Kula Shave Ice
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My first time having shave ice... and it was incredible!! I love that Kula makes their own syrups - all homemade! This spot was packed and for good reason!
The best shaved ice I've ever had. Food 5/5 The Lava Flow is absolutely to die for. The haupia cream and lilikoi butter at the top with the strawberry infused ice was like heaven. The textures were all there. Service 5/5 Standard, nothing special. Ambiance 3/5 Outdoor seating area for all of the restaurants in the area. It was pretty crowded and the area isn't that clean. There's also lots of horseflies.
We were visiting the farmers market, and we decided to do a smoothie bowl here. At first, I wanted to do the shaved ice, but the call of a smoothie bowl was too much to ignore. They have an amazing menu for shaved ice! They also have a great selection for smoothie bowls. I was honestly impressed for a shaved ice place to have so many options for smoothie bowls. Anyway, the employee who took our order was very nice and efficient. We even had substitutions we requested, and she was super cool and nice about it all. The tables allow you to people watch since the tables are right in front of the café and next to the farmers market. Also, little birds were very interested in the area and potential snacks, so that was cute to watch! Our smoothie bowls were excellent! Honestly, now that I'm back across the pond, I'm seriously craving another! Wonderful flavor combinations and very fresh. I wish I would've tried their other creations, but that just means something to look forward to for next time!
After stopping by the Farmer's Market across the street, my wife and I walked over to Kula Shave Ice for some shaved ice. As a disclaimer, I'm not the biggest fan of shaved ice because of how sweet the dessert tends to be, and because more often than not, there are a bunch of artificial colors used in the fruit juices. When we looked at the menu, I was impressed and excited to see the emphasis on quality of their ingredients: no artificial flavors or colors, no aspartame, no high fructose corn syrup, and no preservatives. I was sold. Although we were tempted to create our own shaved ice, we ultimately went with "The Local", a soursop and liliko'i combo topped with haupia cream. Between the two flavors, I enjoyed the sour sop side a bit more since it was the one that was less sweet. The cream on top was absolutely delicious, and reminded me of the light and airy frothed milk cream you find on many boba drinks these days. There's a generous amount ladled on top, ensuring you can have some in every bite without having to carefully ration out the cream. Overall, I'm a fan of Kula Shave Ice. Definitely a great dessert to enjoy on a hot day. Worth checking out if you're ever in Hilo.
Located in the red building at the Hilo Farmers Market, Kula Shave Ice is a popular shave ice destination that also serves up acai bowls, coffee drinks, and other beverages. Customers order from the front window and pick-up from the side window. Rather than try a Signature Creation, we chose the Create Your Own and ordered the Guava & Mango flavors and added Condensed Milk and Vanilla Ice Cream. We enjoyed the shave ice, but we all agreed it paled in comparison to our experience at Hawaiian Ninja Shave Ice in Captain Cook. The ice did not seem as fluffy and the ice cream didn't enhance the flavors. As another reviewer commented, we also ate at the picnic tables and I found the tabletops to be sticky too. All in all, Kula is still a top choice for shave ice.
The shave ice was nice! I feel like the shave ice was less fine/more course than what I've had on Oahu, but maybe that's the BI's style? Flavors were great! Really enjoyed to coconut condensed milk. However, I did order mine with ice cream inside, but they forgot that, so was a bit bummed by that. But that didn't impact the taste at all! Very busy with a decent line, so understandable that it could've gotten missed. Mahalo!
Based on the reviews, I had pretty high expectations for this place. I've had quite a bit of shaved ice, and this one wasn't my favorite. The flavors tasted a bit watered down, and the ice melted pretty quickly. The tables were sticky, and the trash cans were located all the way in the back, which wasn't very convenient. Overall, it was just okay. We actually found the farmers market across the street to be much more enjoyable.
Wow!!! This place serves awesome shaved ice! You order at the counter. They do not have an indoor space. You can sit outside on the various benches. We went on a Saturday afternoon after visiting the Hilo Saturday Market. We ordered the Kula Rainbow $12. 10/10 It was delicious. There are public restrooms next door and there is free parking nearby about one block south off on Ponahawai St and Punahoa St. You can also look for street parking. I would definitely return.
