Chill Out at Oʻahu’s Coolest New Shave Ice Spot

It’s pretty hard, especially in Hawaiʻi, to be wowed anymore by shave ice.

But that’s what’ll happen when you try one from Chillest Shave Ice, a small shop that opened in May in Kaimukī on Oʻahu.

Owner Aaron Wong crafts dreamy, cloudlike domes of snow-fine ice, soaked in syrups in unique flavors like creamy strawberry milk, lilikoʻi (passion fruit), a yogurty Calpico, root beer, matcha (sourced from Daily Whisk in Kaimukī), not-so-hot chocolate, haupia and Japanese grape. If it’s mango season—which it is right now—he makes a killer mango syrup.

The domes of snow-fine ice are generously doused in homemade syrups. On the left is a heavenly bowl of matcha, strawberry milk and haupia. On the right, is a tropical combo of haupia and lilikoʻi.
Photo: Grace Maeda

All of the syrups are made from scratch. And so is the mochi, which is done in small batches and sells out quickly.

Some may remember Wong from Ailana Shave Ice, a shop he ran over a decade ago. He had locations near Ala Moana Center and in Waikīkī. Strawberry milk was his signature flavor then—and it’s still the best seller among Chillest’s 27 different flavors.

READ MORE: 11 Unusual Shave Ice Flavors to Try in Hawaiʻi

But it’s the ice, Wong says, that sets Chillest apart from other shave ice shops.

“We make one shave ice at a time, taking the time to shave the ice so it comes out the way we want it to,” Wong says. “That way we can give our customers the best possible shave ice we can make.”

The shop is small—under 600 square feet—but spacious enough to accommodate several tables and a countertop facing busy Waiʻalae Avenue. (Those are my favorite seats.)

The not-so-hot chocolate and vanilla cream at Chillest Shave Ice.
Photo: Catherine Toth Fox

And don’t be scared off by the price. While other shops, like Matsumoto Shave Ice in Haleʻiwa, sell bowls for less than $5, it costs between $6 and $8 at Chillest for up to three flavors. (It’s $1 more for mochi, azuki beans or ice cream, though the sweetened condensed milk—called snowcap in Hawaiʻi—is free.) But remember—servings here are huge and all of the syrups are made in-house and in small batches. You won’t find these flavors anywhere else.

There’s a small parking lot in the back—enter the shop through the green door facing the lot—or find street parking. And expect to wait a little. Each shave ice is made to order, and the fine shaving of the ice takes a little longer here than at other places.

But trust me: The wait is worth it.

3408 Wai‘alae Ave., Kaimukī, @chillestshaveice.

Catherine Toth Fox is the former editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine and continues to contribute to the website and print publication.