my little boy is now a grown man, but the simple pleasure of enjoying a good Hawaiian shave ice hasn't changed a bit. If you're in Kailua, stop by, pick a few flavors, add that scoop of vanilla ice cream, and find yourself a shady bench.
And if you've got your kids along, enjoy the moment. You never know which little outings they'll remember, or which ones you'll still be smiling about 30 years later.
Aloha!