Matsumoto Shave Ice turns 75: The North Shore shop that became iconic

News admin July 23, 2026 0 Comments

Matsumoto Shave Ice turns 75: The North Shore shop that became iconic

HALEʻIWA (HawaiiNewsNow) – On any given day along Kamehameha Highway, the line says it all: Matsumoto Shave Ice remains one of the North Shore’s most beloved stops.

This year, the family-run shop is celebrating 75 years in business — a milestone that traces back to a small neighborhood grocery store, a hand-crank shave ice machine, and the legacy of a man whose name still hangs above the door.

A family business that started as a grocery store

“It was started by my parents — Mamoru and Helen Matsumoto,” said Stanley Matsumoto. “And then there were three of us. That’s the same year I was born too.”

Stanley said the shop began as a grocery store — an opportunity made possible by the previous owner, Mr. Kazou Tanaka. About five years later, the Matsumotos expanded into what would become their signature treat: shave ice.

A machine from Japan — and a local fix

According to Stanley, Tanaka traveled to Japan to purchase a shave ice machine and brought it back to Hawaiʻi.

“It was a hand-crank manual machine, but there was a machine shop in Honolulu that put it in a case, and they put a motor on top,” Stanley said. “So, we didn’t have to do it like a hand crank.”

When the family began selling shave ice in 1956, Stanley said the prices were a fraction of what they are today: a small was 5 cents and a large was 10 cents.

Growing pains — and everyone pitching in

Like many family businesses, Matsumoto Shave Ice grew with the help of everyone at home.

Stanley said even after he left for National Guard training, the family kept the store going.

“I joined the National Guard, and I went for four months training, came back, and kind of helped my parents around,” he said.

And while others enjoyed weekends and beach days, the Matsumoto kids put in hours behind the counter.

“While everybody was going to the beach… when my sister and brother came back on the weekend from school, they would work on the weekend to help,” Stanley said.

Then and now: the lines keep coming

Old photos show crowds lining up outside Matsumoto Shave Ice in 1981 — and the scene today looks much the same.

The shop is still located along Kamehameha Highway in Haleʻiwa, though changes came as the area developed and it became part of the Haleʻiwa Store Lots.

Renovations shifted the storefront over time: the original entrance is now a souvenir shop, while the shave ice window is tucked toward the back.

A treat that brings back memories (and draws famous faces)

From first-timers to longtime locals, the colorful cups of shave ice continue to light up faces of all ages.

“It’s just a landmark,” said Chad Uyehara, who was visiting from California but is originally from Honolulu. “It’s been iconic, and it brings back childhood memories.”

Its reputation has also reached beyond Hawaiʻi: visitors and celebrities — including Adam Sandler, Wayne Brady and Jason Segel — have all stopped by for dessert.

The meaning behind “M. Matsumoto”

For Stanley Matsumoto, the store’s success is inseparable from his father’s story.

Stanley Matsumoto said Mamoru came from a poor family and struggled growing up. Born in 1908, Mamoru traveled to Hawaiʻi as a young man — around age 20 — and lived with relatives for years before eventually pursuing his dream of owning his own store.

Stanley Matsumoto also shared a family belief about just how deeply Mamoru cared for the business.

“My dad always thought the store was his number one child, because he just loved the store,” he said.

Even when Mamoru’s health declined and he stayed with family in Pearl City, Stanley Matsumoto said his father missed being at the shop — and wanted to return.

The store’s name carries its own message.

“M Matsumoto stands for my dad’s first name — Mamoru,” Stanley said. “In Japanese, it means to protect so, he’s still up there protecting the store, I think.”