Hokulia Shave Ice
Hokulia Shave Ice is a privately held Hawaiian shave ice franchise founded in 2009, operating 80+ locations across 10 US states via four business formats. It sells shave ice, premium ice cream (Farr's partnership), smoothies, catering, and branded apparel to consumers, franchisees, and corporate event clients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersLehi, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Hokulia Shave Ice does
Hokulia Shave Ice is a privately held Hawaiian shave ice franchise company founded in 2009 in Provo, Utah by Clint and Stefani Severson with Jeff Sadler, and headquartered in Lehi, Utah. The company sells authentic Hawaiian shave ice shaved into fine ribbons (distinct from snow cones), premium ice cream developed through an exclusive partnership with Farr Better Ice Cream (est. 1929), tropical real-fruit smoothies made with shaved ice rather than blended ice, and gourmet popcorn at select locations. Syrups use 100% pure cane sugar and flavors imported from Hawaii, with a stated transition to 100% natural fruit-, vegetable-, and plant-based dyes.
Hokulia operates a franchise-based distribution model with four business formats — seasonal shack ($65K-$109K), food truck ($85K-$115K), brick-and-mortar ($185K-$300K), and drive-thru ($180K-$300K+) — alongside a master lease program with Walmart (structured 2016) for national footprint. The company has scaled to over 80 locations across 10 states (California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, Texas, Utah, Wyoming) with active expansion in Arizona, Texas, California, and Florida. Revenue is generated through upfront franchise fees, ongoing royalties, supply chain sales, and direct retail/catering revenue.
Additional revenue streams include catering services for events of 50 to 5,000+ guests (corporate events, weddings, graduations, luaus), with named enterprise customers including Marriott, Delta, Home Depot, Costco, Chick-fil-A, Adobe, Overstock, eBay, and Walmart. The company also sells Hawaiian-inspired branded apparel, hats, beach accessories, and gift cards through its e-commerce storefront and runs school and non-profit fundraising programs.
Hokulia Shave Ice firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hokulia Shave Ice
- Legal name
- Hokulia Inc.
- Website
- https://hokuliashaveice.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Hokulia Shave Ice is a privately held Hawaiian shave ice franchise founded in 2009, operating 80+ locations across 10 US states via four business formats. It sells shave ice, premium ice cream (Farr's partnership), smoothies, catering, and branded apparel to consumers, franchisees, and corporate event clients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hokulia Shave Ice industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Frozen Desserts & Shave Ice
- NAICS
- Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (31152)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Shaved Ice, Snow Cones & Italian Ice Shops (THAFAGAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Ice Cream & Refrigerated Desserts (CRADACAE)
Keywords
Where Hokulia Shave Ice is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lehi
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Hokulia Shave Ice business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Retail Food Sales: In-store sales of shave ice, premium ice cream, and tropical smoothies at company-owned and franchise locations. Product offerings include 50+ shave ice flavors, 30+ ice cream flavors, and 20+ smoothie varieties. Multiple size options (Short Board/Long Board/Big Kahuna).
- Franchise Fees and Royalties: Franchise investment fees ranging from $65,000 (Shack seasonal) to $300,000+ (Brick and Mortar/Drive-thru). Ongoing royalty fees and national marketing fund contributions. Includes franchise fees, equipment, initial inventory, and working capital.
- Catering Services: Event catering services for corporate events, weddings, graduations, birthdays, and luaus. Serving groups from 50 to 5,000+ guests. Franchisees can offer full product lineup at events.
- Merchandise Sales: Online and in-store sales of Hawaiian-inspired apparel including hats, t-shirts, hoodies, polos, jackets, and accessories. Gift cards available in denominations from $5 to $100. Beach towels and other accessories.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Shack Seasonal Kiosk - Lowest investment entry point |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Food Truck - Mobile business model |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Brick and Mortar Store - Flagship offering |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Drive-Thru - Long-term asset model |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Apparel and Accessories |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels5 records
Hokulia Shave Ice product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hokulia Shave Ice operates a Hawaiian-style shave ice and frozen dessert franchise system, selling authentic shave ice (shaved into fine ribbons, not ground), super premium ice cream through an exclusive Farr's Ice Cream partnership, tropical real-fruit smoothies, and select gourmet popcorn at company-owned and franchise retail locations, food trucks, seasonal shacks, and drive-thrus. The company also offers event catering services for groups of 50 to 5,000+ guests and sells Hawaiian-themed branded merchandise including apparel, hats, beach towels, and gift cards. Franchise opportunities are sold across four business model tiers (Seasonal Shack, Food Truck, Brick-and-Mortar, and Drive-Thru) with investments ranging from $65,000 to $300,000+.
