For those mourning the closure of Shimazu Store’s Liliha location, there’s good news — the popular shave ice spot just soft opened in Kapolei Shopping Center. The store is located right next to Sushi Bay, and it’s so new that, at the time of this article, the store sign isn’t up yet.
The original Shimazu Store opened in Liliha in 2006 on School Street, according to business owner Kalyn Kim. The business is known for its generous shave ice portions and huge selection of flavors.
“I bought the business in 2017; I’ve had it for eight years now,” she says. “When I moved to Kapolei 10 years ago, I looked at this place and I thought it would be a great spot for us. When the realtor called and told me a spot opened up in Kapolei Shopping Center, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh.’”
Kim says parking at the business’s former Liliha location was one of the biggest complaints for customers. In late January, the shave ice spot announced on social media that it was closing its Liliha location; the last day at the Liliha store was Feb. 23.
“When they built the store back in the 1960s, people didn’t drive that much,” Kim says. “It was a walking neighborhood. The Liliha location has been open since 2006, but it was actually B&S before that. I remember when it was B&S; I grew up with it. That was my childhood; my mom used to bring me there after school. I know it’s been part of the community for so long.”
The menu is mostly the same as before. Customers can choose from three sizes — keiki ($4.50), small ($6.25) and large ($7). Additional toppings like vanilla ice cream ($1.25), mochi squares ($1.25), azuki beans ($1.25) and li hing powder ($1) are available for an extra cost.
The store just added new specialty combinations ($9 each), located under the “Shimazu Favorites” section of the menu. Choose from creations like vanilla berry — strawberry, blue vanilla, condensed milk topping, vanilla Dave’s Ice Cream and homemade mochi — and Matcha-zuki, a combo of matcha latte, condensed milk topping, vanilla Dave’s ice cream and azuki beans.
Kim says they created the Shimazu’s Favorites menu back in January, but decided to launch it when the new location opened, since they received the building permit soon after.
“We said, ‘When we come here, we’ll start everything new and we’ll add it in,’” she says. “I like the matcha azuki.
“The most popular flavor is strawberry; the second most-popular is strawberry cream,” she adds. “Hawaiʻi people love strawberry. I always tell customers, ‘Think of strawberry like jeans — it just matches anything.’ Condensed milk is the most popular topping.”
Kim also makes the mochi and azuki toppings in-house.
“Our mochi has no preservatives; it’s just fresh,” she says. “I think it tastes better when it’s homemade. I make my own azuki too; I know it’s more work, but to me, it’s about quality.”
When things are more settled, the store will announce a grand opening date on social media, according to Kim.
“I’m excited; I love out here and I love Kapolei,” she says. “This side has really built up since I moved out here. I’m hoping that this place will become a part of this Kapolei community for a long time.”
CONTACT
Shimazu Store
Kapolei Shopping Center
590 Farrington Hwy. Unit 125, Kapolei
shimazustoreliliha.com
Instagram: @shimazustoreliliha
Open 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays
Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
