Monsarrat Ave Shave Ice

Monsarrat is the place to go for shave ice! They have the best homemade syrups and the young people who work there are always so nice and accommodating. Prices are higher than other shave ice places, but the quality is so much higher. You have to go early because they close by 5:30 (also closed on Mondays). A good place to go after having lunch at Pioneer Saloon right next door!

Found this place on Unilocal,would’ve never thought to try it otherwise. Best shave ice we had on our whole trip, including the place everyone says you have to go to. Total whole in the wall but great flavor. Worth the trip to find!

I was finally able to make my way to this side of town to try the beautifully created shave ice!
They are located in a small alleyway right next to Pioneer Saloon. We went right when they opened at 11 to beat the crowd. The small was the perfect size to cool us down from our earlier hike at Makapuu & especially since we ate breakfast right before.
I had the strawberry & mango while my brother had the strawberry with mochi balls. When we went only 1 girl was working so expect to wait just a bit since it’s a one person show. The shave ice was good. It was different than what I’m used to since the syrup was thick. Almost like a purée. I thought it would be a little sweeter but I’d definitely come back if I’m on this side again!

This shave ice is ok, but it isn’t close to Waiola in terms of ice or overall flavor. Crunchy ice, tart flavor.
Not sure who this is targeted to. Was ok, but no need to go back.

The shave ice here had the freshest fruit toppings we experienced in ten days in Hawaii. I recommend strawberry and mango. Reasonably priced as well and quick. A short walk from the beach and parking on Monsarrat Ave made this a convenient location to stop for a quick shave ice.

After hearing all the rave reviews about Monsarrat Ave Shave Ice, I was not disappointed. It was the perfect dessert after eating my favorite menchi katsu from Pioneer Saloon next door. It is literally tucked away right next to Pioneer Saloon. Street parking!
My tip is to go with a friend, that way you can share the large and not feel bad about having to pay $ 6 for shave ice! I luckily had a friend with me who was agreeable to the same flavors I wanted and we shared a large Yuzu/​Pineapple. I LOVE yuzu flavored anything. It’s like the Japanese version of a more subtle lemon. The flavors here seem to be pretty true to their original fruit form, which is awesome. The yuzu was pretty tart and the pineapple was mild, so they balanced each other out. But yeah, super fresh– I noticed there were strings of pineapple in the syrup. However, the one negative was that the ice was a bit more coarse than I would’ve liked.
One of the best parts though was that CONDENSED MILK IS FREE! And of course, I appreciate the details of the cute little fruit garnish on top.
Overall, it was super refreshing and if I were there on an empty stomach, I would’ve definitely added some toppings! I’ll be back!

If shave ice shops were cars, this place would be like the Nissan Leaf – eco-​friendly, and with all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a car. Their shave ice is pretty fine (not as fine as Waiola’s), but their winning bossness comes from their ALL NATURAL syrups made from REAL FRUIT. I’m so surprised this idea never arose before, but if you’re going to depart from the tried and true, yellow red and blue (you know those rainbow sugar flavas), you gotta go big or go home. And Monsarrat Ave Shave Ice does it well, and they do it right.
You can get Mango, coconut, pineapple, strawberry, lilikoi, etc., and you can get up to two flavors. Don’t expect it to be super sweet like the others, because it’s not just sugar water and dye, this is all natural goodness, and you can actually see the pulp in their syrups! They also have the standard add ons like azuki beans, ice cream, mochi, and condensed milk (that last one is free – do it!). They ALSO have soybean powder, which makes it a little more like korean pat bing soo (I like the difference in texture it adds). I love that they put a piece of fresh strawberry at the top too – it’s cute touches like that which make it extra special.
I love this place and make sure to take all the visitors here. It’s becoming more popular, since I think they advertise in the Japanese tour guides, but it really is such a hole in the wall – literally, it’s a tiny kiosk set up in an alley way. They have two long benches that you can sit at, but for the most part, this is intended to be a take out establishment. They did a great job of decorating the alley though – it is super cute with fresh plants and awnings to keep it shaded.
Shave ice will run between $ 4-​$ 6, but it’s totally worth it. Look for it across the street from Bogarts and next door to Pioneer Saloon. You can also find free street parking just mauka of Bogarts.

Fabulous shave ice! The place is super tiny, it’s literally in an alleyway next to Pioneer Saloon. There are 2 long benches for seating. Street parking. It’s a little pricey ($ 4 for a small) but the quality is well worth the trip. They use syrups on the verge of being purees; the syrups are intense in flavor without being overly sweet. There are several topping options like azuki beans and ice cream. The condensed milk is free. Two syrups max per order.
I loved my strawberry and coconut with condensed milk. My husband really enjoyed his mango and coconut. I’d recommend the mango and coconut. Next time, I’m ordering a large!

I really liked the whole vibe from this place.
The shave ice was as advertised. The yuzu/​green tea combination worked well for me. A little bit sweet and a little bit tart… I could do this again… and again.

