After four years of doing without, customers are rediscovering Aoki’s Shave Ice in its new location, a little red building across the street from its old spot on Kamehameha Highway in Haleiwa.

The shave ice institution reopened Oct. 4, with the fourth generation of the family continuing about 100 years of entrepreneurship on the North Shore.

“We are kinda like a secret spot tucked away beside our gift shop, Aoki’s North Shore Trading Co., next to the historic Liliuokalani Church,” Cathy Aoki, daughter of owner Michael Aoki, said.

“If you drive or walk by too fast, you’ll miss us! Our past regular customers have made the effort to find us, and they seem happy and are regulars again.”

Aoki’s former location has been turned into a new shopping area by the landowner, Bishop Estate.

Shave ice is just one of the family’s enterprises, Aoki said. “My grandfather’s family sold fish; my grandmother’s had a taxi service, general store and had sold shave ice in the Haleiwa Theater in the 1930s.”

Aoki’s is open 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily at 66-082 Kamehameha Highway. Call 637-7017.

— Pat Gee, Star-Advertiser

SCHOOLKIDS TREATED TO BANANAS IN JANUARY

Public-school baked goods have always been a gem of cafeteria lunches, so much so that decades after leaving the school system, former students fondly remember their favorite cookie, cake or bun. This month, public-school students will enjoy desserts made with fresh, local bananas as part of the state Department of Education’s ‘Aina Pono Harvest of the Month program.

Through ‘Aina Pono the school system purchases food from local farmers and ranchers, connecting students to the farming community and expanding their palates, all while supporting local producers.

The state purchased some 34,000 pounds of bananas from various local farms, including Sugarland Growers Inc. and Ohana Banana Farms, to make either banana pie or banana crumble to serve one day in January at each public school.

In December the lunch program launched with entrees of local beef.

‘Aina Pono comprises public school gardens; nutrition, health and food education; test kitchens; meal programs; and menu planning.

For the banana crumble recipe, visit hawaiipublicschools.org.

— Joleen Oshiro, Star-Advertiser