Ultimate Guide to 12 Luscious Local Ice Cream Shops
Spring is here with warm weather and two new ice cream shops to add to this creamy-licious roundup.
Editor’s Note: We originally published this guide in July 2023 to coincide with calendar-driven celebrations of ice cream. But because the weather is getting warmer, we figured we’d share this again, with two newcomers that have generated lots of sweet buzz.
Sunday may be National Ice Cream Day and July may be National Ice Cream Month, but ice cream is always in season in our ever-80-degree climate. While there is no shortage of chains and international brands, O‘ahu is home to a slew of delicious local ice cream makers that deserve your time and attention. Here, we spotlight these homegrown favorites.
Black Sheep Ice Cream Co.
Photo: Alexander Pang
Where:
- Waipio: 94-1235 Ka Uka Blvd., (808) 600-5655
- Wahiawā: 43 S. Kamehameha Hwy, (808) 620-5550
- Kaka‘ako: H Mart, Second Floor, 458 Keawe St.
- Ko Olina Center & Station, 92-1049 Olani St. #3-101C
Contact: @blacksheepcreamco
Black Sheep specializes in thick, rich ice cream that pulls apart in slow spoonfuls. The micro chain makes an assortment of eyebrow-raising flavors, including Buttah Cakes, whose cream cheese base is embedded with chunks of butter cake; and the loaded Salted Crackamel, featuring salted cream, caramel ribbons and crispy cracker brittle. Pictured above is the popular Creep It Real, a luscious and filling take on cookies n’ cream. Grab your choice in a cup, classic or chocolate waffle cone, shake or float. Coffee lovers can even submerge their scoop in an affogato.
Butterfly Ice Cream (closed)
Photo: Alexander Pang
Where: Inside Rabbit Rabbit Tea University, Mō‘ili‘ili, 2700 S. King St., (808) 429-4483
Contact: butterflycreamery.com, @butterflyicecream
Located inside a boba shop below the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Butterfly Ice Cream serves over a dozen creamy house-made flavors. The black sesame is a standout, with a sweet, nutty taste that hovers pleasantly on the tongue. Butterfly’s specialty is “spirited” alcohol-infused ice cream, so we tried every dad’s timeless favorite: rum raisin. The rum-soaked raisins and undercurrent of alcohol lend depth to the flavor without overpowering the senses, an off-duty treat that goes down smooth.
SEE ALSO: Celebrate the Plant-Based Life at These 11 Vegan-Friendly Dessert Spots
Castaways Ice Cream
Photo: Gabriela Cervantes
Where: 2346 S. King St.
Contact: @castawaysicecream
The newest ice cream shop to open in Honolulu, Castaways offers premium, homemade ice cream, made fresh with natural ingredients in the shop. Flavors include birthday cake, pandan with coconut, pistachio and strawberry banana.
Dave’s Hawaiian Ice Cream
Photo: Alexander Pang
Where:
- ‘Aiea: 98-820 Moanalua Road, (808) 487-7887
- Waikīkī: Ilikai Hotel, First Floor, 1777 Ala Moana Blvd., (808) 425-4496
- Pearl City: 850 Kamehameha Hwy, (808) 456-8888
- Waimānalo: 41-1537 Kalanianaʻole Hwy, (808) 259-0356
- Waipi‘o Shopping Center, 94-1040 Waipi‘o Uka St., (808) 677-0028
Contact: daveshawaiianicecream.com, @davesicecream
After 40 years of serving local ice cream, Dave’s remains a household name. The scoops may not look as glitzy as some of the newer kids on the block, but Dave’s honed its straightforward flavors long ago. For a place that serves over 40 flavors, Dave’s has quite a few winners, including toasted macadamia nut, azuki bean and mint chip. It’s safe to call the green tea ice cream an island classic, with a creamy and distinctive flavor that’s kept locals hooked for decades.
Double Fat Ice Cream
Photo: Martha Cheng
Where: ‘Alohilani Resort Waikīkī Beach, 124 Kealohilani Ave.
Contact: @doublefaticecream
Double Fat offers intriguing flavors with a nostalgic, local bent. Take the honey furikake flavor, based on the Chex Mix snack that you munched on as a kid at a post-game potluck, or the almond cookie flavor, with the buttery color and taste of the Chinese confection. Looking for something even more adventurous? Try the Crack Seed Delight, a sweet-salty-sour creation of strawberry and sweet cream ice cream, mochi crunch, condensed milk, li hing powder and whip.
Henry’s Place
Photo: Alexander Pang
Where: 234 Beach Walk, Waikīkī, (808) 772-8822
Contact: @henrysplacehawaii
Nestled between bustling Waikīkī hotels, Henry’s Place serves ice cream in styrofoam cups with flavor names scrawled on the side in Sharpie. While the presentation is unassuming, seasoned foodies know not to judge a book by its cover. The ice cream here is wonderfully light, smooth and addictive. Fruity flavors such as mango, liliko‘i and pineapple are perfect after a sweltering day at the beach. Henry’s Place is cash-only, and outdoor seating is limited, so come prepared.
