Icy Thrills at Three of O‘ahu’s Most Popular Shave Ice Spots

We dig into the styles and flavors that make Chillest Shave Ice, Shimazu Store and Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice the go-to for locals.

September 1, 2025

Mari Taketa,

Photo: Thomas Obungen

Chillest Shave Ice

Longtime fans raised their spoons in glee when Chillest opened in Kaimukī this summer. The new kid on the ice block is an OG kakigori specialist, with house-made flavors that include strawberry milk and kinako latte among standards like haupia and coffee. Why the glee? Formerly known as Ailana, the shop closed and became a roving pop-up. The new spot means fans can sate their Chillest cravings six days a week.

3408 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 102, Kaimukī, @chillestshaveice

Shimazu Store in Kapahulu. Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

Shimazu Store

Buttered Popcorn and Bananas Foster are gone from the flavor boards, but Red Velvet and Crème Brûlée live on. Twelve years after his passing, Kelvin Shimazu’s legacy of huge shave ices with Willy Wonka-esque flavors continues. Two locations bracket O‘ahu, far from Shimazu’s now-closed shop in Liliha. Son Kendall runs Shimazu Shave Ice in Kapahulu (find the notorious durian flavor here), while Kalyn Kim runs Shimazu Store (with Red Velvet and Crème Brûlée) in Kapolei.

Multiple locations, @shimazustoreliliha (Kapolei), @shimazu_shave_ice (Kapahulu)

Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice

While we were busy tucking into Haleakalā, Local Motion and Hawaiian Rainbow shave ice bowls, Ululani, a Maui-based chain that expanded to O‘ahu in 2023, has been multiplying like mochi balls across the country. At last count there were 15 shops, mostly franchised—eight on Maui, O‘ahu and Hawai‘i Island; the rest in California, Texas and Florida. A 16th shop is slated for Waikīkī. Ululani’s tiny first stand, on Front Street in Lahaina, was destroyed in the 2023 wildfire.

Multiple locations, @ululanishawaiianshaveice, ululanishawaiianshaveice.com