Whether you’re coming in from a day of sun and surf at Kailua Beach, rewarding the kids for finishing their chores, or desperately seeking a cool retreat in-between errands or after a morning of Zoom meetings in your hot home office, here are 7 places in Kailua Town to find heat-buster treats this summer – or anytime.
King of Cool
After more than three decades of serving up authentic Hawaiian shave ice to parched Kailuans and savvy visitors, including former President Barack Obama, Island Snow has earned a place among local shave ice royalty. At last count, the menu boasted 23 classic flavors, 15 natural flavors (made with local fruits and preservative-free) and 4 sugar-free flavors. Choose your own combo of flavors, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or azuki beans on the bottom and a snow cap on top – the realm of possibilities are endless!
Kailua Beach Center, 130 Kailua Rd, Kailua, HI 96734
Kailua Shopping Center, 600 Kailua Rd, Kailua, HI 96734
Fresh | Pure | Hawaiian
Lanikai Juice was one of just a handful of juice bars on Oahu in 1997 when it opened its flagship location in the Kailua Shopping Center. Four years later it became the pioneer of açaí bowls in Hawaii, long before folks knew how to pronounce the name of that Amazonian fruit. Today, Lanikai Juice has a loyal following of Kailua regulars and visitors who come for the fresh, organic ingredients that go into the bowls, smoothies and fresh- and cold-pressed juices. New keiki-sized smoothies are now available in three favorite flavors: Kailua Monkey, Strawberry Shaka and Pacific Passion.
Lanikai Juice | Kailua Shopping Center, 600 Kailua Rd, Kailua, HI 96734
Farm-to-Frozen
What do you get when you turn locally grown bananas into ice cream, then add other Island-grown ingredients? Banán! Guilt-free, dairy-free soft-serve goodness that happen to also be vegan, paleo, gluten-free and just plain onolicious! This mission-driven company composts all of its food waste – including plenty banana peels – into local farms and pig farms. And when you BYOB (Bring Your Own Bowl) Banán donates $1 to a local nonprofit.
Banán | Kailua Town Center, 609 Kailua Rd, Kailua, HI 96734
Bee Happy
Family-owned and family friendly, Bee & Tea Boba Tea and Smoothie Café specializes in Taiwanese-style boba milk tea beverages, but its extensive menu of non-dairy boba teas, fresh fruit smoothies, milkshakes, cold-brew coffee, flavored iced teas and lemonades will keep your whole family coming back again and again. This summer, ube returns: A fresh coconut smoothie with ube ice cream on the bottom.
Bee + Tea | Merchant’s Row, 131 Hekili St #106, Kailua, HI 96734
That’s How They Roll
One of the newest cool kids in town is Blue Bubble Creamery, the second location for owner Sing Li’s unique frozen confections: hand-crafted ice cream rolls topped with a heap of whipped cream and a variety of toppings. Tried-and-true favorites include Cookie Monster and Cott-on Cloud 9; two flavors are exclusive to the Kailua Town location: Açaí You Later and Matcha Muchacha. They are made to order as you watch so you’ll find entertainment and deliciousness all in one stop! Ice cream shakes are on the menu, too.
Blue Bubble Creamery | Merchant’s Row, 131 Hekili St #104, Kailua, HI 96734
National Pleasures
We would be remiss if we didn’t remind you of two national brands with homes in Kailua Town: Baskin-Robbins and Jamba Hawaii.
BR has long been a go-to stop for frozen comfort. This summer break out of your comfort zone (we’re talking the usual Mint Chocolate Chip, Oreo Cookies & Cream and Jamoca) and discover a new seasonal “flavorite” like Wild & Reckless Sherbet, Lemon Custard or Cotton Candy Crackle Ice Cream.
Baskin-Robbins | 108 Hekili St, Kailua, HI 96734
Jamba is whirling a new Watermelon Breeze smoothie this summer, or go for the current featured bowl: Vanilla Blue Sky, packed with fruity goodness, including bananas, pineapple, strawberries and blueberries, as well as blue spirulina and healthy toppings.
Jamba Hawaii | 539 Kailua Rd, Kailua, HI 96734
