Cones on Kihei Ice Cream - Deep Research Report

Overview

Cones on Kihei Ice Cream is a small, counter-service dessert stop in Kihei on South Maui, at the Kamaʻole Shopping Center address on South Kihei Road. The Google record shows it as operating, and the business appears in other current listings under the older name Kihei Aloha Ice Cream & Yogurt, which suggests this is the same shop with a rebrand or shortened public name rather than a new location.

For a traveler, this is the kind of place you stop at after beach time or as a casual dessert break rather than as a destination meal. The draw is straightforward: ice cream, frozen yogurt, and shave ice-style sweets in a convenient Kihei location near the beach corridor. (kamaoleshoppingcenter.com)

Cuisine & Specialties

This is a frozen-dessert shop rather than a full café or restaurant. The official center page describes it as serving Lappert’s handmade Hawaiian ice cream, 104 flavors of yogurt, and shave ice with many toppings. Traveler reviews and directories also point to cones, cups, dipped cones, frozen yogurt, and shave-ice-style treats. (kamaoleshoppingcenter.com)

• Overall menu style: frozen desserts with a broad, tourist-friendly selection: ice cream, frozen yogurt, cones, toppings, and shave ice.
• Notable specialties mentioned in sources: Lappert’s Hawaiian ice cream; shave ice; yogurt with many flavors; dipped cones; chocolate-dipped waffle cone bowls; Dole Whip / vanilla-swirl-style cone mentioned in traveler discussion; chocolate macadamia nut ice cream mentioned in a current restaurant listing. (kamaoleshoppingcenter.com)
• Price range / spend expectations: expect dessert-shop pricing rather than budget-snack pricing. Multiple reviews describe it as overpriced, though one older review said scoops were reasonably sized. A practical traveler expectation is a relatively small, impulse-stop ticket for one or two people, but not a cheap stop if you order multiple items. (tripadvisor.com)
• Dietary usefulness / limitations: the broad yogurt selection may help if someone wants a lighter frozen option, but the shop is fundamentally a dairy- and sugar-forward dessert place. I did not find strong evidence of broader dietary accommodation beyond the usual frozen-dessert choices. (kamaoleshoppingcenter.com)

Notable Features & Ambiance

This is a simple dessert counter in a shopping-center setting, not a sit-down parlor with a strong design identity. The appeal is mainly convenience: an easy place to grab a cone, cup, or shave ice after being on the beach or while moving through Kihei’s retail strip. (kamaoleshoppingcenter.com)

• Service model and seating style: counter service. Seating appears limited and informal; reviews mention outdoor tables/benches in the area rather than a dedicated dining room. (tripadvisor.com)
• Atmosphere and decor: low-key and utilitarian rather than atmospheric. The best-supported description is “small dessert shop in a shopping center” rather than a themed or destination dessert lounge. (kamaoleshoppingcenter.com)
• Amenities or practical features: very convenient South Kihei location; easy to combine with beach time or shopping. The shop is open daily by Google’s record, which makes it easy for spontaneous dessert runs. (kamaoleshoppingcenter.com)
• Best fit: a quick dessert stop, family treat, post-beach snack, or casual cooling-off stop.
• Weaker fit: travelers expecting a polished café experience, generous seating, or a premium artisanal ice-cream experience may be less satisfied. (tripadvisor.com)

History & Background

There is some useful background, but not a deep public founder story. The business has been tied to the Kihei Aloha Ice Cream name for years, and BBB lists the owner as Anne Musselman with a file opened in 2012. The current Google identity and current travel listings show Cones on Kihei Ice Cream, so the main background takeaway is continuity of place with a newer public-facing name rather than a clearly documented relaunch. (tripadvisor.com)

Review Sentiment Snapshot

What People Love

Reviewers who liked it tend to praise the variety, the convenience, and specific sweet items such as flavored ice cream, dipped cones, and shave ice. A few reviews also mention friendly service and a good location near the beach or nearby lodging. That positive pattern is present, but it is not dominant enough to suggest a universally strong fan base. (tripadvisor.com)

Common Gripes

The most recurring downside signals are service complaints and value concerns. Multiple Tripadvisor reviews over several years describe rude or abrupt interactions, and other reviews say portions can feel small for the price or that the shop is expensive. Those criticisms appear repeatedly enough to treat them as a real caution, not a one-off. At the same time, the review set is mixed, so the negative pattern is significant but not universal. (tripadvisor.com)

Practical Visitor Tips

• Google’s current hours show daily 11:00 AM–8:30 PM, which makes it more of an afternoon/evening dessert stop than a breakfast place. (kamaoleshoppingcenter.com)
• Expect walk-in counter service rather than reservations. This is a grab-and-go dessert shop, not a bookable dining room. (kamaoleshoppingcenter.com)
• The location is in Kamaʻole Shopping Center on South Kihei Road, so parking and access are tied to the shopping center rather than a standalone storefront. (kamaoleshoppingcenter.com)
• If you are sensitive to service tone, be aware that service complaints show up often enough to matter; if you just want a simple dessert stop, that tradeoff may be acceptable. (tripadvisor.com)
• Because the shop appears under both Cones on Kihei Ice Cream and Kihei Aloha Ice Cream & Yogurt, travelers should use the address, not just the name, to avoid confusion. (kamaoleshoppingcenter.com)

Verification Notes

• Official-style source and Google record both point to 2463 S Kihei Rd c13 / Ste C13, Kihei, HI 96753 with phone (808) 879-0189; the suite formatting varies slightly across sources. (kamaoleshoppingcenter.com)
• The business is currently shown as operational in Google Places. (kamaoleshoppingcenter.com)
• Name drift is real: Cones on Kihei Ice Cream appears alongside Kihei Aloha Ice Cream & Yogurt in current third-party listings, likely the same place. (tripadvisor.com)

Sources

• Kamaʻole Shopping Center / Kihei Aloha Ice Cream page — http://kamaoleshoppingcenter.com/portfolio/kihei-aloha-ice-cream/ — retrieved 2026-04-01. Most useful for the shop’s official-style identity, address, phone, hours posture, and menu summary.
• Google Places facts provided in prompt — URL available in prompt as Google Maps link — retrieved 2026-03-31. Most useful as the baseline identity anchor for the current name, address, phone, operational status, hours, rating, and place ID.
• Tripadvisor listing for Kihei Aloha Ice Cream & Yogurt — https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60632-d2307408-Reviews-Kihei_Aloha_Ice_Cream_Yogurt-Kihei_Maui_Hawaii.html — retrieved 2026-04-01. Most useful for recurring traveler complaints about service and price/value, plus confirmation of the alternate historical name and address.
• Tripadvisor listing for Cones on Kihei — https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60632-d26928855-Reviews-Cones_On_Kihei-Kihei_Maui_Hawaii.html — retrieved 2026-04-01. Most useful for confirming the newer public name and the same Kihei address.
• BBB profile for Kihei Aloha Ice Cream — https://www.bbb.org/us/hi/kihei/profile/frozen-dessert-dealers/kihei-aloha-ice-cream-1296-53050887 — retrieved 2026-04-01. Most useful for ownership/background context and evidence that the older business identity predates the current Cones naming.