Waiola Shave Ice

Waiola Shave Ice is a classic spot with super smooth, finely shaved ice and tons of fun flavor options. It’s a great treat on a hot day and definitely a must-try in Honolulu! That said, the syrups can be really sweet — I’d recommend asking for “less syrup” or “less sweet” if you’re not into super sugary desserts. Still delicious, just a bit intense if you’re watching your sugar intake.

The reviews aren’t exaggerating; when they say it’s soft, they mean SOFT! The ice literally melts the second it hits your tongue. The only downside is you have to enjoy it quickly on a hot day, or it’ll melt into a slushy puddle. The syrup was evenly spread, with no bland ice spots. Very delicious, and there are plenty of benches outside for seating!

I have already tried the Waiola Shave Ice in Kaimuki, and today I am trying out this one in McCully. I got the Waiola Rainbow Jumbo and it was great. The workers are very friendly and helpful and this place is busy with so many people coming by regularly. This is a great spot.

Waiola Shave Ice – 5 stars This spot is a true Hawaiian classic—and now I understand why it’s won so many awards! Waiola Shave Ice is the perfect pick-me-up, especially on a hot day. I went with the rainbow combo and added ice cream underneath… game changer. I didn’t know I needed that combo in my life, but now I’m obsessed. I first saw this place recommended all over TikTok, and I’ll admit—I was a little skeptical. But my followers didn’t steer me wrong. The line was steady, the flavors were endless, and the vibe felt just right. There’s plenty of outdoor seating, making it a great stop to cool off with friends or just soak in the sunshine with something sweet. If I lived nearby, I’d be here daily. So glad I made the stop while in town—this won’t be my last visit!

Softest shaved ice on the island! Delicious, refreshing and affordable. Mochi was not great but everything else was delicious. My kids were very happy.

There's Shave Ice and there's amazing Shave Ice! Waiola knocks every other establishment out of the park. They've mastered their ice shavings. Soft and fluffy with a balanced distribution of their syrups. Other places have there ice hard as a rock and you make a mess when you're digging into the treat. Not this place, they know what they're doing. With patience the syrup evenly trickles down and spreads it's flavor towards the bottom so you can have a consistent delicious taste in every bite. They have a great selection of flavors, candy and drinks inside the building, and very budget friendly. Definitely recommend getting it with condensed milk, but not necessary! Easy parking and fairly quick on your orders on a non-busy day. One of my highlights visiting O'ahu for sure!

Super soft shave ice that melts in your mouth! I tried the Azuki Bowl with mochi and condensed milk--so good. Also got the Rainbow shave ice (strawberry, vanilla, banana) which was colorful and tasty. Small local spot with quick service and great prices. Cash only, but totally worth it. A perfect treat on a hot day!

We decided we needed shave ice after our long day. They have a lot of options to choose from with the syrups and toppings, so I believe there's something for the whole family. We ordered the Obama Ice and I suddenly understood why everyone loved it. It was very refreshing and affordable for a family to enjoy. They had some outdoor seating and one of those machines that you put coins in to make a coin to keep with whatever design you want. They were very fast getting our order out and pleasant. I wish we went again.

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!!

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.

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!

A classic for a reason! They know exactly what they are doing to create a flavorful, refreshing shave ice. It is always crowded these days but they have made huge efforts to encourage people to be efficient in ordering and have a 3-person process to make the line go more quickly. They offer a variety of specials as well as toppings and add-ons. They have some seating on the sides of the establishment.

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 :-)

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!

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.

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!

I love Waiola shave ice!! Their ice is perfection, flavors on 10!! Don't skip getting a snow cap (condensed milk) and the mochi, so ono!!! I always used to go to Ululani's and while their shave ice is very good as well, Waiola is top tier. Great and quick service as well. You can enjoy your shave ice outside on a couple benches that they have outside the building, parking is available though the lot is on the smaller side. Always my first pick for shave ice when I visit O'ahu.

Best shaved ice I've ever had. It is more like snow ice (like Bing su) finely shaved. It was so delicious and flavorful because I usually am not a fan of shaved ice

Friend brought me here - as he had to come here almost every day for shave ice. Mango flavor - my type of flavor with a puree and and some mango chunks menu option quite huge order comes out fast. Know before you get to front to order Good pricing Consistent fine ice

OG Shave ice spot in the neighborhood!!! Been around forever and is good every. single. time. Texture of ice perfectly melts in da mouth & love how they get crack seed store connected for shop in also !! Prices $ are great & they have keiki cups

Waiola was a recommended Hawaiian shave ice spot and with all the rave reviews I thought this was going to be great. IMHO overall flavor and execution was good not great. Shaved ice wasn't as fine as we've had at other shops, the syrups left an artificial aftertaste, and the azuki beans were whole and hard. My son enjoyed his, but this wasn't "broke da mouth" for me. Parking was very limited in their tiny lot and our ride had to park far down a residential block.

