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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy an Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice Franchise

Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice is a gourmet dessert franchise built around finely shaved ice topped with house-made syrups, ice cream, mochi and other Hawaiian and Asian-inspired flavors. The brand began as a 65-square-foot shop in Lahaina, Maui in 2008 and remains family-led by founders Ululani and David Yamashiro, who started franchising in 2017.

The model is a counter-service, brick-and-mortar operation serving both local customers and the steady tourist traffic of Hawaii and other destination markets. Syrups are made in-house from purified water and pure cane sugar, and the menu has broadened over time to include items such as Ulu’s Hawaiian Dirty Soda and international dessert flavors, giving operators repeat-visit appeal beyond a single signature product.

From its Maui base, Ululani’s has expanded across the Hawaiian islands and onto the mainland, with locations in California, Texas and other states. It serves its shave ice in 100% compostable bowls, straws and spoons, and centers its identity on “Alohatude,” a blend of Aloha spirit and gratitude that shapes both its hospitality style and its strong reviews.

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Why buy an Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice Franchise?

Buying a Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice franchise means stepping into one of the most recognized names in Hawaiian shave ice, with a reputation that has drawn long lines and top ratings on Google, Yelp and Tripadvisor since the first Maui shop opened. The brand’s premium positioning, with finely shaved ice, house-made syrups and gourmet toppings, sets it apart from snow-cone-style competitors and supports a higher-value dessert experience.

For an owner, the appeal lies in a focused menu, a distinctive product that travels well to tourist and mainland markets, and a brand identity built on hospitality rather than discounting. An expanding network on the islands, in California and in Texas gives the concept proven reach beyond its Maui origins, within a specialty dessert category that has stayed resilient.

Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      2008

    • Franchising Since

      2017

    • New Startup Cost

      $295,800 – $596,300

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $58,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      $5,000

    • Royalty Fee

      6%

      of Gross Revenue

    • Marketing Fee

      1%

      of Gross Revenue

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      11

    • New Units Opened *

      2

    • Units Transferred *

      0

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      $606,783

    * Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Ululani's trains incoming franchisees in its proprietary syrup and shave ice recipes, store operating procedures and customer-service standards, with hands-on instruction and ongoing corporate support once a unit is running. The franchisor also provides access to its specialized shave ice equipment and sourcing for the purified water, pure cane sugar and premium ingredients that define the product. For a resale buyer, the most useful step is to confirm with Ululani's what transfer training, recipe and operating-system access, and ongoing support are provided to a new owner and any retained staff when the unit changes hands.

  2. Ideal Owner

    Ululani's suits a hands-on, hospitality-minded operator who enjoys being present in the shop and leading a customer-facing team. No prior foodservice experience is required, but attention to detail matters, since the product depends on consistent recipes, ice texture and presentation. The strongest owners are community-minded, comfortable hiring and managing hourly staff through busy seasonal periods, and genuinely invested in the brand's Aloha-driven service culture rather than treating the business as a passive investment.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Ululani's has been called the "Best Shave Ice in the World" and holds an unusually strong review reputation, with top ratings across Google, Yelp and Tripadvisor, a Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence (2,300+ reviews in 2024) and multiple Tripadvisor Hall of Fame inductions. It has won Maui No Ka 'Oi Magazine's Gold 'Aipono Award for Best Shave Ice repeatedly, most recently in 2025, and was named Best Shave Ice Stand on Maui by Hawaii Magazine in 2024. For resale buyers, brand-level recognition should be weighed alongside the specific unit's local reviews and visibility.

  4. Industry / Market

    Ululani's operates in the US frozen dessert market, valued at about $21.7 billion in 2025 and projected to grow at a double-digit annual rate through the early 2030s (Grand View Research). Demand is driven by consumer appetite for premium, experiential and shareable treats, with shave ice benefiting from its visual appeal and tourist-destination draw. The category is discretionary and seasonal, so local foot traffic, climate and tourism patterns strongly shape unit performance, a key factor for any buyer assessing an existing territory.

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