89 degrees and sunny. It's a Waiola Shave Ice day.
I've been coming here since forever. I remember my high school cross country coach taking us on a run around the Ala Wai Canal and then detouring up Pa'ani Street to treat us to some shave ice before heading back to the school grounds. Every time we ran around the Canal after that, I secretly hoped he'd take that same detour.
Annie and I would go there quite often when we were dating, at least once or twice a month. At the ordering window, it was always the same order: a large cone with ice cream, li hing and Melona flavors for Annie, and strawberry-li hing for me.
Annie and I eventually began talking about getting engaged. One of my friends shared her story of getting engaged on Christmas Day when her boyfriend walked her to the end of a snow-covered runway and dropped to his knee. I thought to myself, where am I going to find snow in Hawaii? That's when I got the idea to sneak the engagement ring into Annie's shave ice.
The day I actually proposed, Annie wasn't feeling well. She didn't want to have shave ice but I prevailed upon her. When she found the plastic baggie holding the ring, she almost tossed it out, thinking it was trash that had somehow gotten into the dessert. Of course, I was right there to pick it out and make my proposal.
She said yes, and the rest is history.
X-Large Bowl with Ice Cream, Lilikoi and Strawberry for Esther
Matsumoto's in Haleiwa may be the most famous, but it's just hype. Waiola Shave Ice in Moiliili is where you can find the best shave ice in Hawaii. The ice is finer, the choices wider, and the flavors are bolder.
Here's to you, Waiola Shave Ice
Aloha, Nate
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13 Comments:
Found you through Food Gawker. We tasted both Aoki's and Matsumoto's during our trip to Honolulu in July. We like Aoki's better because we thought the ice was finer. Will have to try some others the next time we are there. Thanks for the tip!
Brings back good memories of my honeymoon. Wish you could bring me back a bowl. But I'll have to settle with you guys eating an extra bowl for me =).
This is the perfect weather for shave ice! I love the photo of the little girl with her bowl, it's very arty ;) ... and really sweet love story about the proposal ;)
@Andrea - I agree, even Aoki's is better than Matsumoto's.
@smile4me8p - Oh, we'll go back again ;-)
@noobcook - thanks! Sungold Girl was very appreciative.
I found you through foodgawker as well. I grew up in Hawai`i and agree with Andrea that Aoki's is the best. Matsumoto's gets the hype and I think Waiola's shaved ice is too fine.
Hmm ... I don't know ... JoJos in Waimea is pretty damn good ;) (if you don't mind the many hour wait!!)
*sigh*. I'm pretty far away from shave ice right now.
@Pualani - Waiola's is the finest in the land ;-)
@KayKat - ...or the long drive. Thanks for stopping by!
I realized that I forgot to congratulate you on your engagement! :)
@Pualani - that was 10 years ago, but thanks still!
This reminds me that I need to take the Shave Ice Showdown I compiled for Yelp and adapt it for inuyaki. I love Waiola too, but on Oahu, I'm definitely an Aoki's fan. But when we were in Kauai earlier this year, we went to Hawaiian Blizzard in Kapaa (straight from the airport), and I think it bests Oahu's big three.
@Arnold - thanks for letting me know about Hawaiian Blizzard. I haven't been to Kauai in a long time...
What a sweet proposal! *envious
Definitely want to have a taste of that shaved ice when (if?) hubs and I ever get to Hawaii!!!
@Chrissy - perhaps you could convice hubby to go as an anniversary present?
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