Matsumoto's

Lonely Planet review

For many people, the circle-island drive isn't complete without lining up for shave ice at Matsumoto's tin-roofed general store. Often Honolulu families drive to the North Shore with one purpose: to stand in line here and walk out with a dripping, delicious shave ice cone, drenched with island flavors, such as liliko'i (passion fruit), banana, mango and pineapple.

Hawaiian shave ice is drenched with industrial-strength sweet syrup like the snow cones found on the US mainland, but it's much better because the ice is more finely shaved. A medium-sized cone with a combination of flavors usually costs about around US$2 , a bit more if you add a local favorite, red azuki bean. The entire concoction begins dripping into a sticky mess the second you get it, so don't dawdle.