I'm always on a quest to find the best shave ice in Hawaii which led me here. My husband and I shared: - The Local - The Kula Rainbow with Condensed Milk The flavors of the Kula Rainbow were my favorite, but I loved the Haupia Cream top on the local. That kind of topping is less common from what I've seen. This is the best shave ice I've had on the Hilo side of the island and I'll definitely be back next time I visit Hawaii.
Kula Shave Ice has been and still is my favorite shave ice place of all time. Unlike most stores, Kula makes their own flavor syrups from scratch, giving it bold and authentic flavors vastly superior to mass produced artificial ones. I am sad to see their non-fruit based flavors no longer offered (like golden milk/tumeric) but happy that this business was booming with locals and tourists alike. Highly recommend Kula Shave Ice as the best shave ice location in the state.
Of all the shave Ice, kula was my favorite. My kids talk about the quality and texture of ice--for me it's all about flavor and great local choices. I shared an Ube and guava--both flavors tasted natural and fresh, plus the mochi AND the haupia topping just made a delectable dessert. And to boot, Hilo farmers market right there! Lots of covered seating around the area too.
Kula Shave Ice has my favorite acai bowl in the entire world. I haven't found another place that makes a poi acai bowl, but the combination of flavors and textures in this bowl is top notch. The thick and sour poi pairs perfectly with the sweeter acai. All the crunchy toppings are the perfect addition, especially the mac nuts!
Kula Shave Ice is easily the best place to get shave ice here on the Big Island. Their friendly customer service, great portion sizes and unique offerings using fresh local ingredients, make it the perfect spot to enjoy a taste of home here in Hawaii. My favorite flavors are the lava flow and Matcha with sweet beans! but when I'm not craving shave ice, my go to is their mana bowl- an açaí bowl with the best granola and peanut butter on top! It's SO GOOD! I highly recommend visiting
Refreshing treat in Hilo, Big Island, Hawaii... It was a warm, humid September day... Shave ice sounded like a great idea, so we walked across the street (from the fruit vendors at Hilo Farmer's Market) and looked at the menu at Kula Shave Ice... I was confused at first because when I hear the word, Kula, I think of the town in Maui. However, it has many meanings. "Kula" can mean a school, a fish trap, a place where people get together, or gold. I'm not sure which meaning applies to this vendor. Service was efficient and pleasant. We ordered at one window, waited for our buzzer to go off, and then picked up our shave ice at another window. I got the keiki-sized bowl with guava and matcha flavors. The tastes were authentic! The ice was fine and smooth! It was a perfect pick-me-up! read more
Delicious shave ice on the North Shore using real fruit syrup as opposed to any of the artificial ones. It was a warm day so we decided to get two shave ice: "Soul Sweet" ($11) which was coconut matcha and strawberry topped with condensed milk and mochi, as well as a "create your own organic shave ice" ($9 total) with guava and pineapple along with the addition of some condensed milk on top. Service was friendly and our shave ice was ready within minutes. You could definitely taste the freshness of the real fruit syrup and I would say Kula Shave Ice definitely is one of the top shave ice places I've had on the island, up there with Island Vintage Shave ice. Due to the warm weather though, the only downside was the shave ice melted incredibly quick so while our first few bites were dreamy, fluffy bites of fruity goodness, the remainder was all soup. Nonetheless, we really enjoyed our shave ice and love how they had some spacious outdoor seating available. read more
There is a ton of good ice in Hawaii but this was one of the best ones!! Mmm! Located across the street from the Main part of the Hilo Farmers Market. Don't eat lunch cuz there is also a good poke place next door! Pull up a chair and eat poke and ice! read more
1 year ago
Very fine shaved ice, not too sweet. Flavors does not taste alike artificial syrup They are very friendly! Outdoor, covered area (it's hot in Hilo on a sunny day) you'll want to enjoy it under a shady area! read more
This place is fantastic. We found them because we were listening to a podcast and someone mentioned this was their favorite shave ice place on the big island. So of course I had to go. I knew immediately I would want the Hapa. It's coconut shave ice with chocolate icecream inside and chocolate shell on top with coconut. It was amazing!! I would get it again. My husband got the Lilikoi creamsicle which was also delicious. They give you a pager to notify you when your order is ready. It's right next to a farmers market which I thought was cool. Street parking is easy to find. Several tables outside in the shade to sit at. read more
So, it looks like I'm going to be the odd man reviewer :( I got a regular size with Strawberry, coconut and mango, topped with the cream. The flavors were very muted (I know, organic!) but I didn't expect little to no taste. Yet that's what it seemed like. Most importantly, the syrups didn't go further down than 1/2 inch. After that, the rest was pure ice. The ice wasn't soft, it was so packed I broke my plastic spoon trying to dig down further. Too hard. Lastly, the cream on top was literally a sprizzle. Not really enough to make much of a taste. I guess I'm just not that organically health conscience. If I'm gonna be bad then it seems like the traditional super sugary syrups are what I'm after. Update: received a very nice response from the owner and explanation how this was 'one off' and not at all their usual product. I am always very appreciative of managers/owners who really try hard to make it right and believe businesses that do that really care. I've upgraded the rating in appreciation to them reaching out and offering to make it right. Thank you for putting a customer first! read more
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Tiffany G.
