This was the best shave ice I had while in Hawaii! I don't know how they make the shave ice so fluffy and soft but the texture is incredible. I got the "Da Works" and it was amazing. I will 100% be back! They have a good amount of parking but not really any seating. read more

I've been going to Waiola's the past 20 yrs and have tried other shaved ice places but...This is best shaved ice in town! The consistency and finely shaved ice makes it my the best. My go to is the rainbow shaved ice with vanilla ice cream. It can get packed at times but parking is super easy, and rarely is it hard to find a spot. Lastly, they have super cute merch. I would put this on top of the list of shaved ice spots to visit when in town in Oahu! read more

Waiola Shave Ice - Exterior signage - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This is my favorite place to get shave ice in Hawaii! I usually get lililkoi and guava syrup which is always really fresh tasting! I always get ice cream on the bottom and li hing mui powder on top. If you're not local, you should give that a try. Its s popular crack seed in Hawaii from plum seed so it hint of bitterness with the sweetness of the fruit syrup. Delicious!!! Or ONO we say in the islands ! There are a couple benches out front so you can hang out and eat without making a mess in the car. Also check out the store which has lots of other snacks. The lady and keiki's that work there are always so nice, so be kind back to them! read more

Waiola Shave Ice - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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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! read more

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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! read more

Waiola Shave Ice - menu - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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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". read more

Waiola Shave Ice - Obama rainbow - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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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. read more

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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. read more

Waiola Shave Ice - Obama rainbow shaved ice large - pickup order - IG @bougiefoodieboi - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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. read more

Waiola Shave Ice - Outside - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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. read more

Waiola Shave Ice - Azuki bowl w Uber mochi - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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. read more

Waiola Shave Ice - Menu Jan 2026 - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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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. read more

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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~ read more

Waiola Shave Ice - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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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. read more

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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! read more

Waiola Shave Ice - Sign - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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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. read more

Waiola Shave Ice - Ube shave ice (small) - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

A little hole in the wall place in a cute neighborhood! I love the vibes!! We got large size shave ice with mochi balls and ice cream base. They really soaked it with juice!! The ice was super soft like snow!! Loved it! My only complaint is that compared to Ululani's, the syrup isn't as intensely flavored. The flavor was more dilute. read more

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This shave ice location is slight outside of Waikiki, but I have to say it's better than those inside Waikiki. Highly recommend you guys stopping by here. There were so many choices and pricing was very reasonable. read more

Waiola Shave Ice - Store front and order area - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Best shave ice on the island!! The ice was so light and thin and melts in your mouth. The syrups were delicious and the condense milk brings everything together. The mochi was a little harder than I would've liked so I wouldn't add it next time but the ice was perfect! They were quick with their service and no line when we went. Cute shop inside as well! read more

Waiola Shave Ice - Lychee, guava, mango, condensed milk, mochi - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

What's Hawaii without shaved ice? Mandatory stop at Waiola every visit! Told my friends to trust me and they were not disappointed! Fast service, friendly staff. read more

Waiola Shave Ice - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Definitely the OG location and feels like a hole in the wall straight out of the neighborhood but really digging the additional outside seating they've got and the parking lot. What they lack in ambiance the make up for in the soft ice that just melts on your tongue and feels like you're eating cloud ice!!! This is why we buy shaved ice not made at home, because of the superior texture that you cannot replicate at home. The hours are kind of limited if you're a late owl so make sure to go early before 5, they ran out of mochi balls everytime we went around 5:15/5:30 so my five stars is more like a 4.5, but hey, still absolutely amazing!!! They also have a penny press which is a favorite of my kids so bring your Pennie's!! I like that you can mix or match your own flavors and combinations or go with their suggested (and I'd say superior) recommended blending options. Still affordable and Keiki and small options if you can't muster the strength for a big bowl but I'm quite positive you can cuz it's that insanely light and delicious. My favorites were the azuki red bean and coconut jelly. I do think the staff could be a little more friendly or interactive, I'm surprised this place isn't more popular given how good their ice is but they didn't like that I asked for a discount if my combo didn't come with the mochi balls they ran out of and I know because I speak their native mandarin and I was annoyed a bit to hear them converse about it, luckily for them I came back with my entire family of 12 because it's THAT good. I came for the ice! It's niceeeee read more

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I think the environment just makes the shave ice taste better. On a hot humid day on the side of the street getting a bowl of shave ice is just the cherry on top. The rustic decoration and the old school looking menu. I like these kinda vintage vibe. Its a very good photo spot too like holding a bowl of shave ice standing in front of the worn down mascot. Its a vibe for sure. also its technically a grocery store that sells shave ice. I don't think you need to expect any customer service from them. Like they're not in need to please anyone lol. read more

