The Sweetest Thing on Front St.
Being from Los Angeles, we have been to many places claiming to have true Hawaiian Shave Ice and we actually thought most were quite good. On our first trip to Maui, we tried Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice and that changed everything. Like having New York pizza, a Philly Cheesesteak or New Orleans Beignets, eating outside the dishes local area can be hit or (more likely) miss. Once we tried real Hawaiian Shave Ice, we realized our hometown places couldn’t quite stack up for this sweet Hawaiian treat.
The sign of Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice on Front Street. This is the sign you have to see on the main street to find Ululani’s shop. | Photo by FamilyVacationHub
Before heading to Maui for our vacation, I spent a few hours researching some restaurants for our upcoming trip. I stumbled upon two promising Hawaiian Shave Ice places; Ululani’s and Local Boys. After talking to a few locals in Maui we decided to try Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice on Front Street. Their stand on Front Street was bit hard to find as it is tucked away with other outdoor shops around it. Once we found their sign on the street, we hopped in line and started checking out the flavors on their menu.
Flavors and Add-Ons of Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice
The first thing you have to do is figure out which flavors and how many of them you want on your Shave Ice. Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice has 48 flavors as well as 10 sugar free options. This was a tougher decision to make than we thought it would be. Do we add a bunch of flavors to try out and risk them all washing each other out or just a couple flavor choices and maybe miss out on flavor we might have loved. Since each of us was getting our own, we thought we should go with three flavors each and offer each other tastes of our flavors. Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice also offers 11 favorite combinations for you to choose from.
Getting ready to order our Hawaiian Shave Ice. | Photo by FamilyVacationHub
Once you decide on your flavors, you need to decide if you want one of their delicious add-ons. They have Haupia, Vanilla and Macadamia Nut Ice Cream, Sweet cream topping called a Snow Cap, shredded coconut and two “when available” options of Azuki Beans and Mochi Balls. The add-ons will really depend on what flavors you get as each one compliments certain flavors really well.
What We Ordered at Ululani’s
- Madi got Pink Lemonade, Sour Apple and Mango.
- Laura got Watermelon, Tropical Punch and Tiger’s Blood.
- I got the Root Beer Float which was Root Beer and Vanilla flavors with add-ons of sweetened condensed cream & cream mix and a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream on the bottom.
Madi enjoying her Hawaiian Shave Ice with Pink Lemonade, Sour Apple and Mango flavors. | Photo by FamilyVacationHub
Out of the 8 flavors that we tried, 7 were really delicious and only one (watermelon) was just average. The shaved ice that these sweet syrups are drizzled over is so soft and fluffy, yet it doesn’t melt right away when the syrup is added on top. Most places we have been to have had this problem where the ice melts so quickly that all of your flavors run together and your left with a sugar bath. Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice somehow kept its shape for quite a while even on a warm Maui day.
As for the add-ons, I highly recommend both the Snow Cap sweet cream topping and the ice cream scoop at the bottom if it compliments your flavor choice. Since I had a Root Beer Float shave ice, it was a perfect match for a ice cream scoop. So the next time you are in Maui, head over to Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice for one of the best and most refreshing sweet treats. For more information on their flavors and location in Maui, visit their Hawaiian Shave Ice Website.
