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Cat Chat: More than just shave ice

By Catherine Toth Fox • June 15, 2011 • Food, Videos

Six months ago I walked through Aina Haina Shopping Center and noticed something different.

Doe Fang, a little mom-and-pop crack seed shop that’s been around for more than 50 years, was closed.

I paused, not believing this popular shop — known for its delightful Icee creations, particular the strawberry slush topped with li hing powder — could close. People loved Doe Fang and, more importantly, they loved its owner, Uncle Clay Chang.

But there was a notice taped to the glass door. There was hope. It read that Uncle Clay was going to come back, creating something called a House of Pure Aloha. The dream, it said, would live on.

And it has.

Saturday is the grand opening of Uncle Clay’s House of Pure Aloha (@uncleclays), a charming shave ice shop serving gourmet versions of the island treat. It boasts homemade syrups made with local ingredients from vendors such as Otsuji Farms in Hawaii Kai and Waialua Estate.

“This is my dream,” said Uncle Clay Chang, who was dishing out hugs yesterday to anyone who happened to stop by. “Now it’s turned into a calling.”

Now his calling is to spread his brand of aloha through this beloved frozen treat, offering syrups — pineapple, acai, lychee, coconut, li hing and even kale-spinach — and fresh toppings and homemade sauces.

Here’s a peek inside:

House of Pure Aloha

House of Pure Aloha
Image 1 of 15

Uncle Clay Chang is back — this time with new gourmet shave ice shop in Aina Haina Shopping Center called Uncle Clay's House of Pure Aloha.

Uncle Clay’s House of Pure Aloha, Aina Haina Shopping Center, 820 W. Hind Dr. Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Phone: (808) 373-5111

Aina Haina Shopping CenterBronson ChangClay ChangDoe FangHawaiishave iceUncle ClayUncle Clay's House of Pure Aloha
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About the Author

Catherine Toth Fox

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11 Comments

  • Reply M June 15, 2011 at 7:12 am

    Hello Cat, that looks so refreshing! It is a must stop!

    • Reply Catherine Toth June 15, 2011 at 7:49 pm

      Yes, it should be on your bucket list!

  • Reply WildeOscar June 15, 2011 at 8:25 am

    It’s about time someone like Uncle Clay jumped in and opened a place to put out of business that House of Impure Aloha across the street. Purity will win in this war of competitve business.

    • Reply Catherine Toth June 15, 2011 at 7:49 pm

      LOL, Impure Aloha. I can only imagine who’d run that!

  • Reply David Jackson June 15, 2011 at 12:13 pm

    This was an excellent Cat Chat, you are so relaxed, Uncle is a riot, and nephew is well spoken. Just loved it.

    • Reply Catherine Toth June 15, 2011 at 7:50 pm

      Aw, thanks! It was easy since Uncle Clay and Bronson are so freaking nice! 🙂

  • Reply MaxMaxMax June 15, 2011 at 3:22 pm

    Aina Haina, eh? WIll have to check it out on the way out to the dog park next time! How are things on the East side Cat? Heard they’re shutting down the HiKai Foodland in July…

    • Reply Catherine Toth June 15, 2011 at 7:50 pm

      I know. I was going to blog about that… Maybe tomorrow… It’s a total shame.

  • Reply Clinton June 16, 2011 at 2:49 am

    Hey Cat, love this post! Shave ice looks so ono. I agree that Uncle Clay and Bronson are super nice people, but I can tell that you are too! HOPA!

  • Reply Vernelle June 16, 2011 at 3:57 pm

    Thanks for blogging about HOPA! Uncle Clay and Bronson are doing a super awesome job of spreading Pure Aloha around the world and I hope that one day they can open HOPA’s everywhere! I can’t wait to try all of the delicious shave ice’s! They look sooo good!

  • Reply Lauren June 30, 2011 at 8:26 am

    Great pictures! Uncle Clay is my good high school friend’s dad–always see the shave ice master out running on the weekends too. 🙂 Happy that he’s back and open!

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About Me

About Me
Born and raised on O‘ahu, Hawaiʻi, Catherine Toth Fox has been chronicling her adventures in her blog, The Cat Dish, for more than a decade. She worked as a newspaper reporter in Hawai‘i for 10 years and continues to freelance—in between teaching journalism, hitting the surf and eating everything in sight—for national and local print and online publications. She’s currently the editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine.

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