The years that I spent living in Hawaii were some of the best of my life for many reasons. I loved the weather, the people were warm and incredibly resilient, and the mash-up of ethnicities made for some absolutely delectable food. Given the chance I could have lived on kalua pig and huli huli chicken for the rest of my life.
Hawaiians also appreciate sweets, and perhaps the best known of these is shave ice. Similar to a snow cone –but don’t ever call it that in Hawaii– shave ice is the most delicious and most satisfying treat in the world, in my opinion. But how can I be wrong? Even the president of the United States is a fan, as is evident in the many photos of he and his family slurping up the icy goodness on their yearly vacations to the Aloha State.
If you’re visiting the Valley Isle, otherwise known as Maui, these are the best places to try shave ice, and some flavor combinations that are sure to please, as well as a few hotels in Lahaina that will put you in close proximity.
Ululani’s Shave Ice
Easily the best known of all the shave ice on Maui, Ululani’s Shave Ice has several locations around the island. If you’re staying at the nearby Lahaina Bungalow you’re just a few steps away from shave ice heaven.
You can choose up to three flavor combinations at Ululani’s, and all of their syrups are made from real fruit. Try one of the local favorites like guava, passion fruit, or pineapple, or mix all three. You can also choose to have vanilla ice cream at the base of the ice, or condensed milk doused over the top. Either way, you’ll join the ranks of all of the others who believe Ululani’s has the best shave ice in town.
Local Boys Shave Ice
With two locations in Lahaina and Kihei, Local Boys Shave Ice boasts the largest selection of flavors in the state. As is the standard, you can choose up to three flavors for your shave ice, and they come in three sizes. Try one of the more exotic local flavors like li hing mui, which is a sweet and salty plum flavor that has its roots in Hawaii’s Chinese culture. You can also try the famous Tiger’s Blood, which is generally a combination of strawberry and coconut, but sometimes you’ll get a hint of watermelon as well.
Local Boys also offers free extras when they’re available, like gummi bears and licorice, or you can try azuki bean which is a sweet red bean that is wildly popular in Asia. If you’re staying at the Lahaina Inn you’ll be just steps away from Local Boys, so visit several times to try as many of their flavor combinations as you can.
One of the best parts of traveling is the food, as it’s always a great way to get an insight into an area’s cultures and traditions. When you visit Maui be sure to put shave ice on your to-do list; you’ll be delighted that you did.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post and is part of the #HipmunkCityLove campaign. All opinions are my own.