Such a refreshing snack for a hot day! We tried the strawberry and the yuzu flavors! The yuzu alone was a little too sour for my liking, but it tasted really good with the vanilla ice cream that we added to it! The flavor of the strawberry was really good and the portions were generous. The only thing that I didn’t care for too much was the chunky-​ness of the ice. It reminded me of the shave ice I grew up eating in Japan.
Parking can be a little difficult. We got lucky and found street parking about a block away.

Not your typical shave ice. Instead of syrup, they use fruit purée to flavor the ice. It was not as sweet as other shave ice, but the flavor is great and it’s very refreshing. I added some vanilla ice cream for some added sweetness.
It is a little more expensive then other shave ice places ($ 4 for a small, $ 6 for a large), but it’s worth it.
I would definitely come back here again.

Still hungry from our stop at Banan, Krysten I. and I decided to take a stroll down the street to try Monsarrat Ave Shave Ice! As soon as we entered Monsarrat Ave Shave Ice (hidden down an alleyway next to Pioneer Saloon), it felt as though we stepped out of Honolulu and into SHAVE ICE HEAVEN!
Although we arrived shortly after 5:30, when Monsarrat Ave Shave Ice closes, the friendly employee accommodated us and continued to assist other patrons that stopped by after us! What great service! After perusing the menu filled with fresh fruit syrups and toppings, Krysten I. and I decided to share a small Yuzu and Mango flavored shave ice.
Although the consistency of the shave ice is a bit coarser than other popular shave ice shops like Waiola, Monsarrat Ave Shave Ice sets itself apart by offering amazing fresh fruit flavors made from real fruit. The mango flavor had the same ripe sweetness as biting into an actual mango and the yuzu was tart and refreshing! I loved both, but the yuzu definitely came out the winner of the two. I am excited to go back and try Monsarrat Ave Shave Ice’s fresh coconut flavor — what I’m sure is a rare departure from the artificial flavors we are accustomed to.
With Hawaii’s summer heat off the charts, I can’t wait to return to Monsarrat Ave Shave Ice for another cool and refreshing treat!

Small shave ice stand located across from Bogarts. They make everything from scratch, including cool flavors. I got the strawberry and yuzu flavors, which were both good. The strawberry was very yummy, sort of like a fresh strawberry purée on the shave ice. The yuzu was very strong, the in your face citrus flavor. I mixed the two together, which ended up tasting like a strawberry lemonade flavor.
It’s a bit pricy, $ 4 for a small, but I guess it makes sense since everything is homemade. The guy was quick at making it as well.

This is my new favorite place for shave ice. I love love love fruity flavored syrups, especially when they are home made. Ailana and HOPA are two of my faves for this reason. I’m happy to say I can now add Monserrat Ave shave ice to my list. They have great homemade flavors, great presentation and friendly workers.
Monserrat Ave shave ice is located in a tiny alley next to pioneer saloon. It’s really easy to miss, and there is no parking other than street parking, so you’re better off parking nearby and walking over to find it.
The menu consists of homemade flavors including yuzu! Strawberry, mango, lilkoi and mixed berry. I love yuzu and lilkoi, but unfortunately they were out of lilkoi. That’s ok, I’ll just have to go back sometime soon!
I liked that they added a little fresh fruit on the top of the shave ice for décor and that you could sit on the little benches and look at the little pitted plants. I think I was a botanist in a previous life, but I really appreciate little unique potted plants.
The service was friendly. They guy working apparently forgot a watch and didn’t realize it was past closing time when my friend and I got there. Lucky for us, he made us our shave ice even though it was 5:35 and they close at 5:30. Subsequently, a huge group of Japanese tourists came by as we received our shave ice and the worker served them as well.
Although there is no parking, street parking isn’t too much of a hassle. I definitely need to go back to try other flavors as well. I’m so excited I found this hidden gem of a shave ice shop:)

I finally had a chance to try their shave ice the other day! I heard that they had really good flavors because it’s made with real fruit syrup. I had Yuzu and Pineapple with condensed milk (which is no additional charge)! Even with such a small space for this little shave ice shack, they have a cool ambiance with benches, art, and plants. I will be back again to beat this Hawaii heat!

Om nom nom! Get ready to enjoy a both tasty and slightly expensive (compared to other places) shave ice! If you like fruit and shave ice, you will definitely like this little spot. It’s really just a stand, not a store, crammed into a tiny space next to Pioneer Saloon. Kinda reminds me of a super better version of a homemade lemonade stand…
The real fruit toppings are pretty fantastic and won’t give you the syrupy-​sugar hangover. There are some benches to sit so you can enjoy and not walk around if you’d like. They didn’t have any lilikoi, which was a bummer. Honestly, the mango was killer and I would definitely get it again.
Hint: they have short hours, so it’s probably best to plan ahead on a day off. You can grab this as a nice cap to brunch or lunch at one of the many delish places nearby.

