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About
Da Hawaiian Brain Freeze Shave Ice & Ice Cream
Welcome to Da Hawaiian Brain Freeze Shave Ice & Ice Cream, a delightful gem located in the heart of Hilo, Hawaii! Nestled at 1263 Kilauea Ave, this charming establishment offers a refreshing escape from the tropical heat with its sensational selection of shave ice and ice cream. With a focus on authentic Hawaiian flavors, Da Hawaiian Brain Freeze ensures each visit is a memorable experience.
This isn't just your average snow cone shop. Here, shave ice is crafted to perfection; the ice is finely shaved, resulting in a light, fluffy texture that melts in your mouth. The flavor combinations are vibrant and enticing, with options like Strawberry, Banana, and the delightful Blue Vanilla. For the more adventurous palate, flavors such as Lihing Mui, Pina Colada, Lychee, Guava, Lilikoi, Lime, and Melona offer an exotic twist that transports you straight to the Hawaiian islands.
One standout feature that customers rave about is the sheer size of the servings. Patrons like Jenny W. and Mary N. have shared their astonishment at the 'keiki' (kids) portions, which they describe as enormous and incredibly reasonably priced. It's an excellent value for families looking to cool down without breaking the bank.
For those who crave something a little more indulgent, Da Hawaiian Brain Freeze's ice cream offerings will not disappoint. The Ube Shake, featuring purple sweet potato and Haupia, has received glowing reviews from customers like Mitchell A., who touts it as simply the best on the island. The ice cream complements the shave ice beautifully, providing a creamy contrast that enhances the overall experience.
While the ambiance may lean towards simplicity, with limited seating and a bustling shopping center location, the focus here is clearly on delivering fantastic frozen treats. As T K. notes, enjoying an authentic Hawaiian shave ice with a scoop of ice cream in the center is a must-do while on the Big Island. He emphasizes that the fresh, natural flavors—like their Ube and Lilikoi—differ entirely from anything artificial you might find elsewhere.
If you're in Hilo and looking for a way to refresh, Da Hawaiian Brain Freeze Shave Ice & Ice Cream stands out as a perfect destination. Whether it's the delectable shave ice or the indulgent ice cream, every bite is crafted with the spirit of Hawaii, ensuring that your taste buds will thank you!
- Location: 1263 Kilauea Ave, Hilo, HI 96720
- Phone: (808) 961-5935
- Must-Try Flavors: Strawberry, Lilikoi, Ube Shake
- Parking: Ample free parking available
Don’t miss out on elevating your Big Island adventure at Da Hawaiian Brain Freeze—it's a decision you won’t regret!
People talk
Our Guestbook
“ We were blown away by the size of the keiki shaved ice! Da Hawaiian Brain Freeze is no frills and is located in a busy shopping area with plenty of parking. There aren't many seats inside, and no seating outside. It wasn't the friendliest service, but we got what we needed. My son got a combo of watermelon, strawberry & cherry flavors and loved it! ”
“ Love this place, have been there twice and they have the best ice cream. The Ube Shake is the best, purple sweet potato and Haupia. Everyone in the family had ice cream and sorbet all enjoyed very much. Highly recommend. ”
“ The price is amazing for what you get. The "kids size" was HUGE. Very generous serving. Located in a busy shopping center but there is a lot of free parking. Definitely recommended. ”
“ Definitely recommend you come here for shaved ice. I went to a couple places on the island and this place was the most generous for the best price! The flavors are good and they have other stuff like shakes and ice cream that look delicious! ”
“ My trip to the Big Island had a list of non-negotiables. Mauna Kea, snorkeling, Volcanoes and no way was I not getting authentic Hawaiian shaved ice. You might think to yourself what's the big deal, I had a snow cone before. This is not that! We had ice cream in the center of ours. Don't cheat yourself by not ordering the ice cream. You can burn the calories when you hike on the Hilo side of the island. Go all in and do it right. You will not be disappointed. Also, the Ube and Lillikoi flavors were our favorite but even the strawberry didn't taste artificial, it tasted like actual strawberries. None of the syrups taste artificial by the way. Long story short. Enhance your Big Island experience by visiting Da Hawaiian Brain Freeze. It's a no-brainer. ”
“ Best shaved ice I ever had!! Had flavor called Tigers Blood Strawberry and Pina Colada ”
“ We fell in love with Hilo and Da Hawaaian Brain Freeze shave ice. All kinds of delicious frozen treats. We returned twice and would have gone back a third time had we more time in beautiful Hilo. The shave is like snow- so fine! All the flavors we tried were amazing. Tip: get the ice cream inside the shave ice. We got mac nut and ube -both were incredible. ”
“ Yes, the size of the regular is huge! I got pineapple, lychee and coconut which was meh for me. That's on me that the combo wasn't the most colorful or flavorful. No line to get in during the late afternoon. I usually get ice cream but glad I didn't as I don't know how it would have all fit! As another helper has said, toppings right now are $2 per which is steep even for me. There's not a lot of room to sit inside and they don't have dedicated seating outside the shop. There are benches in the shopping center and plenty of parking lot spaces. I wouldn't mind trying them again with a Keiko size and ice cream. The ice cream flavors all looked good as well. Please support this local business ”
“ A must stop for shave ice and ice cream. Located in a small strip mall. Friendly service . So many flavor choices to choose from. ”
“ I am a Shave Ice and Ice Cream connoisseur. I've been to all the best places on all the islands. Matsumotos on Oahu, JoJos and Skinny Mikes on Kauai, and Scandi's in Kona but Brain Freeze stands alone now! The shave ice is as big as your head (no exaggeration). Reasonably priced but a little high on the snow cap and ice cream option. Lots of flavors and a perfect pour so that it's not soupy or puddles at the bottom. They also feature lots different flavors with the mudslide and banana macadamia nut being the popular flavors in our group and my wife saying it was now her new favorite all time flavor. There's also a couple cultural options if you wanna try something new. Brain Freeze without a doubt will be a MUST visit when coming g to Hilo or worth the drive when coming from Kona! ”