Tried Waiola shaved ice. Overall a 4 out of 5. Some positives the ice texture is soft and smooth, the price point for value was good & overall shaved ice taste was solid 4. A few things that i thought could be better: the mochi was not soft and was a hard texture, not my favorite kind of mochi. The syrup flavors were not as prominent or strong as Ululani's syrups. Overall a good experience.

This is the real stuff...shave ice that you won't find on the mainland. Waiola shave ice is off the beaten path and there's always a line so you know it's one of the best. I had the Obama Rainbow (red, orange, and green) and it hit the spot.

Cool Christmas... Mahalo to the entire Waiola Shave Ice for opening it's doors on this hot Christmas Day as I decided to give them a visit which wasn't the easiest with the parking situation but was well worth the search as many took full advantage of the cool treat. I dragged mom along though she was adamant that she didn't want any only got excited for the 4oz keiki size lol! The shave ice here is very fine and not the chunky type of ice and since it was Christmas I decided to get us Strawberry and mochi but they were out of mochi...SOB! Perfectly fine without any topping I'm happy to have this cool treat along side mom to enjoy which she did as this isn't the usual location to frequent because of the parking situation but love that there's a lot of seating provided all around the shop. The staff here is nice and friendly and works fast making everyone's order in the order given so be prepared for your order to be ready and just love the shave ice mascot which makes great photo op that I couldn't resist myself and enjoyed the vibe of this bright corner on Waiola. Thank you!

After a hot day at the zoo, this is the perfect treat. Dessert for 3 under $20, yes please! The staff is always quick and once you order it takes less than 5 minutes to get your order. The parking is a little hard to come by now that it's gaining popularity, but still a must try!

Visited here when on Oahu and it's a good shaved ice place. The flavor is good and the ice is smooth and refreshing. I'm glad they have the keiki size and the only thing that they need to work on is their customer service. I don't find any aloha spirit with the employees, not friendly at all. Overall is an ok experience.

We decided we needed shave ice after our long day. They have a lot of options to choose from with the syrups and toppings, so I believe there's something for the whole family. We ordered the Obama Ice and I suddenly understood why everyone loved it. It was very refreshing and affordable for a family to enjoy. They had some outdoor seating and one of those machines that you put coins in to make a coin to keep with whatever design you want. They were very fast getting our order out and pleasant. I wish we went again.

A true hidden gem. I'm honestly torn about sharing this place--part of me wants to keep it a secret so only those who really know can enjoy it. But they're just too good not to share. Stop wasting your time at those overrated touristy shaved ice spots. We came here after getting tired of circling around forever just to find a single parking spot elsewhere. This shop is tucked away on a small street in a residential area, and you can tell it's loved by locals--about 70% of the people in line were return customers who didn't even need to look at the menu. The menu can be a little confusing because there are so many options, but we picked two combinations to try most of the flavors. The shaved ice was incredibly soft--not like those so-called "authentic" places where you're basically chewing on ice cubes that numb your mouth. I'll definitely be coming back. This might just be my go-to shaved ice spot from now on.

This is a nice place for shaved ice near Waikiki. Usually all shaved ice places near Waikiki are pretty expensive but this one has reasonable prices . The service is fast . There are benches right in front of the place to sit and enjoy the shaved ice . They have free parking space which is pretty cool as it's not easy to find one near Waikiki . I tried pina colada and lychee flavor with condensed milk flavor . They have kids sizes as well . You can either get one of their rainbow flavors or mix any 2 flavors . The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because I didn't like the texture as the ice itself was very very fine shaved for my liking . I would have preferred to feel the texture of the ice a lil more rather than having it so fine . But it's worth giving a try if you are around Waikiki.

#1 Shave ice in the world. We've been coming back to this place for many many many years and nobody does it like Waiola and nobody beats their shave ice. You don't have to travel far from Waikiki or pay expensive prices - just go to this place. You won't regret it.

Sooo good and adorable! Since visiting we've been craving shave ice. We tried two other spots but this one was perfect for me! Do not let the outside fool you. I ordered a Melona with ice cream and it was amazing. Service was quick, I turned around and it was already ready. They also have a cute little store inside that sells merch (I love stickers so this was perfect) and a bunch of different snacks. There's some parking and seating is limited to outside benches. Will definitely come back!

Need to chill out ? Good pricing and same old amazing flavor as I remember as a kid! Shave ice so soft and goes great with vanilla ice cream and condensed milk!

