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    Waiola Shave Ice

    4.3 (3.3k reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 6:00 pm

    Waiola Shave Ice Photos

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    Samantha C.

    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!

    menu
    P Y.

    Waiola is my bar for comparison of good shave ice. Finest ice and best flavors. Comes out fast and has parking right next door. POG with mochi is the best!

    Obama rainbow
    Erika B.

    Unbelievably good shaved ice. Window service was quick and fairly priced. They have a large menu of flavors, add ons, and premade bowls. I really enjoyed the "Obama rainbow".

    Rainbow with Flan
    Annie C.

    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.

    Obama rainbow shaved ice large - pickup order - IG @bougiefoodieboi
    Kyle W.

    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.

    Outside
    Chris B.

    Such a diamond in the rough away from the crazy traffic of Waikiki. If you want a non-touristy place that is super authentic, look no further. We arrived with a party of 7, each ordering something different. The shop owners were super nice and we didn't feel rushed. I tried the one with the custard in the middle just because it was something new to me. It was delicious! I love how the kids can order mini sizes since the regular ones are usually too big. We enjoyed our shaved ice on the benches right outside. Couldn't ask for a better afternoon break.

    Azuki bowl w Uber mochi
    Brian H.

    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.

    Menu Jan 2026
    Sammi L.

    Waiola is a longtime favorite of mine for shave ice. Super nostalgic, and perfect if you love the soft ice shave ice (more like slushy). Can't beat their prices at $6 for a special bowl. My bf got the Obama Bowl, still delicious even if they were out of mochi. I always get a small POG, so refreshing, and they'll add more syrup for free. There are tables around the side and a small shop. Staff are always very friendly. We love coming after the beach. Waiola has some parking, but it fills up quickly, and also clears quickly. We had no problem on a Wednesday at 4pm getting a spot nearby.

    Lychees syrup with lychee jelly at the bottom
    Daisy Z.

    Love coming to this place for shaved ice. Made more popular by the TV series Hawaii 5-0. There's always a line but the line moves quickly. The shaved ice is soft and the flavors are great - my favs are the lychee and pineapple flavors. On this particular visit, I discovered that they also offer lychee jelly as an added option. I had this and I am sold! They are quite generous with their syrup and they taste very natural and not made with articifical flavors. The staff there are usually friendly but they are so busy most times that they don't have time for plesantries! -Can't really blame them. The price listed is for cash payment. If you want to use your credit card, there is a surcharge. There are some seats available to sit and enjoy the shaved ice. There's a parking lot next to the store but it's not very big - can probably accomodate about 8-10 cars, I think.

    Bebe P.

    WORTH IT. Support local business! Their Shane ice was soft and subtle flavors. I got haupia and illikoi with condense milk. Both flavors complement each other well. Parking depends on the time you go but if the line isn't long, you'll have parking. They got candy shops inside~

    Li hing and lychee with li hing powder and condense milk
    Cat N.

    If you are looking for a shaved ice place then this is the right spot. Not only do they have everything, Waiola is probably more affordable than all your other shaved ice places in the area. Their menu is also easy. You can customize your own or you can get one of their popular combinations. And you can get it with ice cream! For sizes Waiola offers a small, medium, large, or jumbo size. For a small you can get up to 2 flavors which is nice. I love that they have so many options of flavors, toppings, and drizzles. They even have azuki beans if you like that. I got their $4 small with two flavors: li hing and lychee. I topped it off with li hing and condense milk and it was heavenly. Every bite was delicious and the small size was perfect for me. The shaved ice was soft and perfect. It was definitely worth it and I recommend it if you are in the area and are looking for an affordable sweet treat. This place also has a store that sells snacks and candies as well. There isn't a spot to sit inside and eat your treat but they have benches outside.

    Sign
    Eliko S.

    This is an unassuming & wonderful shave ice spot. It was busy this afternoon, but the line moved quickly. The prices are very fair and the icy sweet treats come out fast. Service is friendly. Order at the window counter outside but be sure to check out the little store inside for some trinkets & souvenirs. There tons of flavors and add ons to customize your shave ice. It's so much fun! I highly recommend this cute spot for anyone craving the softest and most delicious shave ice in Waikiki! Mahalo!

    Ube shave ice (small)
    Sharon T.

    This is a super popular and well-loved shave ice spot in the Waikiki! It's a cute little spot located in a neighborhood. Parking can be a little hard to find close to the shop, but if you don't mind a little walk or maybe a loop or two, it's not too difficult to find a spot. They move very quickly, so the wait is not too long, and they have a large variety of flavors! I think this is a decent spot, but the ice itself does clump and is a little inconsistent. The ube flavor that I ordered was also not very strong so it tasted a little diluted.

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    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.

    Do they sell the syrups?

    I don't believe they do.

    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.

    View All 5 Questions

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    Leonard's Bakery - A dozen goodies

    Leonard's Bakery

    4.5(10.3k reviews)
    1.1 miKaimuki
    $

    Malasadas are popular in Hawaii due to their 19th-century introduction by Portuguese plantation…read morelaborers, becoming a staple treat. These fried, sugar-coated dough balls, often filled with custard or haupia, are beloved for their fluffy texture and association with tradition, especially "Malasada Day" (Fat Tuesday). And Leonard's Bakery malasadas are popular in Hawaii because they are served fresh, hot, and fluffy, establishing the Portuguese doughnut as a staple island treat since 1952. Founder Leonard Rego pioneered commercializing them, creating a cult following for the crisp-on-the-outside, doughy-on-the-inside treats. There's nothing like a nice, hot, and fresh malasada. At $2.20 each, there's just no point resisting. Twinsie "Auntie" Nadine C. dragged me here, told me where to take the Instagram shot, and the correct stance to tear into these pillowy fried dough balls. Yum.

    Hot & fresh malasadas, I get the hype…read more The parking lot isn't much of a lot, in my opinion. There's about 6 spots available but it's also a tight squeeze in so I would consider parking along the side streets and walking over if possible. My group and I opted for 6 total malasadas to share and they tasted great when they're hot so best to eat it while it's fresh. We ate more after dinner when it's already cooled down and it was still good, but nothing beats fresh. Service was efficient and the line moves pretty quick.

    Photos
    Leonard's Bakery - Original Malasada

    Original Malasada

    Leonard's Bakery - 3/29/26 get the guava & mac nut filled ones

    3/29/26 get the guava & mac nut filled ones

    Leonard's Bakery - Inside of a Guava filled

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    Inside of a Guava filled

    Pipeline Bakeshop & Creamery - Pumpkin Crunch

    Pipeline Bakeshop & Creamery

    4.4(891 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    If you're more into lighter Malasada and other sweets, you have to give this place a try. I got to…read moretry their cinnamon Malasada with some pimples on them. It must be from their fryer or something. Nevertheless it was light, fluffy, fresh, warm to my tummy. We also got the hazelnut cake. Cake texture with coconut like flavor (I maybe wrong) with chocolate like hazelnut flavor coating. Also light and good. I saw ice cream too. Gotta try that next time. You can street park or Kaimuki municipal parking across the street.

    Everyone knows to go to Leonard's for freshly made malasadas, and the constant crowds there attest…read moreto their quality and variety (review: https://yelp.to/jaduiZfQRq). However, there are many alternative malasada purveyors throughout Honolulu, so I depended on local vloggers to find the best ones. This one popped up often on YouTube, and as luck would have it, we were dining at The Pig & The Lady on the next block. How calorifically convenient. We took the opportunity to stop by for a pre-dinner snack since they closed at 6PM. It's a cute shop with multiple sweets including quite a selection of housemade ice cream and delectable mouthfuls called Cake Bombs (Photo 10). We decided we would be good and ordered one unfilled Malasada each. Dusted with various sugar flavors, they were just $2.65 a piece. I went for the Coffee, while Jamie chose the daily special, Cinnamon (Photo 6). They were soft and tasty, quite comparable to Leonard's albeit a tad smaller. That wasn't necessarily a bad thing since we had dinner ahead of us. However, we let temptation get the best of us and shared a $5.50 slice of the Ube Haupia Mac Nut Bar, a yummy combination of sweet potato and ube topped with haupia (coconut milk pudding) on a macadamia nut crust (Photo 9). Truth be told, it stole the show from the malasadas. FOOD - 4 stars... the malasadas were good, but that ube dessert was next level AMBIANCE - 4 stars...really a takeout operation with a lot of temptations SERVICE - 4 stars...very calm and orderly TOTAL - 4 stars...yet another spot for sweet Hawaiian decadence RELATED - Exploring Hawaii? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/U7YPblfoMP