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Visited Waiola Shaved Ice after hearing great things about it. When we arrived, there were only a few parties ahead of us, so the wait was pretty quick. They're a small storefront with outdoor tables for seating. We ordered Da Works, which came with POG, mango, and lychee flavored shaved ice, topped with ice cream, mochi balls, lychee jelly, and condensed milk. Delicious! read more

Waiola Shave Ice - Da Works - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Waiola Shave Ice is a staple, a classic in Honolulu. Growing up, we would often visit Waiola when visiting town. Their shave ice is always so soft, and their prices are affordable. With plenty of flavors, sides, and toppings, you'll find this classic shave ice spot has more variety than meets the eye. The service is fast, and there's plenty of seating on the benches outside in the shade. Don't forget to check out the inside of the store for some delicious local snacks and candies! read more

Waiola Shave Ice - Two Mediums with mixed flavors - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Best shave ice I've had! The ice is super soft and fluffy, and the flavors are refreshing and not too sweet. Staff is friendly and service is quick. Definitely coming back. All flavors interesting. The line was long but people are super chill read more

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Waiola shave ice, second trip here. It's my last day so I'm crushing my top 2, Waiola and Shimazu before I fly home to the 9th island. Waiola is by far one of the best shave ice establishments on Oahu. Their ice is shaved thin and their syrups are full of flavor. They are friendly and they make a quick desert for you to enjoy. Come give Waiola a try if you're in the mood for a delicious treat on Oahu read more

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Small shaved ice spot tucked away in the outskirts of waikiki. We took a Lyft here to try their shaved ice since my husband said this spot is Obama's favorite in Honolulu. There was a short line when we arrived at around 2 pm but it moved very quickly. You order at the window and wait for your shaved ice. I got the azuki mochi bowl and swapped the sweet milk shaved ice with the coconut shaved ice. The shaved ice is not as smooth as Ululani's and the mochi were a bit hard. In my opinion, it's better to keep the mochi a white color than adding artificial coloring to it (I had some pink and purple mochi in my bowl). The condensed milk and the azuki beans were tied well together and I think it exemplified the coconut flavor. Unfortunately, my shaved ice melted super fast, it transformed into water within 5 minutes of my order which was a disappointment. Prices were very affordable though considering what they give you. If you are in the area, this is a good spot to check out but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat their shaved ice. read more

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Grabbed a shave ice while waiting for my luggage tires to be replaced down the street. Good old classic waiola shave ice! Same vibes as when I was small. Same great shave ice. Try add the snow cap or mochi balls next time to switch things up. read more

We were on a shaved ice hunt every night we were here and agreed that this place was our least favorite. We compares the ice texture, how quickly it melted, flavors and mochi. They only give you 6 mochis here. Bigger than the usual spots and it didn't have the nice chewy texture but more on the raw not fully cooked side today. Lines were short. Service was quick. Friendly staff. Small parking lot but people are in n out quick. They have some picnic tables on the side. And a small store along side of it. read more

Waiola Shave Ice - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

A week late on this review. Wailoa is a family owned shave ice shop that looks like it's in the middle of the high country but you're located in a residential area in the city. Numerous choices with build your own and set options. I'm not good at building my own and since it's my first time here, I decided to go with an established favorite - Da Works in Mango which was very good and creamy with the ice cream. The shave ice and ice cream were perfectly matched in this combo. However, their version doesn't come with fresh mango but is inexpensive. It does come with mochi. read more

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Went here late on a Monday. I got a pog, add ice cream and azuki beans. Unfortunately then ran out of mochi. Pog still tasted great with ice cream and azuki beans. Service was good and quick. They have benches outside so I cant really speak on ambiance since it's an order up outdoor window. Thank you Waiola! read more

Waiola Shave Ice - Pog add ice cream and azuki beans. My fav but they ran out of mochi - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Waiola is a must-do every time we're in Honolulu. Seriously, no one makes their ice this fluffy! This place is unassuming, and it's a little grungy outside. Nothing fancy here, just good shave ice sold out of a quaint corner market. We usually walk here, enjoy our shave ice, and then walk it off on our way to the local 7-Eleven to grab beach snacks. It's an easy drive too. There's usually street parking. Ordering is straightforward. Line up outside, follow the steps, and pay. Enjoy your ice outside or on the road. read more

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Authentic and delicious! Perfect cool-off for the weather. We loved the mochi (definitely get this topping!) and the cute shop inside with nice sweets and snacks. Seems family run and very friendly. I loved the fruity flavors like lychee. They give hefty portions and this served 3 people! read more

Waiola Shave Ice - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Looking for a cool treat this summer and you don't wanna drive to the North Shore? Stop by Waiola Shave Ice. It's a finely cut shave ice and you can have it with or without ice cream. There is a whole bunch of flavors to choose from and extra toppings. My "go to" flavors is Melona and strawberry. Yesssa!!! If there's a line no worries because service is fast. Walk inside the store and you'll find other goodies and merch to purchase. There is a parking lot next to the building and plenty of street parking too. Remember get your own shave ice and no eat too fast. Brain Freeze!! read more