Amazing syrups and finely shaved I w makes this a real treat. Try a snow cap of condensed cream . This one is the real deal for flavor and qualit

It's a really good place with it being my first shaved ice in Hawaii. I did not expect it to be so good (AND ADDICTING). It's a small business and I would definitely recommend considering how friendly they are. There's also a walk in store to buy candies and merch!

As a returning visitor to Hawaii who grew up here, I usually recommend Waiola as the shave ice to get to friends and coworkers who ask for advice on where to go, because it's my personal favorite shave ice place (I know Matsumoto's has their die-hard fan base, but I prefer Waiola). I don't know exactly what it is (and it's possible it's just nostalgia), but the texture and taste of the shave ice here is what I think of when I think classic Hawaiian shave ice. You can't go wrong with Waiola on a hot day!

Always a good stop .. rain or shine They now have nice menus , colorful . Parking on da side

If you're choosing between Wailola and Matsumoto, I'd give the edge to Matsumoto. However, they're on completely different parts of the island, so if you're not making the drive out to Matsumoto's, Waiola will do, but it's a completely different experience. Waiola is in busy city setting with limited parking, while Matsumoto is in a heavily tourist area where it's the star of the show. Waiola Shave Ice doesn't have the friendliest service on some days, while Matsumoto caters to tourists coming from all different countries and has the patience to match. Waiola feels more like a hidden gem you'd find in a random street corner in LA. The flavors are very good here, but you should add the ice cream, beans, and condensed milk to your order to make it complete.

Loved it. Had "Da works" which is mango, POG and lychee. It also comes with ice cream, condensed milk, and normally mochi balls and lychee jelly. I asked for no lychee jelly and they were out of mochi balls which was a shame but it was still delicious nonetheless. Glad we managed to make time to try it since there's just so much food and dessert to choose from, but I think I'd make sure to make room for this. Service was quick and friendly, line was short, and there are a couple benches or chairs to sit at.

Super soft shave ice that melts in your mouth! I tried the Azuki Bowl with mochi and condensed milk--so good. Also got the Rainbow shave ice (strawberry, vanilla, banana) which was colorful and tasty. Small local spot with quick service and great prices. Cash only, but totally worth it. A perfect treat on a hot day!

I have already tried the Waiola Shave Ice in Kaimuki, and today I am trying out this one in McCully. I got the Waiola Rainbow Jumbo and it was great. The workers are very friendly and helpful and this place is busy with so many people coming by regularly. This is a great spot.

I can't believe I have lived in Hawaii as long as I have and never tried Waiola Shave Ice, I fixed that today. I am a big fan of Hawaii shave ice, and after tasting Waiola, they jump to the top of my favorites list. OMG was I a happy camper! I ordered the Obama Rainbow, consisting of Cherry, Lemon-lime, Passion Fruit flavors with Ice Cream, of course, and topped with Lilikoi Cream + .50 cents. It was absolutely delicious, I really enjoyed how fine the ice was shaved and the flavors went together perfectly. Lots of customers but Service was really fast. The servers were professional and helpful in recommending topping. They also have a little store to purchase swag and / or pick up drinks or local snacks. No problem with finding parking on the street. Lots of options either in front or around the corner. They also have some benches you can sit on to enjoy your shave ice. I will definitely drive out of my way to try a different flavor.

My fave shave ice store on the island. I love the soft/snowy texture & so many flavors & toppings to choose from (my favorite is the mochi balls, so chewy & yummy). I tried a bunch of flavors throughout the years & some were a hit, some were a miss. Can't go wrong with blue vanilla & melona though! Must eat it quick as is it melts within minutes in the hot sun. Sadly only savored a handful of bites before I was left with half a bowl of melted shave ice.

Pretty good shave ice with generous toppings. I got the Azuki bowl, which was shave ice, red beans, condensed milk, and mochi - all things I enjoy. The beans and condensed milk were plentiful, but I was a bit bummed to just get 4 mochi balls. They were larger mochi balls, but still. You order outside at the window. Quick service at a decent price. There is some seating outside, but not much. Parking wasn't too hard to find - there is a parking lot adjacent to the building.

We enjoyed the shaved ice at waiola. The building is super cute and the employees were very nice.

This shave ice store had a small parking lot but it was full when we arrived. There was also a lot of street parking given the surrounding residential area. This store was larger with a walk in portion that sold groceries and souvenirs. All shave ice orders were taken at the walk up window. Here they had special bowl combinations, rainbow flavor mixes and more toppings like Hershey's chocolate syrup, custard and boba. Only two flavors included on each order but each additional was just 25 cents. Benches were the only seating options. We picked orange cream (good) and calpico (too subtle) flavors. The mochi balls were a bit chewier. Overall ice was soft but the medium here seemed a smaller versus Shimazu. Unfortunately not as good as we remembered.