Oh no! I’m so sorry, Mark. I can tell by the picture you’re right…
YES!!!!! this was the best I have ever had!!!!! It was called the local with Vanilla Ice on the bottom. I shared with 2 other people and we loved it to every last bit. It is a small little window you order from, you get your number holder and patiently wait for it to buzz . Every little outside seating and even less in the shade, so be prepared to stand, or seat close to your fellow islanders. This was worth the wait, the money !!! If I lived on the Big Island I would be there all the time!!! read more
Soooooo good! I love shave ice but it was so nice to find a place that uses real fruit syrup instead of the artificial stuff. We got the lava flow which was topped with haupia cream and lilikoi syrup. It was soooo good. Tasted like real fruit and not too sweet. Lots of tables right by the farmers market to enjoy it at. Service was quick and prompt. read more
Highly recommend this shave ice stand in downtown Hilo, especially on hot and humid days after you shop at the farmers market across the street. They have fresh fruit syrups so you really taste the flavors without being overly sweet or sugary. On my first visit I had the Kula Rainbow which was mango, strawberry, and blueberry. I will admit the blueberry wasn't as flavorful as I wanted, but the mango and strawberry were great. We went a few days later and I had their lilikoi (passion fruit) and guava, and those were fantastic. Service was fast and friendly, even when the line stretched to the street. read more
BEST shaved ice on the big island! I would highly recommend "the local", soursop & liliko topped with haipia (coconut) cream. I'm not usually a cream person but this was perfectly tart and not overly sweet. The "Big Island Love" is a great choice too - coconut & lime was so refreshing on a hot day! Prices range from $10-$13. Very shareable portions. Wait was a bit long, about 30 minutes so prepare for that. read more
1 year ago
Be prepared - eating here will ruin shave ice for you everywhere else!!! BEST SHAVE ICE ANYWHERE!!! I would fly to Hilo solely to eat here! Unique island flavors. Fresh, organic, locally sourced fruit. Love the condensed coconut milk on just about any of them! You cannot go wrong with a single combination here! 1000/10!!! Make sure you're on island time when you visit - this place is always very busy, but worth it, because it's the best treat you'll ever eat! read more
6 months ago
1 year ago
Wife had a shave ice here. Said the juices used were really fresh and the ice is super soft. Must have been good because she started eating it before I could get the picture. read more
3 years ago
Fluffy shaved ice. Cheap. Tons of flavours. Located behind the farmers market in downtown hilo. This was the perfect stop after having a poke bowl next door. I specifically loved the passionfruit honey and lychee flavours. So delicious. So perfect on a hot day in hilo. Despite how busy it is. This place serves your shaved ice very fast and there is plenty of seating to eat here. No need for toppings since the shaved ice was so delicious on its own. I miss it already and it's only been a week read more
2 years ago
I'm an açaí bowl enthusiast and this place is one of the best places I've ever been to. It's not overly sweetened but still rich in taste. They give a good amount of açaí which is hit or miss on the island. The place is cute and is a small business which I love supporting. read more
8 months ago
Just came from Oahu. How is this place more expensive than Matsumoto's and not even half as good? It's a good effort and I was very excited to try it, but it fell short. The shaved ice was more icy than smooth. Ordered fresh strawberry and the pineapple with ice cream, condensed milk and double mochi. It really wasn't that great. I'm so surprised this has such a high rating on Yelp. Maybe it's all relative to the other shaved ice places around here. Anyhow, I wouldn't visit this place again, unless I went to try the açai bowl and our drinks. read more
Such fresh tasty flavors. Recommend coming early in the day, the cashier was helpful in letting us know what they had already run out of before ordering. I love the pager system at a busy spot like this. There's a lot of space and clean seating. Hoping to go back to try the lilikoi butter and the mochi. read more
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Tiffany G.
