LIHU‘E — The converted mini tour bus has been busy as people scrambled to find ways to cope with the recent warm weather. Kenny Miyoshi, manning the Japanese ice shaving machine inside the converted bus, stays busy grinding and churning
LIHU‘E — The converted mini tour bus has been busy as people scrambled to find ways to cope with the recent warm weather.
Kenny Miyoshi, manning the Japanese ice shaving machine inside the converted bus, stays busy grinding and churning blocks of ice created from Kangen water, water filtered and ionized through another Japanese machine, and topped with a wide variety of flavored syrups and side orders.
Weather conditions are expected to remain favorable for shave ice sales and Miyoshi expects to keep busy.
The business was at the Garden Isle Artisan Fair at Po‘ipu Beach, followed by their first appearance at the Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School Street Fair. Normally, Miyoshi makes his appearance at the Grove Farm Community Swap meet, but last Saturday, the swap meet at the Grove Farm Park in Puhi went on without his shave ice. Miyoshi was participating in Kapa‘a events coinciding with the Veterans’ Day.
Annette Hashimoto, a crafter from Wailua, also had her wares available at recent craft fairs.
“This is perfect,” Hashimoto said. “My two daughters just moved home from Honolulu Friday night. Now, they can help me at the craft fairs, too.”
Miyoshi was back at North Vidinha fields Sunday when the Kaua‘i Soccer Association hosted its weekly soccer games.
Miyoshi said in addition to using Kangen water for his ice blocks, he and his family developed a line of syrups utilizing locally-grown fruits, including lilikoi, or passion fruit, and lime, the start of his venture into using locally produced products.
Flavors include strawberry, banana, vanilla, root beer, cheery, grape, lime, passion fruit, melona, pineapple, watermelon, orange dream, lychee, green tea, bubblegum, li hing, coconut and sugar-free strawberry.
Masa’s shave ice is available with or without ice cream, and with or without the snowcap, or the cream topping. It is also available with mochi balls. For the ultimate, have everything!
Still got the muchies? Masa’s also has cold drinks, as well as Arizona Green Tea and assorted chips.
And who is Masa? If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a glimpse of him lurking in the shadow near the driver’s seat, a big smile across his face as he watches the line of customers beat the heat with his shave ice.
