Shave ice, not “shaved ice”, is a distinctly Hawaiian treat not to be confused with an Icee, Slushee or Snow Cone. I think mistaking shave ice for a snow cone is actually punishable by death in the islands. A proper shave ice is soft, like biting into a sweet and colorful cloud of awesomeness. It’s particularly refreshing on a hot day, which is almost every day in Hawaii. I recommend making your first shave ice experience a good one — a bad experience is like sinking your teeth in to flavorless block of solid ice. Go to Waiola Shave Ice for arguably the best shave ice on Oahu.

Waiola has a ginormous selection of flavors, some not found anywhere else on the island, and a wide variety of toppings and add ons. I love adding vanilla ice cream and mochi balls to my rainbow flavored shave ice. It’s so ono! I brought a friend to Waiola for the first time the other day and he chose the sour apple and cherry flavors — not exactly the first flavor combination that would have popped into my head, but he loved it.

Waiola has 2 locations in town. One location near McCully Street, and the other on the corner of Kapahulu Avenue and Herbert Street. Both locations are just outside of Waikiki. The store itself is a little hole in the wall. There’s nothing luxurious about it. So, don’t expect to be eating your delicious Waiola shave ice with a scenic view of the waves rolling on to the Hawaiian shore. Instead, you’ll be sitting on the corner of a noisy street watching moped gangs scream by, but that’s part of Waiola’s charm. It’s slightly off the beaten path, so you’re more likely to encounter a group of barefoot, shirtless keiki than a mainland family sporting Crocs and aloha shirts standing in line. That’s how you know you’re in for a delicious treat.

The most daunting task of Waiola is the ordering process. Get it right, or they’ll sacrifice you to Pele. As you enter the store, make note of the ordering instructions. It should be the sign posted the furthest to the left of the menu board. To prepare ahead of time, the procedure goes something like this:

1. How many shave ice do you want?

2. What size do you want your shave ice?

3. Do you want anything inside or on top?

4. Wait for them to ask what flavor you want — this is the important one.

Don’t start blurting out random flavors before they ask. First glance at the menu can be overwhelming with the amount of flavors and fillings, so take your time deciding what you want before initiating the ordering process. It’s that simple! Then, chill out and enjoy some of the finest shave ice Hawaii has to offer.