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Waiola will always be nostalgic to me - it was the #1 shave ice of my childhood! My uncle would take me and my siblings to Waiola as a treat sometimes, and I look back on that with such fondness. Trying to be as objective as possible though, I do think Waiola shave ice is great. The texture of the ice is so fine and soft, the syrup always reaches the bottom of the cup/bowl, and they have a ton of syrup and topping options. Their prices are still reasonable in my opinion - especially when some places can get as expensive as $10+ Some syrups are not as good as others, to be honest - I have sometimes been a liiitle bit let down when trying some of them. Occasionally, a syrup is less flavorful than I hope for, or a little artificial tasting. But there are so many great ones - some of my favorites are lilikoi, li hing mango, haupia, POG, and lychee. Any of these flavors plus condensed milk or vanilla ice cream?? so ono I love that they've kept their old signage with the taped-over parts. Sometimes when these old classic places need to pivot or change things up to keep up with the current market or audience, they lose something vital. I don't feel that's happened to Waiola, thankfully :-) read more

Waiola Shave Ice - 3 small cups of shave ice - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

After looking up reviews all across town for shaved ice, we landed on Waiola. It was satisfactory - they had tons of flavor options and the ice was smooth. The lady was patient with us as we decided our flavors, and it was pretty affordable (after all, it's ice and syrup). What I did appreciate was that some of the syrups were clearly fresh. For example, I got the haupia (coconut cream based) and it was definitely the real thing. I also got the lychee flavor, and it didn't feel like pure syrup. Overall, would recommend! read more

Waiola Shave Ice - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Waiola Shave Ice is an absolute 5-star experience and easily one of the best shave ice spots I've ever been to. When we arrived, there was a line of about 10 people, and I immediately got worried because at most shave ice places, that kind of line can take forever. But I was so pleasantly surprised--the line moved fast. The team was nonstop, popping out shave ice after shave ice with impressive efficiency. They also have a small shop attached selling candies and souvenirs, and the whole space felt welcoming and homey, which made the wait even more enjoyable. When it was our turn, we ordered the #1 Azuki Bowl. Unfortunately, they had run out of mochi, which was a bit disappointing, but since we love red beans, we were still really excited. And wow--for $7, this was such an amazing deal. The shave ice itself was incredibly fluffy and soft, which is something I really look for and always compare across places. The ice literally melts in your mouth. There was also a generous amount of condensed milk and red beans, so every bite had the perfect balance. Nothing was overly sweet--just perfectly done. It was so good that after finishing, we immediately got back in line for another one. Knowing how quickly the line moved, we weren't worried at all. This time, we got the #2 Ice Cream Bowl, again for just $7, which is such great value since it comes with ice cream at the bottom. We chose the Hawaii 5-0 Rainbow (lychee, passion fruit, and cotton candy). The lychee and passion fruit were absolutely delicious--bright, fruity, and very prominent without being too sweet. The cotton candy wasn't my personal favorite since I tend to prefer fruit flavors, but it wasn't bad at all, and I'd recommend it if you like that flavor profile. The vanilla ice cream on the bottom was also delicious--slightly icier rather than super creamy, but it complemented the shave ice perfectly. Since our first visit, we've already gone back again and ordered the ice cream bowl with the Obama Rainbow (passion fruit, lemon lime, and cherry). Once again, everything was excellent. Between the price, the fast and friendly service, and the top-tier quality of the shave ice, Waiola is a place I will happily come back to again and again. If you're in Oahu, this is an absolute must-stop. read more

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It never gets old, etc. going to the neighborhood for shaved ice! The prices are reasonable and portions more than fair. The team is friendly and efficient. The store looks like it hasn't changed a bit for decades. And that's part of the charm! My only recommendation: Allow us to pick up to 3 flavors! read more

Waiola Shave Ice - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This place is great for shave ice and cheaper than the rest of the other shave ice spots. Service is quick and easy & the workers seem to be family so that's a plus. read more

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I love Waiola's and this is a must-visit every time I come to Oahu. Like others have said it is like a hidden gem in the middle of a neighborhood that has excellent flavors & toppings, finely shaved ice and decent prices. I tend to have my favorite tropical flavors and I especially like how they have an Obama special. My go-to's are ice cream on the bottom and azuki beans or popping boba on top. They have always been super quick and it's fun to watch them make it through the window, n to mention they also have a store with lots of cute Waiola stuff. Lastly, Enjoy your shave ice outside at one of the seating areas and I guarantee you will want to come back! read more

Waiola Shave Ice - Watching them make my shave ice outside - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii