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Papalani Gelato

4.4 (379 reviews)
Closed 12:00 pm - 9:00 PM

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Kyoo C.

Came to get the kid his cookies and cream fix. Got to get a taste and it was of course tasty. The gelato tasted like the cream middle of oreos! It wasn't too creamy or thick, but worked better for the hot weather. Sweetness was a tad over, but it was cookies n cream after all.

gelato case and choices
Monty D.

This was certainly was good and refreshing gelato. They don't have inside seating, but we readily found seating outside. While you wait outside, see my sign pic, you try to make up your mind as to what you want, see my menu pic. Interestingly, they have gelato cakes (good to know). We are big gelato fans and went back a few times.

Dairy flavor options
Paul M.

Came by for gelato today. Service was OUTSTANDING, worker let me sample some flavors and was very friendly and helpful. Ended up getting a scoop of chocolate hazelnut and a scoop of a coconut flavor. Gelato was good but not great. Have had much better gelato elsewhere. Was impressed with the staff though and glad to see a place letting you sample the product.

Lance B.

Located in the Poipu shopping Village on Plantation Drive. We tried it twice while we were here and the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was due to the fact that the gelato on the previous occasion seemed to be a little melted. The second time it seems fine so maybe it was a one off thing. The shop inside is small hence the reason why they only allow one family in there at a time. On both occasions the line got long but it seemed to move fairly quickly. Nothing particularly exceptional about the gelato but definitely well worth it.

Gelato selection
Gage G.

Omg YUM! Swing by here after eating dinner in the same mall complex and even though I was full I made myself make room for this gelato. The lady who served us was so nice and patient with giving samples (max 3 per person). It was also a neat feature of their establishment that only one family group was allowed in at a time, but only due to inside space, not COVID. There were so so many good looking flavors but I settled on a double scoop - 1 banana Oreo (sorbetto) and 1 Mahaulepu Mint Chip... Definitely come here for top quality gelato! They also serve smoothies, milkshakes, and ice cream cookies!!

Coconut!
Honest Review S.

We were running late and called the store and they stayed open for us. Talk about amazing customer service. Gelato was phenomenal, cookie sandwich also phenomenal. Very grateful for these nice people and will for sure come back!

Ridiculous
James N.

Gelato was good but overpriced. Also don't like their typical elitist attitude. It's May 2023, stop with the virtue signally charades. Only allowing one group in the store at a time is ridiculous and inefficient. If you're going to make everyone else wait outside, at least post the flavor list outside so when people finally get to enter the shop, they have an idea of what they want to taste or order instead of walking in and having to look and read all the flavors and then decide. It is extremely slow and inefficient. The gelato was good, but overpriced for the size. The large isn't that large, I easily finished it. For the same price, I would get more ice cream than I need from Lappert's. I do appreciate some of the more unique sorbet flavors here. My favorite flavors were pineapple and hibiscus. I've never had hibiscus sorbet before and I found it refreshing and unique. Overall probably 4.5 stars but I'm rounding down to 4 because of their silly and inefficient policies, there were only 5 people (three groups) ahead of us in line but it took us over 10 minutes to be allowed to enter the store since they only allowed one group at in the store to even see the flavors and then taste and order and be served and pay.

Exterior
Adina S.

Papalani Gelato is the real deal! They had a really nice variety of gelato flavors, including some unique ones with a Hawaiian twist. I forget the name of the flavor I ordered, but it was some variety of coconut and it was absolutely delicious. Before ordering, I tried three flavors, so don't be shy to try! There was a sign outside the store saying only one group could enter at a time, but it didn't seem like that rule was actually being enforced. The store is a bit small I would say. However, it could certainly accommodate a few customers at a time. Just note there isn't really anywhere to sit, so you're probably going to want to take your gelato to go. The staff was friendly and helpful! Definitely a great place to grab a sweet treat while at the nearby beach.

Menu
Tanmay T.

Tanmay's scale: - Scrumptiousness: 5/5 - Service: 4/5 - Ambience: 4/5 - Cleanliness: 4/5 - Value for money: 4/5 - Vegan friendly: 4/5 - Parking: 5/5 The best thing about them is they allow 3 samples. Most of the ice cream places we visited on the island don't give samples, and as there are very new flavors, trying anything different is purely a luck elsewhere. I wanted to try local flavor - Lilikoi and Hipaua for long, which I got to try as samples. I ended up getting Hawaiian cheesecake, Papalani Pie, and Pistachio gelatos. They are fairly priced considering other options on the islands. I liked how they have the menu outside and allow only a single group inside at a time.