Very cute spot Reasonable prices Now the shaved ice is made of what you think fresh snow fall texture feels like ! Absolutely amazing , but the liquid flavors weren't my favorite. The li hing Mui didn't have much flavor :( overall just a bit disappointed !

Came here on a recommendation from a family member. There are plenty of shave ice places on the Island, but this location does it well! This location is a short distance away from the Waikiki area. Parking can be tough on a busy day, but there are some parking spaces in the area on the street. We came on a weekday in the afternoon, so there was no line! It was perfect! Their menu is extensive with the flavors and topping choices, it can almost be overwhelming if you don't have a clue or idea of what you want. There is a sign in front that asks you to be ready with your order before you get to the window to keep the line flowing efficiently. We ended up getting the classic Rainbow and the Strawberry Cream. Prices are very reasonable and our order was ready in minutes! The staff was very friendly and quick with preparing our order. The shave ice itself was delicious and refreshing. The flavors paired well and the Strawberry cream was so silky in texture and we added mochi which gave it a perfect chew. Overall, our family was very happy with our selections and we will definitely be back on future visits!

This is the superior Waiola location in my opinion. The shaved ice here was super soft and pillowy. - what I got: Cherry, Strawberry and POG shaved ice with condensed milk and with ice cream underneath you can't go wrong with any flavors here. It's just your preference on what you like. one tip I would suggest is to add vanilla ice cream, which they put first and then the shaved ice on top. This helps prolong your longevity of your shaved ice and keeps it from melting faster! some of us had shaved ice soup but it was good nonetheless.

Trying to hit as many shave ice spots on the island as possible! Lol Got an Obama small cup with vanilla ice cream. Pretty good shave ice!

My grandfather and I make a weekly trip to nostalgic waiola shave ice for our sweet treat fix! Its parking lot is small, but well worth the wait to have the smoothest ice you've ever tasted and a huge variety of flavors and toppings. The window moves quickly and service is efficient. Nothing like old timey Hawaii feels in the middle of the week! Gung gungs favorite is a small cup with strawberry syrup and no toppings. I'll change it up with fun flavors like ube, Thai tea, and rainbow!! Small cup is $4 but their bowls, which are more like a full size dessert range in price up to $7 plus add ons.

Eh, I thought this place was just ok. First off, my custard shaved ice looked nothing like the photo they had up, there was only one tiny piece of custard with a small blob of ice, and the flavors were below average. Maybe I should've gotten something else? Either way, the shaved ice itself wasn't that good. I did however, enjoy the look of the blue shop and the liquor store vibe it gave off. I understand to the locals, this place means a lot and is a true neighborhood gem but for my first time here, my experience and order wasn't that good. I will consider coming back though, just to give it another chance.

We have visited Waiola multiple times and it seems like the amount of shave ice is less than what it used to be. The ice is still so soft and yummy with all the different combinations that you can make. Adding ice cream, condensed milk and mochi will be an extra cost. Our favorite is Blue Hawaii, pineapple, lime and cherry. I would skip the Azuki bowl the next time because the beans were hard and not cooked all the way through. Tip - They have a 4% surcharge if paying with credit card.

I LOVE this place! I can eat this 3 times a day if I could. I will always visit Waiola when I come back to Hawaii.

Was so good came 3 days in a row !! Servive was always friendly and quick. Seating all around the establishment so plenty of space to take a seat enjoy the tasty cold treat in the warm weather.

THE BEST SHAVE ICE PLACE! They have yummy delicious flavors and the ice is sooo soft. My favorite is Lilikoi if you are wanting a refreshing more sour flavor. My dads favorite is the strawberry cream and vanilla cream which reminds me of a samurai ice cream flavors! This is the most refreshing snack and the best place to get it at!

Came here after lunch with my husband. We ordered the rainbow shave ice and I was kind of underwhelmed? The flavors tasted a bit artificial but it might've been one flavor rather than the entire rainbow. Our friends swear by this place though so we'll definitely have to try it again

Waiola Shave Ice (Honolulu, HI) I really wanted to love Waiola Shave Ice and I did. I have had my share of shave ice on this island and in my opinion, Waiola Shave Ice is up there as one of the best. Again, this is my opinion. What I love about Waiola Shave Ice is the texture. The ice is so fine that I could hardly tell the texture between the shave ice and ice cream. I had my shave ice as colorful as can be by mixing in two flavors...Orange & Orange Creamsicle. The ice cream in the center reminded me a 50/50 Orange Dreamsicle. I loved my shave ice flavor so much that I think I will mix it up next time. Instead of Orange with Orange Creamsicle, I'm going with Orange Creamsicle with Orange. Yes, this is how I do it. Waiola Shave Ice has been around a long time. Local Yelper Nadine C even states she used to come here as a kid. Lucky Kid! Service is quick and priced right.