About Us
Our goal is to make every visit unforgettable, creating memories that last a lifetime. We craft a magical dessert experience unlike any other.
"Best Shave Ice in the World"
Awards
2024 | Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence Award | 2300+ Reviews
2024 | “Best Shave Ice Stand on Maui” | Hawaii Magazine
2023 | “Best Shave Ice” | Maui No Ka ‘Oi Magazine, Gold ‘Aipono Award
2022 | “Best Shave Ice” | Maui No Ka ‘Oi Magazine, Gold ‘Aipono Award
2020 | “Best Shave Ice Stand on Maui” | Hawaii Magazine
2019 | “Best Shave Ice” | Maui No Ka ‘Oi Magazine, Gold ‘Aipono Award
2019 | “Best Shave Ice on Maui” | Maui Time Weekly Publication
2019 | Trip Advisor Hall of Fame
2018 | “Best Shave Ice” | Maui No Ka ‘Oi Magazine, Gold ‘Aipono Award
2018 | “Best Shave Ice on Maui”| Maui Time Weekly Publication
2018 | Trip Advisor Hall of Fame
2017 | “Best Shave Ice” | Maui No Ka ‘Oi Magazine, Gold ‘Aipono Award
2017 | “Best Shave Ice on Maui” | Maui Time Weekly Publication
2017 | “Best Shave Ice on Maui”| Hawaii Magazine
2017 | Trip Advisor Hall of Fame
2016 | “Best Shave Ice” | Maui No Ka ‘Oi Magazine, Gold ‘Aipono Award
2016 | “Best Shave Ice on Maui”| Maui Time Weekly Publication
2016 | Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence
2015 | “Best Shave Ice ”| Maui Time Weekly Publication
2015 | “Best Shave Ice” | Maui No Ka ‘Oi Magazine, Gold ‘Aipono Award
2015 | Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence
2014 | “Best Shave Ice”| Maui Time Weekly Publication
2014 | “Best Frozen Treat on Maui”| Maui News / Maui Scene
2013 | “Best Shave Ice”| Maui Time Publication
Community & Environment
100% Compostable
100% CompostableAt Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice, we are committed to protecting the environment. As of July 2019, we proudly serve our shave ice with 100% compostable bowls, straws, and spoons. This is just one of the ways we do our part to reduce waste and support a healthier planet. We will continue to innovate and make eco-conscious choices to preserve the beauty of our surroundings for generations to come.
A Community of Alohatude
Since opening our first 65-square-foot shop in Lahaina in 2008, Maui has been our home. Although we were born and raised on Oahu, the Maui community embraced us with open arms, and we’ve been grateful for their unwavering support ever since.
The people of Maui have shown their love for Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice by visiting our shops, bringing friends and family, and referring others to experience what they proudly call the best-tasting shave ice in the world. For over 11 years, Maui has shared this sweet distinction with the world.
We, in turn, are deeply touched and blessed by the outpouring of love from the Maui community. Their support has been a key ingredient in making Ululani’s what it is today.
Support for Our Communities
At Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice, we believe in supporting the heart of our community. Over the years, we’ve contributed to a wide range of causes across the island, recognizing the deep needs that exist in every corner of our unique island home. We proudly support cultural and school programs, church functions, community events, youth and sports clubs, the arts, and music through various fundraising efforts.
Our support comes in many forms, including group volunteer efforts, providing free shave ice for fundraising events, and donations to major fundraisers.
Wildfire Support
Supporting Our Ohana: Lahaina Wildfire Relief
On Tuesday, August 8th, 2023, our community faced an unimaginable tragedy as wildfires devastated Lahaina. Our employees, along with countless Lahaina residents, lost their homes, schools, churches, and everything they owned.
Since then, we’ve been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from family, friends, and past customers who want to help. Please join us in supporting our Ohana during this difficult time. Every donation, no matter the size, makes a difference. Sharing this link helps us reach more people and brings us closer to our goal.
- 100% of donations will go directly to support our Lahaina employees and some families severely impacted by the fires, the majority of them losing their homes and all belongings.
- To date, we’ve distributed nearly $290,000 to families and employees in need!
While we tragically lost our iconic Lahaina shop and our new Banyan Tree location, the true heartbreak is the immense loss suffered by the residents of Lahaina. Our hearts are with them, and we are committed to helping rebuild.
Our Story
How Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice was Born
How Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice was BornUlulani grew up in Kalihi on O`ahu, where she and her husband David developed a love for the island’s amazing shave ice. After they moved to the Pacific Northwest, they often craved the real thing. Ululani would say, “One day, I’m going to open a shave ice shop!”—especially during hot summers when all they could find were icy “snow cones.”
