Shave Ice

If you've never visited Hawaii, then you might not know what this frozen treat is all about.

Happy Shave Ice faces. (Blue tongue courtesy of Noah's favorite blue raspberry flavor.)

Shave ice is similar to a snow cone, but because the ice is shaved and not crushed, its texture absorbs more of the flavored syrups than a snow cone does. Shave ice also comes with additional options like a scoop of ice cream in the middle of the ice, which really makes this two treats in one. Most stands have dozens of flavors to pick from, and most let you choose up to three flavors per shave ice order, creating an endless combination of delicious treats.

Discussing flavor combinations is serious business.

It is the nature of shave ice that you can't really pick up a quart and take it home with you. No, shave ice must be eaten...er...fresh...otherwise the ice melts, then the ice cream, then you have a syrupy mess without all of the frozen goodness. Thus, shave ice stands can be found all over Hawaii and there are as many opinions as to which shave ice is "the best" as there are tourists and locals on the Island of Oahu.

Contemplating the best way to eat a giant bowl of shave ice.

By my count, we ate shave ice one hundred and thirty-seven times on our two week vacation, but the boys still get a little angry as they talk about "that one day we forgot to get shave ice".

No matter. You can't really argue with the smiling faces of our campers as they enjoy their new favorite dessert.