Mahalo Jade! We are usually very careful to keep those things in…
Overall Experience: 9.5/10 We came here on a warmer day after snorkeling at the local beach nearby. The shop was located inside the Hilo Farmers Market and had a minimal wait to order when we got there. The service is amazing as the workers will do what is right/ what you request. The shaved ice and mocha also came out quick. Food and Drinks: The shaved ice was incredible, the ice was fluffy and was a perfect balance of sweet, refreshing, and cooling. The mochi brought a chewy bounce and had the perfect balance of sweetness. The coconut cream was fluffy and cloudlike, and gave the ice a rich, fluffy sweet, and creamy flavor. All of these flavors blend perfectly with each other and I would highly recommend anyone to stop by! read more
6 months ago
I was so confused when my travel mates put Kula Shave Ice on our itinerary for our 24 hour trip to Hilo. "Kula" is the name of a town on Maui, so what is it doing in Hilo? After doing some research on google, I found out that the business is named after the owners (their last name is Golden, and kula means "golden" in Hawaiian)! But back to the shave ice - this was one of the most enjoyable bowls of shave ice I've ever had. And it takes a lot to get me excited about shave ice. The syrups are not processed or made with artificial ingredients. They're all natural, made with locally sourced ingredients. When in Hilo, Kula Shave Ice is a must-try. read more
1 year ago
Super fast & great service. Can't remeber the name of the items we got i think one was the local & the other was just Coconut with coconut ice cream & haupia cream. The coconut one was AMAZING! So fresh & delicious. The Haupia Cream was out of this world. Was definitely worth the drive. Some of the best shaved ice I've had! Had plenty of seating when we went. read more
2 years ago
Business owner information
Tiffany G.
Thank you Kaamilah!!
We loved the açaí bowls so much we came back twice. The blend is super smooth and not icy like most places, and the fruit and toppings are all fresh. It's nice to sit out by the benches and people watch. Afterwards you can check out the farmers market too! Pro tip, start with the base bowl and add toppings for about the same price as the set menu bowls. read more
Best shave ice in Hilo! The ice is fine, the flavors are made with love, not poured out of a syrup bottle. Service is quick, and there are some tables for guests to sit down and enjoy. Located: right across the Hilo Farmers market. Street parking. read more
Kula is my sister's favorite place to get açaí bowls so we definitely had to check it out when we visited family over the holidays. The crew is super nice and friendly! They serve homemade cane sugar syrups with organic fruit. I was a little overwhelmed by the choices (and the long line behind me!) but the guy was super patient and even helped me decide on which one to get. A local favorite is The Local (sour sop, lilikoi syrup, topped with haupia cream) but I'm not a huge fan of lilikoi so I opted for The Lava Flow (strawberry topped with haupia cream and lilikoi butter) and it was so good! Not overly sweet like normal syrups are and definitely fresh and refreshing. The keiki size is HUGE! Maybe I'll have to go back and get a regular. I definitely need to go back for an açaí bowl. There is a lot of seating and it's right next to the farmers market, so grab a bowl and enjoy! read more
Wow, I thought Ululani's was great and I'm trying this place after, it definitely gives Ululani's a run for its money. First, amazing location - near the farmers market, restaurants, and the water. Staff were very friendly throughout, and the pricing is solid for shaved ice. The flavors are more select, and I tried lime with strawberry. Genuinely refreshing! Incredibly the texture was soooo smooth and it doesn't feel like you're just crunching through ice. The fruity flavors taste genuine and not artificial at all! Overall, a very great dessert after meals or even before, or even standalone! I would highly recommend visiting if you're in the area! :) PROS: - excellent location - staff are very friendly - shaved ice texture is very smooth, fruity flavors taste genuine - not a long wait time CONS: - none! :) read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
7 months ago
each regular shave ice could have 2 flavors so we got the POG (passionfruit, orange, guava) and mango shave ice ($9.95) with mac nut ice cream filling ($3) and they were delicious. wish the ice cream wasn't so far inside (we thought it was missing) though read more
Business owner information
Tiffany G.
