Note: The islands of Hawai‘i are heavily impacted and ravaged by overtourism and gentrification. Many indigenous-led organizations have called for tourists and wannabe residents to stop coming altogether. We urge you to heed this call.
That said, we know that the harmful effects of tourism won’t end overnight, and we have done our best to sum up our learnings and follow the lead of native communities upon whose land we visit, as well as ways we try to practice antiracism during our travels. We’d love to hear your thoughts.
I’m not much of a sweets person. I much prefer savory and am even known to take one last bite of a savory dish, even after dessert! But when visiting O‘ahu you’ll find me lining up for ALL OF THE SWEET THINGS: shave ice, malasadas, mochi, haupia, pie, egg tarts, you name it.
So you can rest assured that if a savory-oriented person highly recommends these sweets, you will certainly find them enjoyable, as well!
We encourage you to donate to Native Hawaiian-led organizations such as ‘Āina Momona, which was founded to achieve “environmental health and sustainability through restoring social justice and Hawaiian sovereignty.” Follow their work on Instagram and on the web.
Our Values
Our favorite sweet treat vendors share these characteristics:
- As you might be able to discern from my recommendations, my ideal dessert is bready and not too sweet. Let my child’s palate guide those of you with more of a sweet tooth 🙂
- Outdoor seating or takeout available
- Is casual enough of an atmosphere for our family not to feel to constricted
- Locally owned, preferably by BIPOC folks
Top Recommended Sweet Treats for the Whole Family
Shave Ice
Matsumoto Shave Ice, Haleiwa
$5-$10/person
Yes, it’s a tourist trap. But you know we wouldn’t be recommending a tourist trap unless it’s a good one! Matsumoto is family-owned and has been in operation since 1951, so it’s an institution!
Our favorite item on the menu is the Ichiban Special, which comes with the typical shave ice, plus ice cream, mochi, azuki beans, and an edible wafer bowl to cut the sweet. Delicious!
Prepare yourself to be tempted by all the cute t-shirts (which come in everyone’s size) and other souvenirs.
Uncle Clay's House of Pure Aloha,
ʻĀina Haina (Honolulu)
($4-$10/person)
Our friends who are O‘ahu residents could not rave enough about this place, and it’s easy to see why; unlike other shave ice spots that use artificially flavored syrups, Uncle Clay’s makes fresh fruit-based syrups in-house for all their shave ice needs. According to their website, they use “no artificial flavors, no artificial sweeteners, no artificial colors, no artificial anything!”
Our four-year-old enjoyed the combination of mango and strawberry flavors, with the added bonus of mochi pieces and fresh fruit.Top it off with a scoop of ice cream, and you’re set.
Malasadas
One of our top O‘ahu eats. Malasadas are basically fluffy, doughy donuts with Portuguese origins. Be sure to eat these fresh, as they don’t keep very well. All the more reason to eat a couple at a time 🙂
Leonard's Bakery, various locations
$2-$10/person
Leonard’s, circa 1952, is the most iconic malasada-maker on the island, complete with its pink boxes and retro neon signs.
We like Leonard’s because it’s fairly accessible with locations all around the island, plus their malasadas are pillowy-soft and doughy perfection. I personally like getting the plain sugared malasada, but they also offer li hing mui and cinnamon coatings. My four-year-old can finish almost an entire one on her own! I find that the filled malasadas are a little too heavy for my tastes.
Pipeline Bakeshop, Kaimuki (Honolulu)
$2-$5/person
Another popular option for malasadas is Pipeline Bakeshop. Our friend described their malasadas as the less-greasy version of Leonard’s, and I would have to agree. Pipeline’s malasadas are also more brioche-y than Leonard’s, and seem to have more of a delicious yeasty smell as a result.
Pipeline also offers much more baked goods than just malasadas–our kid’s favorite was the Fruity Pebbles-covered cookie!
Ice Cream
Kalo Bombs, Wai‘anae
$5-$15/person
This Hawaiian family-owned shop offers unique sweet treats featuring their star ingredient, kalo (taro), which is locally sourced.
Their namesake, the kalo bomb ($8), includes their made-fresh-daily paʻiʻai (pounded taro), topped with coconut cream and coconut flakes. Upgrade your kalo bomb with your choice of ice cream (+$4).
My kid and I loved visiting Kalo Bombs so much that we took some fresh paʻiʻai (sold by the quarter-pound) home with us to keep the party going!
Magnolia Ice Cream & Treats,
various locations
$5-$18/person
Pilipinx-owned Magnolia, the quintessential maker of Philippine-inspired ice creams, serves up sweet treats at their various scoop shops on the island (and on the mainland, for that matter).
Get the Mahalo-Halo (get it?!)—the quintessential dessert of the Philippines that has a mix of ice cream, fruits, and sweet beans with crushed ice. Or, opt for halo-halo in good ol’ ice cream form! Our other favorite flavors are ube, mango, and boba.
