Ohana Hau Shave Ice serves a traditional Hawaiian treat on LBI
You've heard of ice cream, Italian ice, water ice and snow cones, but what about shave ice?
The fluffy treat, made with ice cream, shaved ice and flavored syrups, is popular in Hawaii, where it was introduced by Japanese immigrants, said Adam Sprague, who with his wife, Aimee, and 15-year-old daughter, Summer, own Ohana Hau Shave Ice in Beach Haven.
The Spragues fell in love with shave ice during surfing trips to Hawaii.
"We go every year, and I love shave ice," said Adam, who in the off season teaches science in Ocean County Vocational Technical School's Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science program. "A few years ago, Summer said, 'We should open a shave ice place at home.' "
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The Spragues decided to go for it and began creating syrups and testing flavors at home, said Aimee, also the co-owner of Ovations Performing Arts Academy in Waretown. They opened Ohana Hau, which in Hawaiian means "family ice," in busy Beach Haven last summer.
"It's a fun environment. People come in, listen to our music, watch surf videos, take the ukulele off the wall," Aimee said. "We really do have the Ohana spirit in here."
"We want to make it a fun, family vibe here," Adam said.
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Their shave ice starts with a scoop of ice cream, then a mound of freshly shaved ice — they use about 350 pounds of ice a day — topped with sugar-sweetened flavored syrups and a drizzle of haupia cream (coconut) or "snow cap" (vanilla cream).
"We have the macadamia nut or vanilla ice cream on the bottom (or a coconut-based ice cream), then we shave the ice over it," said Summer, 15.
Customers can mix their own flavors or choose from 16 combinations, including Summer Breeze, made with housemade macadamia nut ice cream topped with mango, lilikoi (passionfruit) and guava shave ice, and haupia; Choco Loco, with vanilla ice cream, chocolate and butterscotch shave ice, and snow cap; and Café Leche, made with macadamia nut ice cream, cold brew coffee shave ice, and snow cap.
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Making their own syrups means the Spragues can offer flavors that are hard to find, Aimee said, like lilikoi, li hing mui (dried plum), tiger's blood (strawberry colada), lychee, honeydew and boysenberry. The shave ice is gluten free, some options are vegan, and they can do nut-free and dairy-free, Aimee said.
"They're all customizable," Aimee said. "You can add coconut, you can add boba. Whatever you're really feeling that day."
Go: 805 North Bay Ave., Beach Haven; instagram.com/lbi_shaveice.
Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to [email protected], follow on Instagram at Jersey Shore Eats and subscribe to our Jersey Shore Eats newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Ohana Hau Shave Ice serves a traditional Hawaiian treat, LBI