Thanks for your review Sarah! We’re so glad you enjoyed it.…
This is probably our 4th or 5th shaved ice so far on our big island trip. It's probably one of the best shaved ice so far on this island that we had. The ice is soft and the syrups are sweet and not diluted. We ordered the kula rainbow and the lilikoi dreamsicle. The lilikoi one was our favorite because of the ice cream inside and the condensed milk on top. It is pretty pricey for shaved ice without any toppings though. We also tried their acai with poi and Vietnamese coffee. The acai bowl was okay. Even with the taro, it didn't feel or taste that different from an ordinary acai to me. The Vietnamese coffee wasn't strong like I expected Vietnamese coffee to be. And I couldn't taste the condensed milk either. It tasted like watered down ice coffee. 4.5/5 for shaved ice. 3/5 for acai bowl. 1/5 for vietnamese coffee. read more
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Tiffany G.
Aloha Ada. Thanks for your review! I’m so glad you enjoyed your shave…
I have been wanting to try Kula Shave Ice FOREVER! And no, this is not in Kula here on Maui! It is in Hilo right next to the farmer's market! Super convenient location and there is a seating area right there too. The day we went, we were lucky to have some live music playing. I am not sure why my son decided to get an acai bowl at a shave ice place but that's what he wanted. He got the small sized acai bowl (which was HUGE btw) with poi. Anytime anything is offered with poi, he and i will ALWAYS get that. So of course, I got a small shave ice (lilikoi and coconut flavor syrup) with haupia cream and poi. First time i ever had poi in my shave ice and it was really good (well of course, poi makes everything taste so good). I wish more places offered poi in their shave ice AND acai bowls! The haupia cream i got on top was also another delicious addition. My parents got a small shave ice as well - strawberry flavored syrup and vanilla ice cream. Booooooring but they liked it! And that is the main thing! This place was pretty packed but we got super lucky and there was not a line when we were going to order. We also lucked out on a seat right before our order was ready to pick up at the window! Def coming back here to get more shave ice next time we come back to Hilo! read more
After a long search for the best açaí bowl in Hilo, Kula bowls has one of our faves. We've tried their shave ice too, which was good, but nothing out of this world. We love the açaí bowls because (1) you get a LOT of food for how much it costs, (2) there are a few different options to change things up if you'd like, and (3) it actually tastes like an acai bowl! We've gone back many times at this point and they never disappoint. It's also nice to have a Kamaaina discount available too. The only downside of going is that if it's a busy time at the farmers market, it may be a challenge to find parking. read more
The shave ice is great! I got a half matcha and half vanilla one with the housemate coconut ice cream. The guy that helped us was super nice and answered our questions. It was a little rainy when we got there so we didn't stay in the seating area but it looks nice and cozy. There was a little outdoor swap meet type thing next door so we got to walk around while we waited. 10/10 read more
Business owner information
Tiffany G.
Thank you for your review Andrew!…
After trying the shaved ice in Honolulu, unfortunately Kula (or other shaved ice) on Big island was a major let down. The service is friendly. Orders are being delivered pretty fast. They also serve a lot of drinks and other treats. Have seating outside with shade and open air. Restroom avaliable at this location. Give it a try and support the local business (Wish they had more toppings/flavor like Honololu shaved ice places). read more
Business owner information
Tiffany G.
Thanks for your review Avi!…
2 years ago
More info about Kula Shave Ice
57 Mamo St
Hilo, HI 96720
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(808) 431-7166
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http://www.kulashaveice.com
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Ask the Community - Kula Shave Ice
When are you going to open a new location in Kailua Kona?
Has the Oahu north shore place reopened? I know it left Farm to Barn in Haleiwa and was briefly open in Waialua... it's our favorite shave ice on the island-- we are hoping it is open again
Aloha Paula The Haleiwa crew have had trouble finding a permanent spot for the trailer, but they have something in the works now and will announce it as soon as it’s set in…
Are there dairy free options? What about gluten-free options?
Yes! We offer gluten free granola for our açaí bowls. Though we are not a dedicated or certified gluten free kitchen, almost everything on our menu is made without gluten. With the exception of condensed milk and some ice creams, everything is…
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