Papalani pie
Yana I.

Still the best ice creamery on the island! Kauai Crunch tops the list, while Papalani Pie is perfect for coffee lovers. Their homemade, exceptional-quality ice cream is unmatched, especially compared to competitors like Lappert's.

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2 months ago

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14 days ago

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2 months ago

I really like there gelato especially their Salt Pond flavor! Great service and the atmosphere was nice

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1 year ago

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5 months ago

Best shake ever you really should try the Oreo shake you will really enjoy this drink!!!!!

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3 months ago

Amazing service and killer gelato! So many flavors, friendly staff and offered samples! We will be back :)

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Papalani Gelato Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Papalani Gelato

The Right Slice - Chicken pot pie

The Right Slice

4.3(500 reviews)
5.4 mi
$$

I have to stop into The Right Slice every time I am visit Kauai…read more This last visit I got a slice of the "tropical banana." I'd explain it as an apple pie with baby bananas, and cobbler like crumbles on top. It's wonderful. One of the things I appreciate the most about this shop is that the staff is so nice about questions. I hear them answering all kinds of questions for almost every customer that comes in. They answer with patience and kindness. Overall it's got a lovely interior that feels like a hometown pie shop. It has interior seating. There is parking outside in front of the shop. Hope you visit because it's a very nice place for dessert or savory pies to go.

The Right Slice in Kalaheo, Kauai got the freshest most delicious pies, you will ever find on…read moreKauai, best to call it in since it takes about 35 mins for a hot pot pie. The last time I had a pot pie was at a KFC Irvine, CA & it doesn't compare to this. The pot pie here is so good, tasty and savory, it is Fire!! The hot pot pie comes in meat with over 10+ varieties, inluding vegetarian and Gluten Free. Besides the chicken pot pie, we enjoyed a slice of macadamia sweet pie, it was so hard to decide on what flavors since they all sound so good! I try to squeeze The Right Slice in when we visit the Garden Isle and try to make it out to here, this side of the Kauai. I can't wait to be back for more, if you are here you are definitely- getting The Right Slice!!

Photos
The Right Slice - From left: lilikoi cheesecake, mango, lime, macadamia nut. Center: coconut cream.

From left: lilikoi cheesecake, mango, lime, macadamia nut. Center: coconut cream.

The Right Slice - Blueberry Pina Colada Pie + Lilikoi Cheesecake

Blueberry Pina Colada Pie + Lilikoi Cheesecake

The Right Slice

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Skinny Mike's Ice Cream & Shave Ice - Sunset with ube bottom snow cap top.

Skinny Mike's Ice Cream & Shave Ice

4.4(538 reviews)
8.8 mi
$$

After eating an early lunch at the nearby BBQ place, I went into Skinny Mike's to get some dessert…read more I didn't see any sugar-free syrups for the shaved ice, so ended up getting a sundae. It turned out great. The NCL cruise ship was in town at the nearby Lihue, Kauai dock, so was expecting a lot of people around at this ice cream shoppe at the nearby Harbor Mall. There was only one hustling worker behind the counter, and she was trying her best to keep up, while maintaining her cool. Being in line for a bit, gave me time to study the menu, and I landed on ordering a S'mores Sundae ($11.75), described as 4 piece Graham crackers, 2 scoops of Macadamia ice cream, marshmallows (roasted) + Hot Fudge. After my order, she immediately to make it. What I really appreciated was that she put plenty of small marshmallows on top, and then used a small blow torch to roast the tops. My wife and I shared it, and we both agreed that it tasted like a freshly made Smores, but with really good ice cream added to it. It was delicious. It was the first time having it this way, and it really worked. Kudo's to whoever created this sundae.

Coconut flake ice cream malted shake! Oh HECK yea!…read more This is definitely a local shop, not a chain. Walking in I'm hit with the various odors of treats and that coconut. -must -have -coconut.. The store itself is refreshingly cool. Floors and tables are clean and there is plenty of natural light through the large windows. Staff is very efficient and thorough. I got, of course, a coconut flake malted milkshake that was incredibly satisfying. The Mrs had a coconut flake ice cream on a waffle cone. Pretty sure she liked it, it was gone quick enough. We're putting a pin on the map for here. Next time we're in town, this will be a mandatory visit.

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Skinny Mike's Ice Cream & Shave Ice - Picked own flavors

Picked own flavors

Skinny Mike's Ice Cream & Shave Ice
Skinny Mike's Ice Cream & Shave Ice - Shaved Ice menu

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Shaved Ice menu

Papalani Gelato - icecream - Updated May 2026

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