“It’s like eating a gummi bear with ice cream in it.”

This is probably the most accurate description of mochi ice cream I’ve ever heard, and if you’re ever in Hawaii, it’s a treat not to be missed. Bubbies has the best on O’ahu (two locations, one near the college in Manoa and one in Hawaii Kai). I can’t speak for the other islands, but Long’s Drugs is everywhere and they also sell mochi ice cream in the freezer section, although in the very basic flavors of vanilla, chocolate, coffee, and green tea. It’s not Bubbies, but it’s still good.

Bubbies’ campus location also carries other desserts, but I’ve never been tempted to order one because it forces people to say some very embarrassing names. Also, they are expensive. But mostly the first thing.

Favorite mochi flavors: sakura (mild, very faintly fruity/floral cherry), guava, lilikoi (passionfruit), honeydew (seasonal), chocolate mint (seasonal), and chocolate-covered strawberry. They’re all good though, you really can’t go wrong. And you can order online – or check Whole Foods! There isn’t one near me, but I’ve heard they carry Bubbies in the freezer section.

Other great frozen treats from the islands:

*Roselani ice cream, now available at stores like Longs and Walmart (in Hawaii). Maui-made, terrible for you due to the high fat content, and absolutely delicious for the same reason.

*Dave’s Ice Cream, which is less terrible for you but also delicious. Try the ube (purple sweet potato) flavor – it’s a bit like pralines and cream without the nuts, just a creamy, kind of nutty taste. If you get shave ice somewhere good, Dave’s is the ice cream they add.

*Halo halo – this Filipino Supreme Milkshake Sundae Smoothie is made the best at a little store in the Navy Exchange (NEX) food court, which does allow civilians to shop. Condensed milk, crushed ice, pieces of flan, jackfruit slices, and some berry I still haven’t identified are all stirred together then topped with Dave’s ube ice cream and whipped cream. YUM.

*Scoop of Paradise, in Haleiwa. They have some seriously delicious ice cream – my favorite flavor is rose. Yes, rose. It’s sweetly floral and perfect for a hot day; they also offer a lavender-based floral flavor that is nearly as good. Another favorite flavor is Blue Hawaii, which is a marshmallow-based vanilla. The shop doubles as a toy store and can be a great place to find children’s gifts, as many of the toys are Hawaii or ocean-themed.

*Shave ice. This stuff is classic, the real good goods. If it says “shaved” on the cart, or if you can see they’re giving people snow cones with big chunks of ice, save your money (by the way, don’t ever call it “shaved” yourself). Wait to go to a real place with ice shaved thin and mounded into a snowball. Matsumoto’s in Haleiwa is famous, but they also have great shave ice at the Aloha General Store near the Wyland gallery and in a nearly hidden nook right next to the Tropical Rush Surf Co. If you rent a paddleboard from Tropical Rush, you get a small shave ice for free, and trust me, it’s great after an hour or two going up and down the river. Just be sure to have a bit of extra cash on hand if you want to include a snowcap (condensed milk) or ice cream (again, they give you Dave’s).

*Melona bars. These aren’t strictly Hawaiian but are a creamy Korean import that I can only hope will reach the mainland soon. Their signature flavor is honeydew melon, but they also have mango, banana, and strawberry, and they’re all great. Pop into any store with a basic freezer section and you’ll probably spot a few.