Product overview
Hokulia Shave Ice is a Hawaiian shave ice franchise and lifestyle brand offering authentic island-style frozen desserts. The core product portfolio consists of three main offerings: Authentic Hawaiian Shave Ice (shaved into fine ribbons with 50 flavors imported from Hawaii), Premium Ice Cream through partnership with Farr's Ice Cream (30+ exclusive Hawaiian-inspired flavors like Lava Flow and Hula Pie), and Tropical Real Fruit Smoothies (made with shaved ice for superior smoothness). Select locations also offer Gourmet Popcorn. The company operates a catering service for events of 50-5,000+ guests and sells branded merchandise including apparel, hats, and accessories through its online shop. Hokulia also offers franchise opportunities with four business models ranging from seasonal shacks to brick-and-mortar stores.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Authentic Hawaiian Shave Ice Authentic Hawaiian shave ice made from ice shaved into fine ribbons (not ground like snow cones), served with 100% pure cane sugar syrups in 50+ flavors imported from Hawaii. Available in Short Board, Long Board, and Big Kahuna sizes with optional add-ons including ice cream, Sno Cap, Li Hing Mui Powder, and coconut flakes. Targeted at families, tourists, and individuals seeking a mainland Hawaiian dessert experience.
- Premium Ice Cream (Farr's Partnership) Super premium ice cream offered exclusively at Hokulia locations through partnership with Farr Better Ice Cream, featuring 30+ Hawaiian-inspired flavors including Lava Flow, Hula Pie, and other varieties unavailable elsewhere. Targeted at consumers seeking premium frozen dessert options.
- Tropical Real Fruit Smoothies Hawaiian-inspired smoothies prepared with finely shaved ice (rather than blended ice) for an exceptionally smooth texture, combined with real fruit. Available in 20+ varieties with optional supplements including Antioxidant, Energy, Protein Blend, Relaxing, Vitamin C, and Whey Protein. Targeted at consumers seeking healthier tropical beverage alternatives.
- Gourmet Popcorn Premium gourmet popcorn made from fresh, high-quality ingredients in flavors including Caramel Dark Choc, Cheddar Cheese, Dill Pickle, Jalapeño Nacho, Kit Kat Krunch, Movie Butter, and Reese's Peanut Butter. Available at select Hokulia brick-and-mortar locations as an add-on product.
- Event Catering Services Off-site catering services bringing authentic Hawaiian shave ice, premium ice cream, smoothies, and popcorn to corporate events, weddings, graduations, birthdays, and luaus. Serves groups ranging from 50 to 5,000+ guests. Targeted at corporate event planners, schools, and organizations hosting large outdoor gatherings.
- Hokulia Branded Merchandise and Apparel Hawaiian-inspired branded merchandise including apparel (t-shirts $10-$25, polos $35-$40, jackets $28-$45), hats (dad hats, straw hats, trucker caps, 7-panel campers priced $22-$42), beach towels ($28), accessories, and gift cards (denominations $5-$100). Sold via in-store and online e-commerce channels to consumers and shave ice fans.
- Hokulia Franchise Opportunities Multi-tier franchise program offering four business models: Seasonal Shack (initial investment $65,000-$109,000), Food Truck ($85,000-$115,000), Brick-and-Mortar ($185,000-$300,000), and Drive-Thru ($180,000-$300,000+). Includes one week of in-person corporate training, financial management systems, marketing strategies, hiring/firing protocols, scheduling optimization, and access to proprietary recipes. Targeted at aspiring entrepreneurs and families seeking business ownership in the food and beverage industry.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 80 locations across 10 states since founding in 2008
Companies that use Hokulia Shave Ice
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Hokulia Shave Ice technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Hokulia Shave Ice partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Farr's Ice Cream (Farr Better Ice Cream)corePartnership formed August 12, 2012 with Farr Better Ice Cream (established 1929) to pioneer the Hokulia concept and launch the brand. Farr's provides exclusive premium Hawaiian-inspired ice cream flavors unavailable elsewhere, including Lava Flow, Hula Pie, and 30+ other varieties. This partnership enables Hokulia to offer super premium ice cream as a key differentiator.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Hokulia Shave Ice competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bahama Buck's: Bahama Buck's is the largest shave ice franchise in the US, operating over 90 locations with a similar multi-format franchise model (shacks, storefronts, mobile). It is the most direct competitor to Hokulia in the mainland Hawaiian shave ice category with comparable product mix, target customer, and franchise economics.
