Flavor Boulevard

We Asians like to talk food.
Subscribe

Shave ice from Coconut Cafe

August 08, 2015 By: Mai Truong Category: Cafes, Drinks, One shot, sweet snacks and desserts, Travel

coconut-cafe-shaveice-pog
Hawaii is paradise if you are:
1. into constant heat and 90% humidity. In Hawaii, the world outside your air-conditioned box (e.g., your house, car, or office) is a sauna.
2. in the shave ice, juice, lemonade, or ice cream business.

The owner of Coconut Cafe is in *full* control of her life, her shop, and her customers. Her main sale is undoubtedly shaved ice, although her menu also has other dessert drinks (such as bubble teas), sandwiches and burgers. Coconut Cafe has no fixed hours of operation. She opens and closes when she wants to, and even if you walk into the door when she has already decided to close, she will tell you firmly so and there is no changing it. We know this fact, because we experienced it not just once, but 4 times.

The first day, we got there at 9:30 pm, after dinner, doors were shut tight, understandably, although we were somewhat surprised by how early stores and restaurants close in Hawaii compared to Berkeley. There was no sign anywhere saying what hours they’re open.

The second day, we got there around 5 pm. The lady said we could get shaved ice to-go because she’s closing, which is fine with us. A couple walked in a few minutes after us and they had to leave empty-handed. We thought about how lucky we were.

That luck didn’t last, however. The next two days we returned, around the same time, first to a closed shop, then to an about-to-close shop, and the lady said it’d be open around noon the next day. Noon the next day, we returned, a guy promptly greeted us with a simple cross of the arms, “we’re close,” without so much of a sorry. We left, dejected and irritated. Is a cup of shaved ice really worth our pride? Is a shaved-ice shop opening at noon, according to the owner’s words no less, really so much to ask for?

We were out of patience and ready to not ever go back, but luckily (and somewhat inexplicably), we went back. The owner lady apologized with as much sincerity as she could express, explained why she couldn’t open at noon as promised (I still can’t fully understand her explanation until this day, but I suppose that’s on me), and even waited for our return late that day. She stayed opened until 6:30 pm, just for us. As soon as we got our shaved ice, she closed for the day.

Shave ice with 3 flavors: pineapple, cherry, and P.O.G. (passion fruit, orange, guava). Photo by bnibroc.

Shave ice with 3 flavors: pineapple, cherry, and P.O.G. (passion fruit, orange, guava). Photo by bnibroc.

The fruity syrups, condensed milk and ice cream certainly make her shaved ice desirable. The heat helps, too. But I think her business model is successful for two main reasons:
1. The completely, unfailingly unpredictable hours (you know, keep us customers on our toes)
2. The owner is nice. She doesn’t treat her customers with indifference.

So, as one of the kids exclaimed right after taking his first spoon,
“This is the best shaved ice I’ve ever had. Thank you!”

Address: Coconut Cafe
2441 Kuhio Ave
Honolulu, HI 96815
(cash only)

0 Comments to “Shave ice from Coconut Cafe”


  1. Hey would you mind letting me know which hosting company you’re using? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different internet browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot quicker then most. Can you suggest a good internet hosting provider at a fair price? Cheers, I appreciate it!

    1
  2. I was recommended this web site by my cousin. I’m not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my difficulty. You are incredible! Thanks!

    2
  3. It’s truly a great and useful piece of info. I’m satisfied that you shared this useful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.

    3
  4. Can I simply say what a reduction to search out somebody who truly knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You definitely know the way to bring an issue to light and make it important. Extra folks have to learn this and understand this aspect of the story. I cant believe youre no more widespread since you positively have the gift.

    4
  5. I really like your writing style, excellent info , thanks for putting up :D.

    5
  6. This design is incredible! You definitely know how to keep a reader amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Excellent job. I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!

    6
  7. obviously like your website but you have to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very troublesome to inform the truth nevertheless I will surely come again again.

    7
  8. I will right away grab your rss feed as I can’t find your email subscription link or newsletter service. Do you have any? Kindly let me know in order that I could subscribe. Thanks.

    8
  9. Its excellent as your other content : D, thankyou for putting up.

    9
  10. Thank you for some other wonderful article. The place else could anybody get that type of information in such a perfect way of writing? I’ve a presentation next week, and I’m on the search for such information.

