Waiola Shave Ice

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!

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!

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.

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!

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!

#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.

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!

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.

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!

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.