Surfing Monkey Shave Ice - Deep Research Report

Overview

Surfing Monkey Shave Ice is a small, family-run dessert stop in Kīhei focused on Hawaiian shave ice and a few related frozen treats. The Google record and the business’s own site both place this report’s target at 1941 S Kihei Rd in Kihei/Kalama Village, and the business is currently listed as operational with daily hours. (surfingmonkeyshaveice.com)

For a traveler, this is the kind of place you stop for something cold, quick, and distinctly Maui rather than a full meal. The appeal is less about dining and more about a classic island dessert break, with some useful add-ons for people who want ice cream, Dole Whip, or a root beer float instead of plain shave ice. (surfingmonkeyshaveice.com)

Cuisine & Specialties

This is a shave ice shop first and foremost, but it also leans into a small set of frozen-dessert specialties. The strongest evidence points to classic Hawaiian shave ice with flavor combinations, plus Maui-made ice cream, vegan coconut-based ice cream, Dole Whip, and a Maui Brewing Company root beer float. The shop’s own site also publishes a flavor list and add-on pricing, which suggests a straightforward build-your-own dessert model rather than a broad café menu. (surfingmonkeyshaveice.com)

• Overall menu style: shave ice with optional ice cream or cream add-ons; a narrow dessert lane rather than a full restaurant menu. (surfingmonkeyshaveice.com)
• Notable specialties: authentic Hawaiian shave ice; “Surfing Monkey” signature flavor combination; Rainbow, Tropical Sunset, and Maui Sunset combinations; Roselani ice cream; vegan coconut ice cream; Dole Whip; Maui Brewing Company root beer float. (surfingmonkeyshaveice.com)
• Price expectation: the website’s posted shave ice pricing starts around $6.72 small / $7.68 large, with add-ons like vanilla ice cream, sweet cream, or chocolate syrup increasing the total. That points to a modest dessert spend, though online reviewers sometimes describe the place as pricier than other shave ice stops. (surfingmonkeyshaveice.com)
• Dietary usefulness: there is meaningful vegan/dairy-free appeal because the shop highlights vegan coconut ice cream and describes Dole Whip as dairy-free; the shave ice itself is also presented as vegan-friendly depending on add-ons. Limitations are obvious: this is still a dessert stop, so it is not useful for substantial meals or savory dietary needs. (surfingmonkeyshaveice.com)

Notable Features & Ambiance

The Kīhei location sits in a shopping-center setting at Kihei Kalama Village, which makes it a practical, low-ceremony stop rather than a destination with a strong dining-room identity. The business also says it is across South Kihei Road from the ocean and Kalama Park, so it fits naturally into a beach, shopping, or post-dinner walk. (kiheikalamavillage.com)

• Service model and seating style: counter-service dessert stand; evidence suggests takeout is standard, and at least one review summary says there is no on-site seating. (restaurantji.com)
• Atmosphere and decor: casual, family-friendly, beach-town dessert stop; the business itself frames the experience as laid-back and “aloha”-oriented, but that is branding, not an independent atmosphere review. (surfingmonkeyshaveice.com)
• Amenities or practical features: open daily until 9 p.m.; inside a shopping village with other businesses nearby; easy to pair with a stroll or a nearby dinner stop. (surfingmonkeyshaveice.com)
• Best fit: a hot-day treat, an after-dinner sweet, or a family snack stop. (surfingmonkeyshaveice.com)
• Weaker fit: travelers expecting a sit-down dessert café, extensive seating, or a cheap/no-frills shave ice stand may find the experience less compelling; some reviews also suggest it faces stiff comparison with other Maui shave ice shops. (restaurantji.com)

History & Background

The business’s own history page says owner Paul Davies came from London to Hawaiʻi in 1997, was inspired by Matsumoto’s shave ice, and opened the first Surfing Monkey Shave Ice in 2008 after help from friends. The site also says the Kīhei near-Foodland store is the flagship, the Kīhei Kalama Village location opened in early 2023, and the two Kīhei locations are now managed by his daughter, India Davies. (surfingmonkeyshaveice.com)

That background matters because it frames Surfing Monkey as a long-running local family business rather than a generic tourist kiosk. The company positions itself around traditional Hawaiian shave ice and locally sourced ingredients, though that self-description should be read as the business’s own account rather than independent verification of every sourcing claim. (surfingmonkeyshaveice.com)

Review Sentiment Snapshot

What People Love

Review summaries consistently point to soft, fluffy shave ice, generous portions, and friendly service. Some commenters specifically like the ability to add ice cream or try combinations with strong local flavor, and the shop’s long hours make it useful for both daytime and post-dinner visits. Overall, the positive pattern looks reasonably well-supported across multiple sources. (restaurantji.com)

Common Gripes

The main recurring complaint is value: some reviewers say the shop is not especially cheap compared with other Maui shave ice options. A second recurring theme is competition-based disappointment, where visitors compare it unfavorably with other local shave ice spots rather than criticizing a specific operational failure. Reports about long lines or limited seating appear, but those are more situational than universal. Overall, the downside signal is real but mixed rather than overwhelming. (mapquest.com)

Practical Visitor Tips

• Hours: the business and directory both show 11:00 AM–9:00 PM daily, which makes it an easy evening dessert stop. (surfingmonkeyshaveice.com)
• Reservations: none are indicated; this appears to be a walk-in dessert counter. (restaurantji.com)
• Location: the reported Kīhei address is 1941 S. Kihei Rd, Kihei, HI 96753, in Kihei Kalama Village, with a second company location nearby at 1881 S. Kihei Rd. (surfingmonkeyshaveice.com)
• Ordering tip: if you want the best fit for a traveler with dietary preferences, ask about the vegan coconut ice cream and the Dole Whip before ordering. (surfingmonkeyshaveice.com)
• Crowd/comfort tip: expect a casual counter-service stop rather than a lounge-like dessert experience; some reviewers mention lines and limited seating. (mapquest.com)
• Value tip: if you are comparing shave ice stops across Maui, be aware that price criticism shows up often enough that this may feel more polished than bargain-priced. (mapquest.com)

Verification Notes

• Official business name used across sources: Surfing Monkey Shave Ice; the site branding also appears as Surf Monkey Hawaiian Shave Ice on some pages. (surfingmonkeyshaveice.com)
• Address and phone for the target location match the candidate data: 1941 S Kihei Rd, Kihei, HI 96753; (808) 359-9282. (surfingmonkeyshaveice.com)
• Website matches the candidate data: https://surfingmonkeyshaveice.com/. (surfingmonkeyshaveice.com)
• Google Places shows the business as OPERATIONAL; the official site also shows current daily hours, so there is no closure signal. (surfingmonkeyshaveice.com)
• No major verification issues found. (surfingmonkeyshaveice.com)

Sources

• Google Places details (via provided place payload) — https://maps.google.com/?cid=6923469038672465401 — retrieved 2026-03-31T16:30:39.644Z. Most useful for baseline identity, operational status, address, phone, rating, and hours.
• Surfing Monkey Shave Ice official home page — https://surfingmonkeyshaveice.com/ — retrieved 2026-04-01. Most useful for confirming current branding, locations, hours, and the core menu categories.
• Surfing Monkey Shave Ice official About page — https://surfingmonkeyshaveice.com/about/ — retrieved 2026-04-01. Most useful for founder history, expansion timeline, and family-run ownership context.
• Surfing Monkey Shave Ice official Shave Ice page — https://surfingmonkeyshaveice.com/what-we-serve/shave-ice/ — retrieved 2026-04-01. Most useful for shave ice flavor lists, add-ons, and posted pricing.
• Surfing Monkey Shave Ice official Vegan Ice Cream page — https://surfingmonkeyshaveice.com/what-we-serve/vegan-ice-cream/ — retrieved 2026-04-01. Most useful for vegan and dairy-free ice cream options.
• Surfing Monkey Shave Ice official Dole Whip page — https://surfingmonkeyshaveice.com/what-we-serve/dole-whip/ — retrieved 2026-04-01. Most useful for confirming Dole Whip as a menu item and its dairy-free positioning.
• Surfing Monkey Shave Ice official Root Beer Float page — https://surfingmonkeyshaveice.com/what-we-serve/root-beer-float/ — retrieved 2026-04-01. Most useful for confirming the Maui Brewing / ice cream float specialty.
• Kihei Kalama Village directory — https://www.kiheikalamavillage.com/directory/ — retrieved 2026-04-01. Most useful for independent confirmation of the 1941 S. Kihei Rd location and daily hours.
• Restaurantji listing for Surfing Monkey Shave Ice — https://www.restaurantji.com/hi/kihei/surfing-monkey-shave-ice-/ — retrieved 2026-04-01. Most useful for review-pattern summaries, common praise, and location/contact cross-checking. The review summaries are secondary and should be read as directional, not definitive.
• MapQuest/Yelp snippet for Surfing Monkey Shave Ice — https://www.mapquest.com/us/hawaii/surfing-monkey-shave-ice-435595144 — retrieved 2026-04-01. Most useful for downside signals on price, lines, and whether the product feels worth the stop to some visitors. Secondary source; use cautiously.