Double Fat Ice Cream, Waikiki
$5-$10/person
Double Fat Ice Cream is a literal hidden gem, tucked away on Kealohilani Avenue and up what feels like a loading dock ramp. We were navigating in the evening and definitely missed it, and even the kind folks at ‘Alohilani Resort—of which Double Fat is a part—had a tough time helping us find our way.
But fear not, this story has a happy ending in the form of Double Fat’s Crack Seed Delight sundae ($9), complete with strawberry and sweet cream ice creams topped with li hing mui powder, mochi rice crackers, condensed milk, and whipped cream. The sprinkles were added by special request. Be sure to try their other small batch seasonal flavors!
Other Awesome Sweet Treats to Tantalize Your Tastebuds
High Tea at Moana Surfrider, Waikiki
$65/adult; $25/child
Colonial origins notwithstanding (perhaps something to cover in a future post…), the afternoon tea service on the veranda of this beautiful beachside hotel can feel like such a treat. Plus, unlike other high tea experiences, the Surfrider offers a uniquely island-style menu with tropical flavors like passion fruit curd and haupia roll cake.
Of course, it comes with a hefty price tag, but thankfully we were able to save some cash when we opted not to order our kid her own set of tea, instead sharing the two adult tea services between the three of us. Even then it was plenty to eat, perhaps even too much, in fact…
Note that afternoon tea is only served on the weekends, between 11:30 am and 2:30 pm. Be sure to make a reservation in advance!
Honestly? I would go to Kona Coffee Purveyors/bpatisserie every day if I could. Delicious espresso drinks paired with buttery pastries made with island flavors? Yes, please!
I was tempted to get one of each pastry (especially after standing in their long line to order), but thankfully I was able to pace myself and managed to only walk away with only five of them 🙂 Our favorites were the kouign-ammans (both the guava and black sesame, ~$5 each), as well as the chocolate banana almond croissant (which is also available at bpatisserie’s San Francisco location).
The coffee-nerd in me loved watching the baristas at work in this very popular coffee chain/bakery. Be sure to dine in on the patio so you can savor every sip your coffee in a lovely mug.
Chocolate Haupia Pie at Ted’s Bakery, various locations
$5-$15/person
Of all desserts, I think pie and sweet breads are my favorites, and Ted’s certainly takes the…pie?
Ted’s serves a number of pie flavors via various grocery stores and distributors (unfortunately, they closed their North Shore bakery during the COVID-19 pandemic). My all-time favorite is their chocolate haupia pie, which features a layer of haupia (Hawaiian coconut pudding) atop chocolate pie filling. Last time we visited I even brought a pie back to the mainland just so I could keep eating it!
Lemon Chiffon Cake at The Alley, ʻAiea
$5-$10/person
You may not believe me when I say that one of the yummiest chiffon cakes I’ve ever tasted is from a bowling alley, but The Alley (also on our top restaurants list) will make you a believer. Their Lemon Crunch Chiffon Cake is a crowd-favorite—fluffy, not too sweet, and with a pop of citrus flavor.
Coco Puffs at Liliha Bakery, various locations
$5-$15/person
The Coco Puffs at Liliha Bakery (and diner) are not your average cream puff. Since 1990 Liliha has been filling them with chocolate topped with their their now-signature Chantilly cream.
It’s easy to down a number of them in one sitting. And priced at $2 each, you may easily buy dozens at a time!
Honorable Mentions
Acai or Granola Bowls from Keiki and the Pineapple
$5-$15/person
Keiki and the Pineapple is a lovely and kid-focused cafe. It’s the type of space I’d like to embody if I were to ever own a cafe of my own! Unfortunately, they’re no longer open in Kakaako and are currently looking for a new location, which we hope they do soon!
They featured a little playroom as part of their cafe space, and the kids had fun with the toys and climbing components for kids under-5. Plus, their granola bowls and coffee are solid. My four-year-old was happy and occupied, so my partner and I enjoyed our own afternoon snacks at a window side table while we watched the kids play.
- Dave’s Ice Cream: I wouldn’t necessarily go out of my way to get Dave’s (not that you need to—most groceries and convenience stores carry their most popular flavors!). But it’s great that this local brand has been around for more than 30 years and that they serve island-inspired flavors like kulolo (taro & coconut), haupia, and Hawaiian mud pie.
Places You Can Skip
-
Holey Grail Donuts: I usually love specialty donut shops, but I didn’t enjoy their use of coconut oil on their donuts. I appreciate the care they put into their craft, though!
Wishlist for our Next Visit
What should we add to our wishlist?
What do you think of these sweet treats? Any you’ve had or are excited to try?
And when planning your visit to O‘ahu, be sure to check out our top recommended activities plus our favorite kid-friendly restaurants!
Angelica (she/her) is of Cebuano(Pilipinx)-descent and was born and raised in Huchiun Ohlone territory (the East Bay Area--pay your Shuumi Land Tax!), where she also now resides with her partner and their toddler. She loves to spend her time sipping on boba and dirty chai lattes (sometimes together), and eating pescetarian goodies at BIPOC-owned cafes and restaurants.
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