SEE ALSO: Chill Out with 8 Frozen Treats We Found Around O‘ahu
Lappert’s Hawai‘i
Photo: Alexander Pang
Where: Hilton Hawaiian Village Rainbow Bazaar, Waikīkī, 2005 Kalia Road, (808) 943-0256
Contact: lappertshawaii.com, @lappertsaloha
Lappert’s is another veteran local ice cream maker, born of humble beginnings on Kaua‘i. While the majority of locations are on the neighbor islands, Lappert’s in Waikīkī offers the brand’s expansive selection of ice cream, baked goods and coffee. Fans of chunky, hearty ice cream loaded with caramel, nuts and fudge will find their match here. If you’re hungry for dessert, feast your eyes on the Kaua‘i Pie, a mouthwatering combo of Kona coffee ice cream, coconut flakes, dark chocolate fudge, macadamia nuts and vanilla cake crunch.
Please Come Again
Photo: Maria Burke
Where: 322 Ku‘ulei Road (across from Kailua Elementary School)
Contact: pleasecomeagainhawaii.com, @pleasecomeagainhawaii
In the former Double Three location, the new shop by Jo and Kyle Wai Lin, a couple from the Bay Area, feels like a hip boutique that happens to sell ice cream. The 16 flavors are just as cool, with many ingredients sourced locally. Different-size scoops are available in a cup, sugar cone, handmade waffle cone, four-flavor flight and an affogato topped with freshly pulled Tradition Coffee Roasters espresso. Although Please Come Again hasn’t been crafting ice cream for very long, the flavors and textures show staying power.
SEE ALSO: Sweet Treats: Kailua’s New Ice Cream Parlor Has One Request
Sage Creamery
Photo: Thomas Obungen
Where: 91-3575 Kauluakoko St., ‘Ewa Beach
Contact: sagecreamery.com, @sagecreamery
Sage Creamery whips up local ingredients into delightful and intriguing flavors on a menu that changes monthly. While the popular Strawberry Fields and Cookies + Cream are frequent fixtures, other months have seen sumptuous limited-time choices like Butter Mochi, Guava Cream Pie and Blue Jasmine Milk Tea. Years in the making, Sage Creamery opened its scoop shop and café in ‘Ewa Beach. They tend to sell out, so if you want a taste, make a point to stop by sooner in the day.
Sweet As Ice Cream
Photo: Courtesy of Sweet As Ice Cream
Where:
- Lā‘ie: Hukilau Marketplace, 55-370 Kamehameha Hwy, (808) 762-0644
- Hale‘iwa: 62-620 Kamehameha Hwy
- Ala Moana Center: Center Court Level 3
Contact: sweetasicecream.com, @sweetas_icecream
Sweet As blends its ice cream with ripe fruit, creating colorful treats with potent flavor and texture. It’s simple: Choose your ice cream (vanilla, coconut, dairy-free coconut or soft serve) and your fruit (mango, strawberry, pineapple, blueberry, raspberry or mixed berry), and Sweet As will blend the two together. You can savor the scoops in a cup or a handmade waffle cone.
Sweet Creams
Photo: Catherine Toth Fox
Where: 1430 Kona St., Kaka‘ako, (808) 260-4725
Contact: @sweetcreams808
Sweet Creams specializes in rolled ice cream. After placing your order, you can watch the ice cream makers spread patches of ice cream on a cold plate before crafting them into snug, sweet rolls. There are vegan-friendly options and customizable combos allowing you to choose a base ice cream and up to four toppings. Speaking of toppings: Sweet Creams has everyone (and every ice cream) covered, with more than 30 choices ranging from gummy bears and Fruity Pebbles to fresh fruit and Okinawan sweet potato.
Uncle’s Ice Cream Sandwiches
Photo: Alexander Pang
Where: Various retailers; see the map here
Contact: unclesicecream.com, @unclesicecream
Once a North Shore stand dreamed up by hydroponic lettuce farmers, Uncle’s Ice Cream Sandwiches is now an island-wide enterprise. You can find the treats at grocers and retailers like ABC Store and Whole Foods. Uncle’s rich ice cream and thick cookies make for a satisfying mouthful, with flavors running the gamut from honey peanut butter to North Shore coffee.
SEE ALSO: Cool Operator–Uncle’s Ice Cream Expands
Wing Ice Cream
Photo: Courtesy of Wing Ice Cream
Where: 1145 Maunakea St. Ste. 4, Chinatown, (808) 536-4929
Contact: wingicecream.com, @wingicecream
This popular Chinatown ice cream parlor offers upbeat flavors like mango and chrysanthemum as well as heavier flavors like the bourbon-based Daddy Chill and a chocolate Oreo marshmallow swirl mashup fittingly called S’mOreos. If you’re looking for non-dairy options, try the coconut-based ice creams such as the chocolate and banana Coco Monkey and the cherry and chocolate Mon Cheri.