- Hawaiian Ice Company: Hawaiian Ice Company is a direct competitor in the authentic shave ice category, supplying syrups and operating affiliated shops. It competes with Hokulia on both the supply side (cane-sugar Hawaiian syrups) and franchise/location side, sharing the same authentic-Hawaiian positioning.
- Pelican's SnoBalls: Pelican's SnoBalls is a rapidly expanding shave ice/snow cone franchise with a similar authentic-style preparation and multi-format franchise model. Competes directly with Hokulia for franchisees and in overlapping regional markets with comparable product offerings and family-friendly positioning.
- Tropical Sno: Tropical Sno is a smaller but established shave ice franchise with a similar authentic Hawaiian-style product offering and multi-format franchise model. It competes head-to-head with Hokulia in regional markets and shares the same franchise economics and seasonal business profile.
- Kona Ice: Kona Ice is a mobile shaved ice franchise with 1,000+ units nationally, primarily operating food trucks at events, schools, and fundraisers. It competes directly with Hokulia's catering and event revenue streams and targets a similar family/enterprise customer base, though with a mobile-first model.
Broad incumbents
- Marble Slab Creamery: Marble Slab Creamery is an established premium ice cream franchise with a similar made-to-order customizable concept. It competes with Hokulia for premium-dessert occasion share and franchisee candidates in the broader frozen dessert category.
- Cold Stone Creamery: Cold Stone Creamery is a large established ice cream franchise (now part of Kahala Brands) with thousands of locations. It competes with Hokulia's premium ice cream offering in the same supermarket/entertainment-retail trade areas and shares the franchise model, though with a broader mainstream positioning.
- Dippin' Dots: Dippin' Dots is a long-established novelty frozen dessert franchise specializing in flash-frozen ice cream beads. It competes with Hokulia for impulse-treat occasions in entertainment venues and family destinations, though with a fundamentally different product format.
- Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers: Freddy's is a fast-growing restaurant franchise offering frozen custard alongside burgers. It competes with Hokulia for family-friendly dessert occasion share and franchisee candidates in suburban markets, with similar multi-format franchise economics.
Emerging players
- Sub Zero Ice Cream: Sub Zero Ice Cream is a franchise specializing in liquid-nitrogen customizable ice cream treats. While it uses a different production technology, it competes for the same impulse/family dessert occasions and franchisee pool in adjacent frozen dessert specialty retail.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hokulia Shave Ice social profiles
Digital presenceHokulia Shave Ice financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hokulia Shave Ice leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Hokulia Shave Ice funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hokulia Shave Ice M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hokulia Shave Ice
What does Hokulia Shave Ice do?
Hokulia Shave Ice operates a Hawaiian-style shave ice and frozen dessert franchise system, selling authentic shave ice (shaved into fine ribbons, not ground), super premium ice cream through an exclusive Farr's Ice Cream partnership, tropical real-fruit smoothies, and select gourmet popcorn at company-owned and franchise retail locations, food trucks, seasonal shacks, and drive-thrus. The company also offers event catering services for groups of 50 to 5,000+ guests and sells Hawaiian-themed branded merchandise including apparel, hats, beach towels, and gift cards. Franchise opportunities are sold across four business model tiers (Seasonal Shack, Food Truck, Brick-and-Mortar, and Drive-Thru) with investments ranging from $65,000 to $300,000+.
Is Hokulia Shave Ice a public or private company?
Hokulia Shave Ice is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Hokulia Shave Ice founded?
Hokulia Shave Ice was founded in 2009.
Where is Hokulia Shave Ice based?
Hokulia Shave Ice is headquartered in Lehi, United States, in the North America region.
How does Hokulia Shave Ice make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Retail Food Sales are the primary driver. The others are franchise Fees and Royalties, catering Services and merchandise Sales.
Who are Hokulia Shave Ice's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bahama Buck's, Hawaiian Ice Company, Pelican's SnoBalls, Tropical Sno and Kona Ice. Broad incumbents are Marble Slab Creamery, Cold Stone Creamery, Dippin' Dots and Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers. Sub Zero Ice Cream is listed as an emerging player.
Does Hokulia Shave Ice have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hokulia Shave Ice.
What industry is Hokulia Shave Ice in?
Hokulia Shave Ice's product category is Specialty Frozen Desserts & Shave Ice. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFAGAJ, Shaved Ice, Snow Cones & Italian Ice Shops, with a secondary code of CRADACAE, Ice Cream & Refrigerated Desserts. Its NAICS code is 31152 and its SIC code is 5810.