Mamoru and Helen Matsumoto opened a grocery store in Haleʻiwa in 1951 and began selling shave ice in 1956 with a hand-crank machine from Japan. Three generations later, the family shop is still a North Shore ritual.
Why we love it
It’s the classic way to end a North Shore beach day, and the shop’s plantation-town history comes with every cone.
What to expect
The shop sits in Haleʻiwa town on Kamehameha Highway. Expect a line most afternoons, especially on weekends; it moves steadily. Shave ice comes in a cup with your choice of syrups. Homemade syrups and sweet azuki beans have been part of it since the early days, and you can add ice cream or other toppings. The bright rainbow combination is the one you see in photos. Shade is limited outside, so many people stroll Haleʻiwa’s old plantation-town shops while they eat. Allow 20 to 40 minutes with the line.
Know before you go
- Hours
- Open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
- Add-ons
- Try azuki beans, which date to the shop’s early days, or add ice cream.
- Timing
- Lines are shortest right at opening. Midafternoon after beach time is the busiest.
- Parking
- Parking in Haleʻiwa town is tight. Use the shopping-center lots and walk.
- Contact
- (808) 637-4827 or info@matsumotoshaveice.com.
Photo: Anthony Quintano via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
