Ono Ice Shack is preparing to bring Hawaiian shave ice to a permanent space inside the Waterfront Market at Ruston. In an October 10 report, The News Tribune’s Minnie Stephenson writes that owner Nisone Kim expects to open within the next few weeks. An exact opening date hasn’t been announced.
The business began in summer 2022 after Kim and her husband moved to Tehaleh and couldn’t find the Hawaiian treat they were craving nearby. They started serving it themselves from a trailer. Ono’s own website still highlights its seasonal visits to school events, parties and other gatherings around the Pacific Northwest.
The new location will put that business inside a market built around local entrepreneurs. At 5101 Yacht Club Road, the indoor Waterfront Market brings together specialty foods, handcrafted goods, boutique shops and rotating vendors. It operates year-round, giving visitors a place to browse and eat beyond the summer waterfront season.
As Kim explains in the Tribune report, Hawaiian shave ice has a lighter, softer texture than a crushed-ice snow cone. Ono uses syrups shipped from Hawaii, with flavors including guava, lychee and ube alongside familiar favorites. The permanent shop would also allow the business to offer employees work beyond its summer season.
Kim plans to begin with weekend service, so the market’s seven-day schedule won’t necessarily be Ono’s schedule. The trailer will remain part of the business, too. For the prices, topping options and the surprising savory item Kim wants to serve alongside those frozen treats, read the full News Tribune story here.
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