“You’ll never see me in that camper without a smile on, because it is a joy to be able to do something that connects myself to my culture, my ancestors, and my kupuna. It makes me super proud to share this treat with people,” Ford says, whose father is a native Hawaiian.
There’s over a dozen shave ice flavors on the Hanalei menu, from fruity options like mango, lilikoi or passionfruit, lychee, coconut, and guava to unique offerings like Thai tea, milk and honey, cookies and cream, and key lime pie.
Customers can also add a housemade vanilla milk cream to achieve a thicker, ice cream-like texture.
Since St. Pete has a reputation for being a wellness and health-oriented city, she expects residents to enjoy her desserts, since she never uses added sugars or artificial sweeteners.
Ford says her best-selling flavors are ube and mango li hing, which is topped with a pickled, salted plum powder popular in Hawaii.
She’s also developing a new flavor that’s an ideal post-workout treat, a protein-filled shave ice that tastes like a creamy and tart Brazilian lemonade.