Shave ice is a delicious and refreshing snack perfect for a sunny summer day. This signature Hawaii treat is both a favorite for locals and a must-try for people visiting the islands. Learn the rich history of this frozen treat so you can appreciate it better the next time you enjoy the taste of sweetened snow.

The Story of Shave Ice

Shave ice got its start during the sugar plantation days of Hawaii. When Japanese workers moved to the islands to work the plantations, they brought kaki-gori with them—sweetened snow that was once a luxury for royalty during the Heian period. Japanese immigrants then began to sell the refreshing treat to plantation workers in the early 1900s. By the 1950s, it was sold regularly at local grocery stores since it had become so popular.

Modern Day

Now, shave ice is known as a quintessential island treat. In addition to a myriad of flavored syrups, a cup can be personalized with options like ice cream, azuki beans, and condensed milk.

Shave ice is often confused with a snow cone, which is made of pebbles of ice. The thin flakes of shave ice better absorb the syrup to offer more flavor and a softer texture.

A tasty shave ice begins with high-quality products from the Hawaiian Ice Company, the leading producer and distributor of packaged ice in Honolulu. Their products range from bagged ice to large-scale snow paradises to play in. Ice delivery is available for orders over 600 pounds. They also have ice storage units and cooling trucks available to keep your order intact. See their full range of options on their website, and call (808) 538-6918 to place an order today. You can also check out reviews of their products on Yelp and Facebook.