Matsumoto Shave Ice

Matsumoto Shave Ice is a tiny shop in the North Shore town of Haleiwa that has been serving shave ice since 1951. It is arguably the most famous shave ice shop in Hawaii -- and given that shave ice is to Hawaii what deep dish is to Chicago, that is saying something. For families driving to the North Shore (and you should -- it is a completely different world from Waikiki), Matsumoto's is the essential snack stop.

The distinction between shave ice and a mainland snow cone matters. Snow cones are crushed ice with syrup poured over the top, resulting in a crunchy texture with flavor only on the surface. Shave ice is ice shaved from a block into gossamer-thin ribbons that pack together into a soft, powdery mound.

The syrup absorbs completely into the ice, flavoring every bite from top to bottom. The texture is silky and melts on the tongue rather than crunching. Once kids have real Hawaiian shave ice, they will never accept a snow cone again.

Matsumoto's offers dozens of flavors from traditional Japanese-influenced options (li hing mui, azuki bean, green tea) to tropical fruits (lilikoi, mango, guava, coconut, pineapple) to classics (strawberry, banana, blue vanilla). The rainbow combo -- three flavors layered to create a red-yellow-blue spectrum -- is the most ordered and most photographed. Add-ons include a scoop of vanilla ice cream at the bottom ($1.

50), azuki beans (sweetened red beans, a Japanese tradition, $0. 75), and mochi balls.

The shop is a weathered wooden building with hand-painted signs, a takeout window, and a few shaded benches. There is no indoor seating and no restaurant -- this is a stand that serves one thing exceptionally well. The walls are covered with photos of visiting celebrities and decades of memorabilia.

The line extends along the sidewalk on busy days, but the staff work quickly and it moves faster than it looks.

Matsumoto's is located on Kamehameha Highway in the heart of Haleiwa, the laid-back surf town on Oahu's North Shore. The drive from Waikiki takes 45-60 minutes depending on traffic (the H-2 freeway to the Kamehameha Highway). This is not a quick errand -- it is part of a North Shore day trip that should also include beach time (Sunset Beach and Pipeline for watching big-wave surfing in winter; Sharks Cove and Three Tables for snorkeling in summer), the Dole Plantation (20 minutes south on the highway), and lunch at one of the North Shore's famous food trucks (Giovanni's garlic shrimp is the classic).

Haleiwa town itself is worth 30-60 minutes of walking. The main street has surf shops, art galleries, boutiques, and restaurants in a funky, low-key atmosphere that feels nothing like Waikiki. For families, it provides a glimpse of the rural, surfing-culture side of Oahu that most tourists never see.