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    Pipeline Bakeshop & Creamery - Interior during Malasada Day / Fat Tuesday, 2/17/2026

    Interior during Malasada Day / Fat Tuesday, 2/17/2026

    Pipeline Bakeshop & Creamery - 1/2 dozen malasada

    1/2 dozen malasada

    Pipeline Bakeshop & Creamery

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    Cha To Gelato Zen - Matcha gelato

    Cha To Gelato Zen

    4.6(166 reviews)
    1.2 miKaimuki
    $$

    New flavor Strawberry White Chocolate and Hojicha Chocolate gelato was delicious. All of their…read moregelato options are great because I tried all of it. LOL It's no secret that I love this place and my friends also love it too. It's our fave place to hangout and chill. Noticed that at night closer to closing time they get flooded with people - do keep that in mind when coming here. Was lucky to snag a seat at the counter but it was packed! Please be patient with the help as well because most of the time it is just them trying to handle the huge barrage of people waiting in line as well as dine-in customers. Great experience nonetheless.

    Walked in happy to try a new spot. No greeting. No acknowledgment. Nothing. Just dull pasty people…read morestanding around and some dude in a suit looking like he's lost. Three staff members present and not one offered so much as an aloha or hello. For a local, "Hawai'i based business", the complete absence of aloha was jarring. I came ready to try all kinds stuff, especially matcha, but only ended up only smelling it, because the energy in that room made it clear my presence as a Black man wasn't wanted or needed. If business is going so well that customer service is optional, congratulations. But for the rest of us who show up hoping to feel welcome for overspending on your match and ice cream, especially in a place that's supposed to represent the spirit of these islands -- this wasn't it. This is clearly one of those places that feel like they're too good to serve you if you're not meeting their aesthetic. Yeah, very Beverly Hills (attempt, but likely wouldn't do well there), kinda "clicky" like vibe, snooty, haughty seeming like vibe, maybe a lil tad bit stuck up, and for the tiny little portion and "big show" , I probably would have liked it somewhat, but also would have felt guilty for paying a fortune to be treated that way lol This place likely won't be around in a year, by the vibe I'd say it's slow times (wonder why). I know I will, happy to spend even more down the road- so many to choose from, trust me this place ain't unique in my experience. In these times, be kind to yourself, and love yourself enough to go where you're treated best, people.

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    Cha To Gelato Zen - Inside seating

    Inside seating

    Cha To Gelato Zen - Tea leaves with some shoyu topping

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    Kansai Yamato - Mango Mochi and mango and cream mochi

    Kansai Yamato

    4.3(148 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $

    I like my dessert wrapped in carbs, which is why mochi is one of my favorite things. Especially…read morearound New Years and Kansas Yamato has some of the best mochi on island. You can find this mochi around the island at different supermarkets but it's best from the source on University Ave. You can't miss out on their peanut butter stuffed mochi. It's just such a classic. I also love their strawberry stuffed mochi- so ono!

    Always wanted to go to their shop but since it's far from where we live, I didn't make it out…read morethere: We finally went to Kansai Yamato because my boyfriend wanted to try their fresh mango mochi. I've always been a fan of them since they were in the old 99 Ranch so I wasn't complaining about going there lol. We parked in the open lot on the left of the store. But you could also park in the parking inside. When we entered, it's a very small store that's hard to walk around if there's people in there with you. We got the fruit parfait cups, the fresh mango mochi, and the ones on the stick (which I forgot to take a pic of). The parfait cups were good with cream cheese, strawberries, and mochi. I didn't care for the mochi with the sweet soy sauce on it although I know that's what Japan is known for. And the fresh mango mochi was good. The only thing I didn't like was the Lima bean paste inside. I'm not a fan of that. I would recommend eating fast since it's fresh and the wetness of the mango can make the mochi soft and rip. I'm glad we got to try new items. Can't wait to go back and get their peanut butter mochi and other favs. The cashier that helped us was very nice and gave us a bag even though we said we didn't need one. If you love mochi, this place is for you!

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    Kansai Yamato
    Kansai Yamato - Assorted stuffed mochi. Orange one is the mango.

    Assorted stuffed mochi. Orange one is the mango.

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