Only in Hawaii can you get away with a name like that.  But Uncle Clay’s House of Pure Aloha (located at 820 West Hind Drive #116 in the Aina Haina Shopping Center in Honolulu) not only has some of the best shave ice we’ve ever had, but it contains something even better—Uncle Clay himself.

First things first.  The shave ice.  Very fluffy and powdery, the way the ice should be.  But, more importantly, all of the flavorings are natural.  So rather than the oh-so-authentic looking blue raspberry, you have flavors such as lilikoi (passion fruit), mango, pineapple, and strawberry.  We highly recommend the lilikoi and the pineapple.  As with traditional Hawaiian shave ice, you can add ice cream to your shave ice (which the locals assure us is quite delicious, but which we have never tried).  There are fruit toppings available as well.  And the portions come in keiki (child-sized), medium, and large.

strawberry & lilikoi shave ice

Uncle Clay himself defies description.  He is a gentle, zen-like soul who is genuinely flattered that you have come to eat his shave ice.  But the best way to describe him is to give you The Pure Aloha oath, which he wrote himself.

The Pure Aloha Oath

I solemnly promise

To live every heartbeat of my life

From this day forward

With Pure Aloha.

Every single word that comes out of my mouth

And every single action, be it large or small

Must first come from my compassionate heart

And be supported by my thoughtful mind.

With an open heart and an open mind

I will unconditionally love

Every person who crosses my path in life

As a fellow member of our one world ohana.

If I truly try my best to do all these things

I will become the person I was born to be

Filled with inner peace and complete happiness.

Living every heartbeat with Pure Aloha

I can

Bring love into the hearts of others

And make our world a better place.

(www.houseofpurealoha.com)