M. Matsumodo Grocery Store (Shaved Ice)

Hawaii had its ups and downs.  Everything from decent to bleh food, and jumping out of an airplane.  Matsumodo Shave Ice from the M. Matsumodo Grocery Store was an absolute up.  

Another location frequented by tourists and locals alike, Matsumodo-son clearly knew what he was doing.  My wife insisted that we make the trek more than once, and together we tried mango, piña colada, lilikoi, lemon, sour li hing mui, coconut, sour apple, and pickled mango.  All with soft serve in the bottom.

A tip, pay the quarter for the plastic protector you see above.  It is worth its weight in a quarter.  This shaved ice institution has earned its stripes, and I would highly recommend getting at least one sour flavor to break up the incredibly sweet, sweet ones.  Our favorite was the Sour Li Hing Mui.  


Wondering what Sour Li Hing Mui is?  It's salty, dried plum.

Matsumodo Shave Ice at M. Matsumodo Grocery Store
66-087 Kamehameha Highway  
Haleiwa, HI 96712
(808) 637-4827
5 of 5

Kahuku Farms

Driving around the North Shore of Oahu, there are just so many things to see.  So many places call your name.  "Stop Here."  "No, Stop Here."  "Why choose?  Stop at both places!"  
Kahuku Farms was one of these places.  Local.  Fresh.  Delicious looking.  Near famous shrimp trucks, and in a fairly well traveled area of the North Shore, their little farm store called Kahuku Farms Farm Cafe was just so tempting.  We stopped for shakes (pictured below) and some lilikoi ice cream.  

It wasn't bad, it was just tremendously disappointing.  First, I must mention what my wife has dubbed a term for a phenomenon, "the Aloha Bump."  This "Bump" is the good vibe that people feel being in Hawaii - and this vibe makes people more inclined to write positive reviews on crowdsourcing sites, like Yelp.  In addition, everyone is so laid back in Hawaii that they love everybody, and everything!  Kahuku Farms was the beneficiary of an Aloha Bump.  


We ordered the lilikoi joy (lilikoi and banana), haupia pineapple (pineapple and coconut), and lilikoi ice cream.  This was after we found out there was no more papaya for a half papaya with ice cream (my first choice).  Despite my earnest request for -anything but banana- in my smoothie, the unapologetic attendant informed me that lilikoi joy MUST come with banana and there were absolutely NO substitutes.  She, and her cohort, swore up and down that because lilikoi is such a strong flavor (think a slightly less pronounced passion fruit) that you cannot taste the banana.  


I gave it a shot, and I paid for it.  Paid for it in more than one way.  Banana is such a strong flavor in smoothies, especially when it is the base of the drink, and extra especially when it is starchy and under-ripened.  I could taste almost nothing but banana.  Think a tart banana shake with seeds.  My kind, accommodating, anti-conflict wife took a taste and knew that I would not be happy.  She agreed it was terribly banana-y.  Her haupia pineapple was good, but average.  The lilikoi ice cream scoop was good, but not smooth.  It was crystalized, maybe a little old or not creme-based.  This said, things were fresh (though frozen).  Also, we did not try the paninis or other offerings at the farm.  


What can I say, other than I was very disappointed?  Mostly, I would have appreciated the folks being just a little accommodating.  Since treats like these are a dime a dozen in Hawaii, I am not going to be speeding back to Kahuku.


Kahuku Farms
56-800 Kamehameha Highway  
Kahuku, HI 96731
2.5 of 5