Even though those snow cones were chunkier and less flavorful than what she loved back home, Ululani noticed people waiting in long lines for them. She thought, “If only they could try the real O`ahu shave ice, they’d see how much better it is!”
In 2003, she decided to make it happen. Using some of her 401K money, she bought her first shave ice machine and started serving at community events and private parties. Her reputation quickly grew, and soon she was a fixture at the Vancouver Farmer’s Market and various cultural events, known for her finely shaved ice and delicious flavors made with pure cane sugar, all served with a friendly “ALOHA” spirit.
As her business took off, she had to add more machines to keep up with the lines—at one busy event, she had four machines running! After a visit back to Oahu in 2008, Ululani felt a strong pull to be closer to her family. After chatting with David’s sister on Maui, they decided to move back to Hawaii to start a new chapter.
Building the Vision
In December 2008, Ululani and David Yamashiro, along with Brad Edgerton (David’s best friend’s husband), took a bold step by opening their first brick-and-mortar shop in Lahaina, Maui. Their expertise in crafting high-quality shave ice, along with a passion for developing delicious flavors and years of experience in fine dining and hospitality, came together in this bustling location on Lahaina’s busy restaurant row, laying the groundwork for their success.
The timing posed significant challenges, as they launched their shop during the peak of the recession. The Lahaina location was a compact 65-square-foot space with no storage, situated about 20 feet from the sidewalk in a small courtyard with limited street visibility.
At the time, there was little interest in shave ice; some days, they sold only 12 to 15 servings between 10:00 AM and 11:00 PM. Maintaining their commitment to using only purified water for their ice and premium pure cane sugar and purees for their syrups was a daily challenge, especially since they lived an hour away in Kula.
Despite these hurdles, the remarkable shave ice experiences they offered gained traction thanks to social media. Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice quickly became the first 5-star rated restaurant on both TripAdvisor and Yelp, amassing over 1,000 reviews—a rating they still hold at their Lahaina and Kihei locations, their busiest shops.
The support from the Maui community has been phenomenal, prompting them to expand their shop to 140 square feet within just three and a half months to meet the growing demand.
By the end of their first year, the popularity of their shave ice led them to open a second location in Kahului. They followed with another shop in Lahaina after their second year, and a third in Kihei the following year.
Since then, they’ve opened a new shave ice shop or business every year, including their first franchise in Kona in 2017, and additional O’ahu franchises in Kapahulu and Pearl City, followed by franchise locations in Hollywood, Stockton, Livermore, and Redlands, California, and Round Rock, Texas. Upcoming franchise locations in 2025 include: Seminole, Florida, San Diego, CA, Plano, Texas, and Waimanalo, Oahu.
Through the years, they realized they weren’t just serving shave ice—they were creating meaningful experiences and lasting memories. While they take great pride in their gourmet shave ice, they understand that it’s the genuine warmth and Aloha they deliver that makes Ululani’s truly special. ALL Shave Ice is NOT Created Equal.
The History of Shave Ice in Hawaii
Shave ice has deep roots in Hawaii, brought to the islands by thousands of Japanese immigrants who migrated here to work on the sugar cane plantations and in the pineapple fields. To beat the heat of the tropical climate, the workers would shave blocks of ice—often using a machete or plane—and pour flavored syrups or juices over the ice. It became a refreshing treat, enjoyed during their well-deserved breaks.
In the early days, shave ice was only sold on Sundays, the plantation workers’ only day off. As the Japanese immigrants moved off the plantations, they opened family-run grocery stores and continued offering shave ice, eventually making it a commercial product. Over time, shave ice became a beloved local treat and its popularity only continues to grow.
On Oahu, shave ice shops became legendary, with Matsumoto’s in Haleiwa being one of the most notable pioneers, helping to popularize the treat around the world. From our childhood days, local favorites like Sato’s in Kalihi and B & S on School Street (now Shimazu’s) have left a lasting impression on us. Other iconic Oahu spots include Aoki’s in Haleiwa, Waiola’s in McCully and Kapahulu, Shimazu’s in Kalihi, Uncle Clay’s in Aina Haina and now at Ala Moana, Island Vintage Shave Ice in Waikiki, Baldwin’s & Ice Garden in Aiea, and Island Snow in Kailua.
In 2008, the world took notice when President-elect Barack Obama visited Island Snow while on O`ahu, bringing international attention to Hawaiian shave ice. All of these shops have played a significant role in shaping the history of shave ice and influencing who we are at Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice.
MAHALO to all who’ve helped make shave ice such a cherished part of Hawaiian culture.
