Kailua’s Neighborhood Shops With Shave Ice Counters

Shades of Shave Ice: Kailua’s Neighborhood Shops With Shave Ice Counters

Lemon peel ice shave and spicy ginger syrup surprise us at two local hangouts.

Shades of Shave Ice explores the rainbow of expressions of our favorite summertime treat. From its ethnic origins to farm-fresh flavors and must-have toppings, we’re spotlighting O‘ahu’s shave ice scene one or two shops at a time.

In episode four of Shades of Shave Ice, we head to two Kailua neighborhood shops for their iconic shave ice counters. Our first stop is Wilson Store, Kailua’s only crack seed shop, where nostalgia runs deep with their Hilo-style “ice shave,” crack seed toppings and a love for soda pop. Then, we cruise over to Kailua General Store where there’s a little bit of this and a little bit of that. We dig into slushy-style shave ice with house-made syrups that add a punch to our favorite no-frills treat. It’s true, Kailua has something for everyone when it comes to shave ice—see which was our favorite paper cone, small-kid-time moment.

$3.50 to $4.50, open Monday to Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., 20-A Kainehe St., @wilsonskailua; $3 to $5, open Monday to Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., 316 Ku‘ulei Road, @kailuageneralstore

Watch more episodes of Shades of Shave Ice: