JoJo’s Shave Ice in Hanalei – A Scoop of Sweet Aloha

By Christina Garcia

By Christina Garcia

JoJo’s Shave Ice in Hanalei – A Scoop of Sweet Aloha
By Christina Garcia

Some places in Hawaii are just stops on a map. Others are part of the fabric of the island—woven into daily life, remembered long after your tan fades. JoJo’s Shave Ice in Hanalei belongs to that second category.

JoJo’s opened back in 1992 on the west side of Kauai. From the beginning, it wasn’t just about syrup and ice—it was about community. Today, they’ve spread to multiple spots across the island, including Hanalei, Kapaʻa, and Waimea. And here’s the part that makes every bite taste richer: profits go toward programs for local kids, including camps that give Hawaiian youth experiences many of us take for granted. When you hand over your crumpled bills for a towering shave ice, you’re also handing opportunity to a child. That’s the kind of sweetness that lingers.

But let’s talk about the shave ice itself. JoJo’s is not the crunchy, neon-syrup cone you grew up with at county fairs. This is delicate, whisper-thin ice that drinks up flavor like it was born for it. A properly made shave ice has weight to it—you can feel the syrup settle through every layer. That’s JoJo’s.

Here’s my advice: never skip the haupia cream topping. Haupia—coconut pudding turned silky cream—is my personal favorite, the thing I crave every time. It adds a richness that makes the tropical syrups sing. Haupia plus pineapple is a love letter to the islands; haupia over macadamia nut ice cream feels like you’re eating straight out of a coconut grove. If you try nothing else, promise me you’ll try this.

A few insider picks:

Tropical Breeze – guava, lilikoi, mango. Pure Kauai sunshine in a cup.

The JoJo Special – chocolate + butterscotch with vanilla ice cream. Nostalgic and decadent.

Locals South Shore – pineapple + coconut + macadamia nut ice cream + haupia cream. If you want to know what aloha tastes like, this is it.

Yes, there will be a line. There’s always a line. But that’s part of it. You stand there under the Hanalei sky, mountains looming in green folds around you, waiting your turn while the island slows your pulse. By the time you reach the counter, you’ve already shifted into island time—and the first bite seals the deal.

You’ll leave with sticky fingers, maybe a syrup stain on your shirt, and zero regrets. JoJo’s is one of those Kauai rituals you don’t just check off—you carry it with you.

So when you make it to Hanalei, do yourself a favor: order big, add haupia, and savor every slow, melting spoonful. It’s not just dessert—it’s a little taste of the island’s heart.