Waiola Shave Ice – Honolulu, Hawaii
One of the places we were told that we must visit in Honolulu was Waiola Shaved Ice. (The other place was Mana Bu’s, but we unfortunately never got to try it – the day we stopped by, they had closed just an hour after opening, so we missed it.) On our very last day, the day where it just happened to pour rain all day, we stopped by after checking out of our hotel.
We decided to get the ice cream bowl and the azuki bowl with mochi balls. Two bowls was a bit much for us to finish, but they were still delicious. We got rainbow flavorings and condensed milk on the ice cream bowl – a few scoops of ice cream, topped with shaved ice. The azuki bowl consisted of shaved ice, topped with azuki beans and condensed milk, and surrounded with pink and white mochi balls.
Son loved the ice cream bowl. While I found the flavorings (particularly red – cherry?) reminded me of medicine, Son absolutely loved the varied flavors. It went very well with the ice cream, and the bowl even came with a straw to drink the melted shaved ice! Quite enjoyable.
I, on the other hand, preferred the azuki bowl. I love the flavors of the azuki beans, and although these weren’t quite as sweet as I would have liked, they were still delicious. I especially enjoyed the mochi balls. As we all know, I can never get enough mochi. The only thing I disliked about the bowl was the shaved ice – it was just ice. No flavoring, no nothing. The azuki beans and mochi would have been immensely more enjoyable with ice cream, since that would at least add some sweetness. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the bowl.
We were glad to have been able to try Waiola Shave Ice, with one reservation – we wish we had chosen a hotter day to go!
Nate 10/06/2008 at 11:27am
Yeah, Waiola definitely tastes better when it’s hot and sunny out. I don’t normally get the bowls – too big for me! One large cone with ice cream is enough.
Too bad about Mana Bu’s closing early. He has gotten so popular now! Talk about instant success.
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Friar 10/07/2008 at 08:01pm
Okay, this must be a cultural thing.
Because that Azuki bean dish does NOT look appetizing to me…NOT in the very least! There is NO WAY I’d eat something like that as a cold treat!
(If that’s what it’s supposed to be…a cold treat?). .
There is absolutely nothing in Canada that resembles what you’ve shown! 🙂
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Allison 10/07/2008 at 09:51pm
Nate – Yeah, it was quite a bit! Still delicious, even though it was a rainy day.
Friar – 😀 I love azuki beans… it’s a Japanese thing. I like them in mochi (a rice flour dessert) and An Pan (a bun filled with azuki beans). The beans aren’t savory – they’re slightly sweet, and usually cooked with sugar so they’re even sweeter. It is a cold treat – just like the one up top, except topped with azuki beans and sweetened condensed milk instead of the rainbow flavors. 🙂 Yum!
Friar 10/09/2008 at 11:26am
In University, a Chinese friend of mine had me over for dinner, and she served ice-cream sundaes. I thought it was chocolate chips, but it was actually these sweet red BEANS.
(Needless to say, I was grossed out!). I tried to be polite, but I coudln’t bring myself to finish it. (My friend just laughed).
I wonder….could THOSE have been azuki beans….?
(Shudder).
Like I said…it’s a cultural thing.
(Sorry, I just DON’T DO sweet legumes with ice cream!) 😉
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Allison 10/09/2008 at 11:28am
Hehe yeah, I’ll bet those were azuki beans. Yum! 😀