Kula Shave Ice

This place was fantastic, the best shaved ice we had on the island and we have been trying places daily. I got half coconut and have guava with the haupia cream snow cap and it was delicious! So glad we stopped and tried it!

Kula Shave Ice sign board states that they have been operational since 1936. Their USP: organically-grown and locally-sourced fruit, organic cane sugar, ultra-filtered water. They freeze hundreds of water buckets every week using pure water. There by they claim to control the quality of the ice. Most of the toppings and ice creams are prepared in-house. My Grand Daughter thoroughly enjoyed the shave ice of Kula

Visited Hilo and noticed the shave ice place we used to visit along the main street had gone so I found this place. Wow, the strawberry and lilikoi with condensed milk was delicious. Really good fruit not from a flavored syrup, and condensed milk was a decadent finish. I will definitely come back for more!

I love this place. I saw it while at the farmers market and had to try it. I had the big island love and it was so yummy and refreshing in the heat. I was worried it would be too sweet but the lime flavor was tart and the coconut slightly sweet together with the condensed milk was such a good balance. The lady at the window was sweet as well. Great place to stop but if you visit the market.

Yum! What a great afternoon treat & friendly/quick service. Just what we needed-we actually got an iced coffee, chocolate ice cream & piña colada slushie. Lots to see & do in this area. Mahalo!

Food: We got the Kula Rainbow which is with mango, strawberry and blueberry syrup on top and vanilla ice cream as the filling. The blueberry syrup is on the sweet side and not a big fan but the rest is fantastic! Their vanilla ice cream is made from scratch as you can see vanilla seeds in it and it tastes very creamy! Service: common and friendly Ambiance: outdoor seating only. The whole deco is colorful and vivid. Be careful with sticky tables and benches though.

​I discovered this shop through a documentary about shave ice that I watched on my Hawaiian Airlines flight to the Big Island. ​I was so impressed by their passion for making syrups using only natural ingredients that I knew I had to visit. We stopped by for dessert after lunch while visiting the Hilo Farmers Market. ​It is clearly a popular spot. We went on a Saturday afternoon and there was a line, so we were given a buzzer and waited a little less than 10 minutes. ​I ordered the Pineapple and Lilikoi (passion fruit) flavors topped with whipped cream and fresh chopped pineapple. It was absolutely delicious! ​The menu features several "Signature" combinations, but you can also create your own custom order by choosing your favorite syrups and toppings. We also tried the Acai Bowl—it was a generous portion and tasted amazing as well.

I ordered a guava and lilikoi shaved ice with condensed milk on top and I was beyond thrilled with how amazing this shaved ice was. I appreciated the menu was clear and had tons of options for customers.

This is the best shaved ice i have had ever. The flavours are all home made and it is clear they are all made with real fruit. My favourite flavours that i tried were the honey liliko'i and the blueberry. Their ice cream is also super creamy and adds a fantastic texture and flavour to the shave ice. We drove across the island twice to have this shave ice and it was totally worth it. The staff was quick and friendly even when it was super busy and a majority of the menu was vegan or had a vegan substitute. If I am ever lucky enough to visit this Island again I will definitely be returning here.

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! :)

Delicious shave ice and açaí bowls Located in hilo by the farmers market Have benches for seating

Got the Big Island Love & The Local. Phenomenal shaved ice. It doesn't even taste like ice, and more like sherbet? Super soft, flavorful, and refreshing. We waited about 5-10 minutes to order from a simple menu, and another 10 minutes for the orders to come out. There are plentiful tables around the area so there's no problem finding a place to enjoy your shaved ice.

My husband really wanted shaved ice from Hawaii. So we stoped by after lunch to this place. The flavor for me wasn't IT. BUT he really liked the coconut shaved ice. This is just a stand up store around shopping stores.

Even if you don't like shave ice like me you need to check this place out. I've had shave ice before in Hawaii and also the crappy stuff on the mainland made with syrup but this place takes the ice cake! The ice is just the right consistency and the syrup is juice not high fructose corn syrup. The mango blueberry strawberry one I had just popped with flavour and mine had ice cream in the middle. So good, the place has a NY times article that's I saw on the wall and many people say this is the best on the island - I believe it. It's just a shack with outdoor seating, service is prompt and friendly. Even if you are staying in Kona the drive to Hilo is worth it just to check this place out.

Such a delightful treat on a very humid day. My cousin and I needed something sweet and cooling since we were walking around. I decided to get the lava flow. I've never had haupia cream on top of shave ice so this was a treat! Everything paired well together especially with the strawberry shave ice and the Lilikoi butter. I honestly am dreaming about it again. There's plenty of seats but beware of the ants! It is a dessert place so the ants are attracted to the drops of shave ice left from customers. I also love how it's in front of the farmers market!

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.

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!

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!

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!!!

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.

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.

The ice itself is very fine and soft, the flavors are fresh and super good, and the mochi and ice cream were high quality--there are no words to describe the deliciousness!

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.

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!

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.

This is actually the best shave ice place in the world. I've traveled the islands and scoured the mainland only to be crushed to never find anything comparable. I dream about Lilikoi Dreamsicle. I'd fly to Hilo just for a day to get me some.

