The History of Hawaiian Shave Ice

Plantation roots

Hawaiian shave ice traces back to Japanese immigrants who came to work the sugar plantations in the late 1800s and early 1900s. On days off, they recreated kakigori — shaving ice with a blade and topping it with syrup — a taste of home in the tropics.

Plantation-town stores began shaving ice for workers and their kids, and a local tradition took root.

Becoming an icon

Over the decades it evolved into the rainbow-striped shave ice Hawaii is famous for — often served over a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a snow cap of condensed milk on top. Today, family shops still shave ice the way their grandparents did.

That heritage of doing it by hand, with care, is exactly what inspires us.

Explore more: Our menu · More Culture · All locations