When you want to take your Coconut Marketplace explorations to the next level, stop by Gecko Girlz Shave Ice for sweet treats to remember. They’ve been proudly serving tasty frozen desserts and icy cold drinks to Kailua-Kona since 1997 – and they show no sign of stopping. So, you always know they’ll be waiting right around the corner when cravings for pure sugary deliciousness kick into high gear.
At this popular dessert stand, their shave ice is the star of the show, of course. They have many premade recipes ready for your enjoyment plus they offer the chance to build your own creations. If you want something a little different, they also have ice cream cones, sundaes, and even Affogatos. You’ll also want to try their icy cold drinks, including their handcrafted Lilikoi Lemonade.
Since they have so much to offer, it’s no surprise that they stay incredibly busy from open to close. So, whenever you come by, you had better be ready for quite a wait. As you stand in line, you can dream about all the delightful flavors coming your way soon. Plus, you might even make a few fast friends as you chat with your fellow patrons in line with you.
By the time you get to the front counter, you’ll want to give them your order with quickness. They aim to work fast, after all, so they never leave their patrons waiting too long. But that doesn’t mean that they skimp on the quality service. In fact, they always go all out in offering a warm welcome and infusing every interaction with their bright aloha spirit.
After you put in your order, stay nearby while they work on building your selected creations. Although you cannot see the magic happen, they make every last item to order using fresh, local ingredients. They only use pure cane sugar syrup in their shave ices, for example, allowing you to skip the corn syrup altogether. Despite that, they will have your items out to you in just a few minutes. You can then take them on the road or settle down at a nearby table to enjoy your selections.
Top-notch items on their menu include:
Cherry Blossom Shave Ice
A truly unique take on shave ice, the Cherry Blossom artisanal flavor promises to leave you wholly impressed. This dish starts with macadamia nut ice cream at the bottom. Then, they add their shave ice plus Kauai Cherry and Kula Strawberry syrup. Sweet cream snow cap lands over top after that, followed by mochi galore.
Lilikoi Sundae
Whenever you’re in the mood for ice cream goodness, don’t hesitate to try the Lilikoi Sundae. You’ll need to start by choosing your ice cream flavor, like Haupia, Ube, or Macadamia Nut Crunch. To that, they will add lilikoi fruit puree and a chocolate drizzle. Whipped cream goes over that along with either macadamia nuts or homemade toasted coconut.
Cold Brew Latte
When you want to get energized for the rest of the day, set your sights on the Cold Brew Latte. This drink starts with 100% organic cold brew coffee. Then, they add whole milk that’s been lightly sweetened with their housemade simple syrup. Although it’s plenty decadent just like that, you can elevate its flavors even more with a scoop of ice cream for an extra charge.
Want to dream up your very own shave ice flavor combos? Just ask to build your own. You’ll want to start by choosing a size and all the flavors you want. Then, decide if you want ice cream or azuki beans inside and snowcap on top. After that, you can add even more toppings, like mochi, popping pearls, and toasted coconut.
Insider Tips:
-Ask if they’ll poke holes in your shave ice before pouring on the syrup, so it all gets into the center much better.
-The regular size shave ice is plenty big enough for two people. If you just want a small taste, go with the keiki size.
-Want to enjoy shaved ice without the sugar? Just ask for their strawberry, mango, or POG sugar-free syrup.