David Yamashiro, who co-owns Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice with his wife, Ululani, vividly remembers when they were living in the Pacific Northwest prior to starting their business.
“Whenever we’d go to fairs or events (in the Pacific Northwest), there would be shaved ice, or snow cones,” he says. “Whenever we’d go order it, the lines would be long, but the product wasn’t good, not compared to what we were used to. Ulu and I grew up on Oʻahu; we grew up eating B&S, which became Shimazu’s; Matsumoto’s and Aoki’s in Haleʻiwa, and also Baldwin’s (Sweet Shop).
“She (Ulu) would always say, ‘One day, I’m going to open my own shave ice business,’ and one day, she did.”
The rest, as they say, is history.
Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice originated as a 65-square-foot shop in Lahaina in 2008, according to Yamashiro. Being mentioned in Maui No Kai Oi magazine — and on social media — “propelled their business in an incredible way.”
“It was pretty much the size of a bathroom,” he says. “Within three months, we had to double the size to 138 square feet. A year later, we opened our shop in Kahului.
“What was really cool was we were getting people from all over — from Kīhei, from Haʻikū,” he adds. “We’re talking older people who hadn’t been to Lahaina in 15 or 20 years because they didn’t like the traffic or no parking.”
Fast forward to today: Since then, Ululani’s has expanded to Kīhei; to other states, including California, Florida and Texas; and Oʻahu’s first Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice opened on Kapahulu Avenue in 2023. The island’s second shop opened in Pearl City last year, and the new Waimānalo location is celebrating its grand opening this Saturday, June 21, from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Attendees can look forward to a blessing, music and giveaways.
How the Waimānalo location came about is a story in and of itself, according to franchise owner Shontaz Naweli. She still remembers the first time she saw the line at Ululani’s Lahaina location about four years ago — and finally trying the shave ice herself.
“After my first bite, I looked at my friend and said, ‘I don’t know what they’re using in there, but this is not shave ice!’” she says.
As it turned out, Naweli’s husband is cousins with Ululani’s brother. Talk about a small world.
“I didn’t meet Ulu, but I knew her brother because he lives here on Oʻahu,” Naweli says. “When we came home, we literally drove over here and looked for spaces that were open. This was three years ago; we had many meetings and we’re here now.”
Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice is known for using high-quality ingredients, including 100% ultra-purified water, housemade syrups made with real fruits, and gourmet ice cream. Yamashiro explains that Roselani Ice Cream has three tiers — economy, premium (which is in all the grocery stores) and a gourmet tier.
“What you get here is the gourmet line of Roselani,” he says. “In the gourmet tier, the fat content is a lot higher and there’s more macadamia nuts. We use ultra-purified water for all of our franchises. We use top-quality ingredients, and we innovate — we poke holes (in our shave ice); our packing style is different. We also came up with a good line of sugar-free syrups; that’s something that I’ve been working on for a long time.”
Shave ice desserts can include up to three flavors, or customers can opt for the business’s popular combinations, including Haleakalā (leche and coconut with condensed milk), Sunset Beach (passion orange, mango and guava) and No Ka Oi (mango, coconut and passion fruit).
Pro tip: If you want something unique, order the ʻAina, which is a secret menu item. The combo includes green tea and ube with haupia ice cream on the bottom and a snowcap and azuki bean topping. Shave ice flights, which feature three half-portions of the keiki size, will eventually be added onto the menu.
Besides its shave ice, though, Ululani’s is known for its “alohatude,” or having a genuine service mindset.
“It means ‘aloha with gratitude;’ it embodies everything,” Naweli says. “A lot of the employees are young; we’re teaching them how to extend aloha while they’re working.”
“We’re known for cultivating a good work ethic,” Yamashiro adds. “To work at Ululani’s, you have to work hard, be reliable, be unselfish, and be a team player. All of these things embody what is necessary to make it in the workforce today and in life.”
CONTACT
Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice – Waimānalo
41-1537 Kalanianaʻole Hwy. No. 8, Waimānalo
ululanishawaiianshaveice.com
Instagram: @ululanishawaiianshaveice
Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
