Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Waiola Shave Ice

    4.3 (3.3k reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

    Waiola Shave Ice Photos

    Business Info

    You might also consider

    More like Waiola Shave Ice

    Recommended Reviews - Waiola Shave Ice

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Closes at 6:00 now
    Lynda S.

    7/15/26 First dessert stop on the island is waiola shave ice of course!!! Large shave ice with sugar syrup for $5 melt in your mouth yum! Service is quick and easy! Mini mart style with goodies to sell avail inside. Always a line but usually quick. Located in a residential area with a small parking space or street parking! Takes CC and cash.

    Gab G.

    Small Hawaii 5-0 rainbow and small POG were both excellent. Amazing texture! 4.5 stars.

    "Da Works" - Mango/POG/Lychee, Ice cream center w/ mochi balls, lychee jelly, condensed milk
    Ashley F.

    Waiola Shave Ice has been operating for at least 20 years now, and located in a residential neighborhood away from shopping centers and malls. I remember my father taking me when I was in Elementary School, and for nostalgia sake, I decided to return after work. Open everyday from 11a-6:30p, its rare to see a local mom and pop shave ice shop open that late. The shave ice was as good as I remembered it 20 years ago. Can't wait to get the azuki bean one next.

    Lilikoi + Li Hung Mui with condensed milk and mochi
    June S.

    Really is the best shave ice in Hawaii. The texture of the ice can't be beat and the syrups are not too sweet. Prices are also very reasonable. A small cup (perfect size for me) is $4 + toppings. The service is always quick. Parking is difficult though as it's only street parking.

    Lee M.

    The ice is smooooth and they had good selections of flavor. Service was standard and the establishment had its own parking lot and small seating areas for patrons. .

    Vanessa F.

    Arrived right when they opened and there were already customers waiting. The cashier was friendly, quick and somehow remembered all 4 of our orders. The shave ice was delicious and the syrups tasted homemade. Perfect way to follow up a beach day. The location felt family friendly and has a ton of merch inside the store.

    Raspberry and Cherry
    Bryan A.

    Located on Waiola Street in the heart of Honolulu is this gem. Famous for their delicious shaved jce. When ordering don't hesitate to get the ice creams and condensed milk. The service is great! The store is small and has lots of merch. Overall it's a must stop if you plan on staying on the south side of the island.

    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!

    Exterior signage
    Ashley Z.

    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!

    Donna L.

    We always come here because it remains untouched by all the tourists visiting. It's really inexpensive but how much can shaved ice cost? It's very simple and clean.

    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.

    Kevin V.

    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!

    Ariana V.

    I can see why this shave ice is so well loved and rated very high. Waiola is in a residential area but has a parking lot and some street parking. Theres also a cute store inside with tote bags, stickers, and tee shirts, and some other snacks too. As for the shave ice, the ice is really fine and soaks up all of the syrup. I got a small POG and lychee with condensed milk. My boyfriend and I ordered really quick and got our order within 5 minutes. Even though the ice is really good, I felt like their syrups were a bit lackluster and it tasted more artificial to me. My boyfriend really liked his, since he tried their melon and Thai tea flavors, which I thought were decent, but I couldn't help but notice the artificial taste for all of the syrups. I like how affordable this place is, and maybe I should've tried something else, but POG and lychee were one of their popular flavors.

    mango strawberry

    See all

    1 month ago

    Always amazing and so conveniently located. Love the Lilikoi cream that is actually more like a syrup! So fresh!!!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    25 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 4
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    22 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    24 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 days ago

    Sweet and syrupy for hot humid days. Nothing to complain about and variety of options to choose from

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    9 months ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 3
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Excellent shaved ice. Super friendly staff! Worth the wait! Kinda hidden in a basement but seek them out. You won't be disappointed!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Priscilla O.
    155
    319
    517

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 83

    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

    You might also consider

    Jejubing Dessert Cafe

    Jejubing Dessert Cafe

    4.4
    (715 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    If you're looking for a refreshing dessert that's not too sweet or heavy, you need to get yourself…read morea Korean Bingsu (shave ice) at Jejubing! The restaurant is located near the Ala Moana Food Court so you can get yourself a savory meal then head here right after. They have a nice selection of Korean Bingsu and Drinks but the Bingsu is what keeps everyone coming back. Don't let it's simple look fool you. The ice is super fine and creamy. You'll receive a small cup of Condensed Milk to drizzle throughout as you devour it. Make sure you don't drizzle it all at once. Popular flavors are Strawberry, Mango, Oreo and Injeolmi (roasted soybean powder) but I must say, the Mixed Berries is gonna be on my top choices from now on! I've tried watermelon too in times past and that's also a refreshing choice. The Bingsu includes slivered almonds and some whipped cream. They have a small size that could be good for 1-2 people but we got a large and it fed 4 of us ladies. Make sure you stop here before you leave Ala Moana and treat yourself!

    Dessert is always delicious, it reminds me of the ones I had when I went back to Korea…read more My only issue is their service, or more of the lack of service. Once they switched to their self ordering system, there is no one at the front anymore. Its not much of an issue to the younger generation, but its very easy for an older person to have issues using it.

    Photos
    Injeolmi Bingsu
    Injeolmi Bingsu
    Mango sans the almonds
    Mango sans the almonds
    Matcha snow

    See all

    Matcha snow
    Island Vintage Shave Ice

    Island Vintage Shave Ice

    4.5
    (2.2k reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    The line is usually long. Ordering is through a kiosk so be sure you are not waiting on the pick up…read moreline. Heavenly Lilikoi - the syrups taste natural and and flavorful. The ice was really fine and melted instantly in the mouth. You can customize flavors and toppings. Perfect for a summer day!

    Island Vintage Shave Ice completely lived up to the hype and served one of the most memorable…read moredesserts I had in Hawaii. Located just outside the Royal Hawaiian Center, the shop almost always has a long line, but it moves surprisingly quickly thanks to the convenient self-order kiosks. Despite the steady stream of customers, the staff handled the crowd with impressive efficiency, and our order arrived sooner than expected. With its vibrant layers of color and fresh toppings, the shave ice created a breathtaking first impression. Better yet, it tasted every bit as incredible as it looked. **Hawaiian Rainbow: 5/5** The Hawaiian Rainbow was the perfect sweet treat on a blazing hot day. Layered with housemade coconut spirulina, strawberry, and mango syrups over incredibly soft shave ice, it offered a bright medley of tropical fruit flavors. The shave ice itself was exceptionally smooth and delicate, with a texture reminiscent of fluffy snow that dissolved almost instantly on the tongue. Hidden beneath it was a layer of rich, soft ice cream that provided the perfect creamy contrast to the refreshing flavors. The finishing touches were a generous drizzle of condensed milk and fresh strawberry chunks, whose subtle tang balanced the sweetness beautifully. Homemade mochi added a soft, pillowy chew, while the lychee popping boba contributed subtle floral notes evocative of rosewater. Every element complemented the next, making each spoonful just as enjoyable as the last. Island Vintage Shave Ice more than lives up to its well-earned reputation. From the stunning presentation to the handcrafted syrups, silky-smooth shave ice, and a texturally diverse assortment of toppings, every component came together to create a phenomenal dessert that's every bit as delicious as it is visually captivating. If you're visiting Waikiki, Island Vintage Shave Ice deserves a spot at the top of your must-try list.

    Photos
    Acai Shave ice
    Acai Shave ice
    Rainbow Shave Ice
    Rainbow Shave Ice
    Shave ice

    See all

    Shave ice
    Ululani's Hawaiian Shave Ice

    Ululani's Hawaiian Shave Ice

    4.4
    (81 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    I really enjoyed this shave ice. I actually didn't think I was a big fan of shave ice, but it had…read morealso been a long time since I'd had true shave ice. The inner shop is fairly small, so the line was outside the door. There aren't a lot of spots for seating, which is a bummer. The service was okay, but really just the bare minimum. I have to say the two standouts for me about this shave ice are as follows: the texture of the ice is fantastic - so smooth. It does also mean that it melts quickly, but it's really pleasant to eat. The other standout is the Mac nut ice cream. It's delicious, the bites of macadamia nut give a little crunch, and it all-around is very balanced with the flavors of the shave ice. I got the Sunset Beach, which is passion orange guava and mango. With the ice cream, I personally don't feel like the condensed milk is necessary, but I could totally be wrong.

    Absolutely awful customer service from Kalei. We arrived about four minutes before their posted…read moreclosing time of 10:30 PM, and they were literally still taking another customer's order as we walked up. My husband asked if we could order as well and that we drove here straight from the airport with a 20 minute detour and was immediately told, "No, this is the last order." He walked out, realized it wasn't even 10:30 yet, and went back in to ask why they were refusing to serve us when we arrived before closing. Instead of simply explaining or apologizing, the employee, Kalei, responded with an unbelievable attitude and said something along the lines of, "People don't realize we have SCHOOL in the morning, but it's okay, I'll take your order then if you want shave ice that bad." WOAH?!?! Seriously? If you close at 10:30, then either serve customers who arrive before 10:30 or change your posted closing time. There was absolutely no reason for the sarcasm or nasty attitude. My husband told her he didn't appreciate the attitude and proceeded to order a strawberry shave ice. She then turned off the TV/screen and told him, "No more ordering for you." At that point it honestly felt like she was going out of her way to be disrespectful just because he questioned why we were being turned away before closing. When he asked for her name, she very boldly told him it was Kalei, advised him of their Google listing, and basically invited us to leave a review and contact her boss, as if she was completely confident nobody would care about how she treats customers. We weren't asking anyone to stay open late. We didn't walk in after closing. We arrived BEFORE closing while another customer was actively being served. The entire interaction could have been handled with basic courtesy, but instead we got sarcasm, hostility, and an employee seemingly trying to embarrass a customer for simply asking to order during posted business hours. One of the rudest and most unnecessarily hostile customer service interactions we've had. Completely unacceptable.

    Photos
    Always a crowd pleaser! Best shave ice ever!
    Always a crowd pleaser! Best shave ice ever!
    Mango, lychee, coconut
    Mango, lychee, coconut
    Ube and coconut shave ice

    See all

    Ube and coconut shave ice
    Island Vintage Coffee

    Island Vintage Coffee

    4.2
    (306 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    I figured the Ala Moana location would be least crowded so I arrived a few mins before opening…read more There was two people already waiting. Five stars alone for the Haupia Premium Matcha. The haupia cream top wasn't too thick and mixed well into matcha. It's a light coconut flavor and you're still able to taste the matcha. The original açaí bowl $16 - well worth the money. The açaí wasn't too sweet and a good ratio to fruits and granola.

    We had heard good things about this local coffee chain, so we decided to give it a try during a…read moreshopping trip to Ala Moana. It's a little tricky to find, but that seemed to be a theme at this rather poorly labeled mall which had few directories. Eventually we found it, though! It's quite small with only a few tables, but the decor is very cool and Hawaiian inside. The staff were also very friendly and explained different aspects of the various beverage since this was our first time visiting. I had the frozen banana kona mocha which was really pleasant and extremely refreshing on a warm tropical day after strolling around this largely open air mall. The drink was extremely smooth and refreshing, although I will say it was a bit light on the banana flavor but still very good overall! This is a good option to grab a beverage during your Ala Moana shopping trip!

    Photos
    Haupia matcha latte
    Haupia matcha latte
    Island Latte (macadamia with a hint of coconut) - love this!
    Island Latte (macadamia with a hint of coconut) - love this!
    Island Latte (macadamia with a hint of coconut) - love this!  It's one of their popular items.

    See all

    Island Latte (macadamia with a hint of coconut) - love this! It's one of their popular items.

    Waiola Shave Ice - icecream - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...