We came from Kona and Kula Shaved Ice was a must-stop for us and it more than lived up to the hype. I got the Kula Rainbow that had three flavors on top of vanilla ice cream and I was shocked at how perfectly they paired together. It was the perfect cold treat to enjoy in the heat. They also have a bunch of benches to sit and eat. If you are in the area, it is worth it to go, plus you can check out the farmers market afterward. Service was also great and after ordering, we got a buzzer that told us when our food was ready!

There aren't many places open in Hilo on Sundays, and I'm pretty sure the two shops next to the Hilo Farmer's Markets are the only two open. As a result, it's pretty packed in that area with limited seating. It also gets really hot in the afternoons, so shave ice and acai bowls are the way to go! I got the poi bowl, which is one of the best acai bowls I've had in my life. They use a thicker and sour poi that pairs perfectly with the sweet acai. They do use frozen acai, but it is still so delicious! There's also a lot of toppings that go great with the bowl. The workers here are always so friendly, and they offer a kamaaina discount.

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!

Ordered the Local, it was so flavorful. Never had shaved ice like this before. Would definitely recommend.

It's tasty enough shave ice. Certainly different from what we were used to. Also not used to the prices... It's worth a try if you're in the area and you have money to blow...

Best shaved ice on the island - sooooo good we have to have it twice! Great selection and service!

Went to the Hilo Farmer's Market and had the shaved ice. I got the pineapple lime coconut and it was divine. Son got the strawberry and he liked it. Daughter got the Hawaiian and she liked it. The açaí bowl was amazing- one had bananas and one had blueberries. They were both great!!!Prices were about $6 for the kid size to $15. There are some picnic tables behind the building you can sit and enjoy. The workers were efficient and friendly.

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.

The Guava Lava was amazing! Good amount for syrup topped with the haupia cream and lilikoi butter. My husband had the Mango shave Ice with macnut Ice cream and he enjoyed it. Definitely a must have when you're in Hilo

We were looking for shave ice on our way to the Volcano National Park. We decided to take a break from our drive at Hilo and found this spot next to a farmer's market. The ice is smooth and the flavors were good.

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.

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.

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!

Best shaved ice ever! All of the flavors were super bold and made from fresh fruits. Service was great. Plenty of seating.

Great shaved ice! Both flavors were delicious. There's a bunch of benches available to the side to sit and eat. Will definitely come again!

Delicious shave ice after a volcano tour! Kula was a happenin' place for a Tuesday. Friendly staff and tasty, icy cold creations!

Had the Kona bowl. It was not good. It was not bad, just not flavorful and ratio of acai to toppings way off. Also felt it was overpriced as well, given lack of flavor, but I guess i should have anticipated that being so close to farmers market.

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

Coming back from Rainbow Falls Lookout, we were so hot. So had to get some shaved ice to cool down. We had to get the flavors that aren't common on the mainland: lilikoi, guava and condensed coconut milk.

As a part of the Hilo's farmers market sits a window for Kula Shave Ice! Definitely one of the highlights of the trip. The flavor is all derived from fresh fruit and you can definitely taste it!! Will definitely be back if I'm ever in Hilo to try out the other flavors.

Very good shaved ice. Never had with the added condensed milk on it I got the pineapple coconut one. Can't remember the name. It had coconut pineapple ice with coconut condensed milk on top and also fresh pineapple chunks. Very good. Big size for $12.

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!

Created my own shaved ice with macadamia nut ice cream, pineapple and Likikoi. So good! Fresh ingredients, not some sugary store bought flavoring. Still sweet, but packed full of flavor. Right up the street from the ocean and next to the farmers market. Lots of action at this spot. Recommend!!

Incredible! Homemade syrups. Portions are perfect. Best shaved ice I've had across all the islands.

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.

Just can't stop thinking of having another one! Really enjoy having my favorite flavor, strawberries, made from fresh strawberries. Wow! Then, of course, a scoop of vanilla ice cream in the center! This looks like a nice day for a Kula!

Perfect for a hot day! You can choose a preset combo or make your own. Quality was good bc the flavors/syrup went all the way through. It was just enough and there were no plain ice spots. There's a short line but it goes quick and they were pretty quick getting your order made as well.

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).

What a great spot to relax and enjoys something "light" and sweet. Went here a few times during a week trip and I would definitely go back. The portions are generous and syrups are made in house. I love that they let you add a bit more syrup if you want too. The people working were all friendly and really helpful in explaining what some of the fruit flavors were. The texture is literally "fresh snow" and I just melts in your mouth. Tried: the strawberry and passion fruit drink, strawberry/passionfruit/pineapple and another with the chocolate/tangelo

Loved the full Hawaii experience of shave ice at Kula Shave Ice! The menu options are stellar with usual and not usual options.

Where to start? This place is absolutely amazing. Located across from the Hilo Farmers Market, this is a must stop place in Hilo. First off, service was amazing. The staff was so sweet!! I could talk to them all day! There are tables in the shade to enjoy your delicous treat. The shave ice is just....wow. We ordered the lava flow, which is strawberry with haupia cream and lilikoi butter. The haupia cream was just the right amount of sweetness, and did not overpower the flavor. The shave ice was so soft. ..the softest I have had! You can really tell how much they care about the quality of their ingredients. I think this place has won my heart for the best shave ice in all the islands. Trust me, I've had them all. I would drive from the other side of the island for this place without even thinking. It's sooooo good. Plus, everyone is so sweet. Probably because shave ice puts everyone in a good mood. Don't miss this spot in Hilo!!!!