Such a nice little hidden gem off of Monsarrat Ave!
After all the reviews and attempts coming here, I finally got to try them today! Yay! Been wanting to try this spot for awhile now but never had any luck. A group of us came here after attending a lunch UYE so it was my lucky day. They were open and the line wasn’t too long. The umbrellas above us really helped with the sun directly over us. While you wait for your turn, you are surrounded by colored cactus, a tin man hanging off the wall and a nice big menu to choose from.
It’s a small hole in the wall shave ice spot located on Monsarrat across from Bogart’s Café and next to Pioneer Saloon. You can take your shave ice to go or enjoy it on the benches along the wall. They offer shave ice in three sizes and you can pick up to two flavors. I tried their Strawberry and Lychee but they have a pretty good selection ranging from Coconut (Organic), Sweet Potato to Yuzu. There are several sides that you can add as well.
Their shave ice is different from a lot of other places I’ve been to. First off, their syrup flavors are made from real fruits! It gives it a natural flavor which I think is fantastic! This is probably why they are so busy throughout the day with locals and tourists walking by. Secondly, the ice is a little harder than the soft shave ice you get at other places. It gives it a nice texture as you enjoy every bite. This is perfect for all a hot day! It was definitely worth the wait and I can’t wait to come back again.

This place has officially bumped up to the top of my shave ice list. People call this a hole in the wall place but it really can’t be, because it’s not even in a room! It’s literally a stand in a little alley next to Pioneer Saloon.
They have a small selection of flavors compared to other shave ice joints but the difference is that this place uses real fruit for their syrup. Real fruit! I saw them pureeing the fruit in a blender and putting them in the squirt bottle. Toppings are the standard ice cream (but both vanilla and chocolate!), azuki, mochi balls, and even kinako (soybean powder). Condensed milk is always free with any shave ice order.
Sizes are small ($ 4), medium ($ 5), and large ($ 6) which is a bit steep for the quantity but quality makes up for it. Choice of 1 or 2 flavors per cup. The strawberry and mango one was delicious and extremely refreshing, especially on these hot summer days.
The only thing keeping this from being a five star review is the hours of operation. Hours seem inconsistent and vary each week. They’re closed on random days and they sometimes close up shop right in the middle of the day. Definitely need to call before you go.
Other info:
Cash only!
Small bench at the entrance to sit and enjoy but not much else
Free condensed milk!
Call to make sure they’re open

Monsarrat Ave Shave Ice is a fairly recent opened shave ice stand/​shack located in the right alley of the building that Pioneer Saloon is located on Monsarrat Avenue. The shave ice here is different from the ones you would find at other popular shave ice spots like Matsumoto Shave Ice and Waiola Shave Ice.
The ingredients used are of higher quality and as such a bit more pricey, but I feel that is justified. First off, the syrups they use on the shave ice are homemade and all natural. Plus the way that they shave the ice is evenly layered so you won’t have random chunks of ice to deal with. The offerings here also are Japanese style as they have toppings like kuromitsu syrup made with Okinawan black sugar, azuki beans, mochi balls and soy bean powder.
I decided I wanted a shave ice with the works so I ordered a medium MK Special ($ 7). The small cup seemed way smaller, so I would recommend the medium at the least since it is only a buck more. It has all of the aforementioned Japanese toppings along with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for good measure.
Having only tried shave ice at Waiola previously, I have to say the product here is much better. I really like the combination of the kuromitsu syrup and soy bean powder in the MK Special. The vanilla ice cream was a nice addition because it added a creaminess to the shave ice. I would recommend the special as long as you are okay paying the premium price for it.
The shave ice stand is open every day except Monday. However, the stand may not be open if it is a rainy day since the location is not fully covered.
If you are looking for a higher quality shave ice experience, check out Monsarrat Ave Shave Ice.

Continuing my girlfriend and mine’s quest for ono kine grindz on our short trip home, shave ice was a must! After finishing our meal at Pioneer Salon, we saw advertisements for shave ice. It was a sunny, but gorgeous day in Hawai’i nei and although we were stuffed, we made an exception for this must-​have dessert.
Monsarrat Ave Shave Ice was right next door to Pioneer Salon and could be easily missed if it wasn’t for the chalkboard sign. The actual shop itself was down a small alleyway that adorned with knick-​knacks advertising Hawai’i.
We stood behind a Japanese couple and saw that they ordered the large cup of shaved ice. It looked humANGous, so we opted for the small cup ($ 4). With an order, one could choose two flavors free of charge. They also offered different toppings ranging from azuki beans to ice cream. I ordered the mango and lilikoi combination, and she ordered the strawberry with vanilla ice cream. With one single bite, the taste of FRESH fruit was detected. It was obvious that their syrups were made with real fruit without any artifical flavorings. It was literally like taking a bite out of a freshly, plucked mango off of a mango tree! The ice was also finely shaven, so it was just melt in your mouth goodness. This place is HIGHLY recommended for a hot day or just a regular-​enjoy-​your-​day-​you-​deserve-​a-​treat kind of day.