    10
  11. Oh my goodness! an amazing article dude. Thanks However I am experiencing subject with ur rss . Don’t know why Unable to subscribe to it. Is there anybody getting identical rss drawback? Anybody who is aware of kindly respond. Thnkx

    11
  12. It’s a pity you don’t have a donate button! I’d without a doubt donate to this brilliant blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to brand new updates and will share this blog with my Facebook group. Chat soon!

    12
  13. Its such as you learn my mind! You appear to understand a lot about this, such as you wrote the guide in it or something. I think that you could do with some to power the message house a little bit, however other than that, this is great blog. A fantastic read. I will definitely be back.

    13
  14. I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here. The sketch is attractive, your authored subject matter stylish. nonetheless, you command get got an shakiness over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come more formerly again as exactly the same nearly a lot often inside case you shield this hike.

    14
  15. Great beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your web site, how can i subscribe for a blog web site? The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear concept

    15
  16. When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Thanks!

    16
  17. Nice post. I learn something more challenging on different blogs everyday. It will always be stimulating to read content from other writers and practice a little something from their store. I’d prefer to use some with the content on my blog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll give you a link on your web blog. Thanks for sharing.

    17
  18. Hello! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be okay. I’m absolutely enjoying your blog and look forward to new posts.

    18
  19. I just could not leave your site before suggesting that I extremely loved the standard information an individual provide on your guests? Is going to be back incessantly to inspect new posts.

    19
  20. Hi, Neat post. There’s a problem with your web site in internet explorer, would test this… IE still is the market leader and a big portion of people will miss your great writing due to this problem.

    20
  21. Great write-up, I am regular visitor of one’s blog, maintain up the excellent operate, and It’s going to be a regular visitor for a long time.

    21
  22. Usually I do not read post on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do it! Your writing style has been amazed me. Thanks, very nice post.

    22
  23. I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own weblog and was wondering what all is needed to get setup? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny? I’m not very web smart so I’m not 100 sure. Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated. Appreciate it

    23
  24. I wanted to put you the tiny observation so as to give many thanks over again about the superb guidelines you’ve provided on this site. This is really pretty generous with you to allow publicly what exactly a lot of people would’ve offered for sale as an ebook to earn some dough for themselves, chiefly considering that you could have tried it in the event you desired. The tactics also served to become a easy way to comprehend the rest have the identical passion really like my very own to grasp a whole lot more pertaining to this matter. I believe there are some more fun occasions in the future for many who discover your blog.

    24
  25. I gotta favorite this website it seems very useful very useful

    25
  26. Hey very nice website!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Wonderful .. I will bookmark your site and take the feeds also?KI’m satisfied to search out numerous useful information here within the post, we’d like develop more techniques in this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .

    26
  27. An fascinating discussion is price comment. I think that you need to write more on this matter, it may not be a taboo subject but typically individuals are not sufficient to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers

    27
  28. Hi, i feel that i noticed you visited my weblog thus i got here to “go back the prefer”.I’m attempting to to find things to enhance my site!I guess its ok to use some of your ideas!!

    28
  29. Usually I don’t read article on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do it! Your writing style has been surprised me. Thanks, quite nice post.

    29
  30. I have recently started a website, the information you offer on this site has helped me tremendously. Thank you for all of your time & work.

    31
  31. I carry on listening to the news update speak about receiving free online grant applications so I have been looking around for the top site to get one. Could you advise me please, where could i get some?

    32
  32. Super-Duper website! I am loving it!! Will come back again. I am bookmarking your feeds also

    33
  33. Very interesting topic, thanks for putting up.

    34
  34. I like this weblog very much so much superb info .

    35
  35. Nice read, I just passed this onto a friend who was doing some research on that. And he just bought me lunch because I found it for him smile Thus let me rephrase that: Thank you for lunch!

    36
  36. I am extremely inspired along with your writing skills as smartly as with the structure to your blog. Is this a paid topic or did you customize it yourself? Either way keep up the nice quality writing, it is uncommon to peer a great blog like this one nowadays..

    37
  37. I wanted to create you that very small observation to finally say thanks a lot the moment again for these spectacular concepts you have featured on this site. This has been really particularly generous of you to make openly precisely what many individuals could possibly have marketed as an ebook to make some profit for their own end, primarily since you could possibly have tried it in the event you desired. These good tips likewise acted to be a fantastic way to realize that other individuals have the same interest really like mine to see way more concerning this problem. I think there are lots of more enjoyable instances ahead for those who look over your blog post.

    38


Leave a Reply