Restaurant review · North Shore
Aoki’s Shave Ice, Reviewed
Across the highway from Matsumoto, on the corner of Emerson Road, Haleiwa’s other family shave ice shop pours its own homemade syrups over classic shave ice.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book or buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
The Haleiwa town sign. Photo: Floyd Manzano, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The 30-second verdict
Aoki’s is the Haleiwa shave ice our itineraries keep sending people to: homemade syrups, a board of twelve named combos, and shave ice shakes. It is closed Tuesdays and posts its news only on social media, so check before you go, then try Matsumoto across the road too.
Aoki’s at a Glance
- Address
- 66-082 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI 96712
- Where
- 66-082 Kamehameha Highway at Emerson Road, Haleiwa
- What
- Shave ice, shave ice shakes, ice cream and sorbet
- Hours
- 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., closed Tuesdays (Google lists 6 p.m. on Wednesdays)
- Ordering
- Walk up to the counter
- Phone
- (808) 637-6782
- Seating
- Outdoor seating
- Parking
- None published; park in town and walk
- Drive
- About an hour from Waikiki, longer in traffic
Aoki’s has no website: hours are from its own posts (latest Apr 13, 2026), the menu from the counter boards in its own Instagram reel. Checked Sep 27, 2026. Closures are posted on Instagram and Facebook.
Best for
- CouplesGoodA quick, cheap stop with outdoor seating, not a sit-down date.
- FamiliesGreatA named Keiki Mix, ice cream and outdoor seating.
- FriendsGreatTwelve combos, about 30 flavors and shakes to split.
- SoloGoodA walk-up counter, and a small is a one-person snack.
- GroupsGoodEasy to order for many, but no parking of its own.
Pros
- Homemade syrups, by its own menu board.
- Twelve named combinations, from Rainbow and Volcano to Sour Pucker.
- Shave ice shakes, ice cream and sorbet, and ice cakes in the gift shop next door.
- Family-run, with outdoor seating.
Cons
- Closed every Tuesday.
- No website, printed menu or prices online.
- Closures are announced only on social media.
Known for
The named combos and the shave ice shake
The “Aoki’s Famous Flavors” board leads with the Rainbow and the Volcano. The shave ice shake is its homemade syrup blended with two scoops of vanilla ice cream.
What to Order
A classic bowl comes with three flavors, or pick a named combination: Rainbow, Volcano, Hawaiian Delight, Sunset Special, Hale’iwa or the Keiki Mix for kids. Add sweet azuki beans or vanilla ice cream. The classic flavors run from li hing mui, lilikoi and lychee to ube and tiger’s blood. Try a shave ice shake, and for the beach, pick up ice cakes in the gift shop next door. Scoops of ice cream and sorbet include haupia, kulolo and Kona coffee. More island sweets are in our local snacks guide.
Aoki’s or Matsumoto?
Aoki’s sits across Kamehameha Highway from Matsumoto, about 50 meters away, with outdoor seating, a counter under string lights and chalkboard menus, and a wave mural on the deck. Our 3-day itinerary and Oahu Scenic Drive Map lean toward Aoki’s for its texture and flavors; that is a taste call. The practical difference: Aoki’s closes Tuesdays, and Matsumoto opens every day. Try both. After the March 2026 storms, Aoki’s posted that it had minimal damage, and it was back on its regular schedule by mid-April.
Oahu North Shore Fun: Waimea Waterfall & Turtle Snorkeling
★★★★★ 4.9 · 2,051 reviews · From $168
Check AvailabilityWe may earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
Hours
Aoki’s posts its hours as 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., closed Tuesdays; Google lists a 6 p.m. close on Wednesdays. It announces holiday and weather closures on Instagram and Facebook, so check before a special trip. It publishes no online menu or prices.
Getting There
Aoki’s is at 66-082 Kamehameha Highway, on the corner of Emerson Road in Haleiwa town. It publishes no parking of its own, so park in town and walk. From Waikiki it is about 34.6 miles, about an hour without traffic, via H-1 and H-2. Pair it with the North Shore food trucks and the rest of the North Shore.
Rental car
Drive to Haleiwa
Haleiwa is about an hour from Waikiki, and a car turns shave ice into one stop on a North Shore loop. DiscoverCars searches the island’s rental agencies in one go. Compare Oahu rental cars on DiscoverCars.
We may earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
Aoki’s on Instagram
Could be better
Aoki’s closes every Tuesday, has no website, and posts its closures and prices only on social media. Check Instagram before you drive up; on a Tuesday, Matsumoto across the road is open.
Consider Instead
- Matsumoto Shave Ice is the pick on a Tuesday, when Aoki’s is closed: it opens every day at 10 a.m., takes cards, and has parking behind the shops at Haleiwa Store Lots. Expect a line on busy days, since it takes no phone orders.
- Waiola Shave Ice is the pick if the North Shore is not on your route: the original McCully shop is about 10 minutes from the Royal Hawaiian, open every day until a 5:55 p.m. last call, with a lot of its own.
- Paalaa Kai Bakery is five minutes inland from Haleiwa town and the pick for a box of snow puffies to take home. It opens at 6 a.m. every day; call a day ahead, because the puffies sell out.
Tips Before You Go to Aoki’s
- Skip Tuesday. Aoki’s is closed; Matsumoto across the road is open every day.
- Check Instagram first. Holiday and weather closures are posted there.
- Three flavors, or a combo. A classic bowl takes three flavors, or pick a named combination.
- Add beans or ice cream. Sweet azuki beans and vanilla ice cream are add-ins.
- Try a shake. Homemade syrup blended with two scoops of vanilla ice cream.
- Grab ice cakes for the beach. They are in the gift shop next door.
- Drive it. See renting a car on Oahu.
Aoki’s: Questions
Is Aoki’s Shave Ice open on Tuesdays?
No. Aoki’s posts its hours as 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., closed Tuesdays. On a Tuesday, Matsumoto across the highway is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where is Aoki’s compared with Matsumoto?
Across Kamehameha Highway, at 66-082 on the corner of Emerson Road; Matsumoto is at 66-111 in Haleiwa Store Lots. They are about 50 meters apart.
Does Aoki’s make its own syrups?
Yes. Its own menu board describes its shakes as its homemade syrups blended with vanilla ice cream.
Was Aoki’s damaged in the 2026 floods?
By its own account, only slightly. It posted in March 2026 that it had minimal damage, and in April that it was back on its regular schedule.
Where do I park for Aoki’s?
Aoki’s publishes no parking of its own. Park in Haleiwa town and walk over.
Sources, checked Sep 27, 2026
Researched from the sources above, checked Sep 27, 2026. We never claim a visit we did not make; first-hand notes are marked as Stew’s. How we research and review.
Leave a Reply