The Maui-based Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice is getting ready to make its San Diego debut in Chula Vista, located at 736 Otay Lakes Road.
The company’s first San Diego site will move into the Bonita Point Plaza later next year. Franchise owner Marijun Dilay tells What Now San Diego that she and the rest of the franchise team plan to make the company’s area debut in Summer 2024. Franchise owners Jeffrey and Eleanor Short are also a part of the team bringing this Hawaiian dessert shop to San Diego. The owners tell What Now San Diego they hope to open more than just one location in San Diego County.
Founders David and Ululani Yamashiro started the first Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice in late 2008 from Lahaina and has since expanded to a total of 12 locations, including several Hawaii sites and a handful of locations in California, including Hollywood, Stockton, Livermore, as well as a Texas site in Round Rock. Unfortunately, the company’s first site is temporarily closed after the devastating Lahaina fires earlier this year. A representative from the company tells What Now San Diego that the company’s founders will be present for this upcoming grand opening in Bonita Point Plaza.
“The first time our family had Ululani’s was during a trip to Maui in 2013,” the ownership group tells What Now San Diego in an email. “We fell in love with the quality taste of Ululani’s Shave Ice and the warm aloha spirit we felt when we visited the shop. Every day for the whole trip, we had Ululani’s shave ice. When we got back home, we were bummed to not have one close by. Fast forward ten years later our team is so excited to bring that same experience we’ve had in Hawaii to our fine city. Our ownership team has over a decade of experience living and working in Hawaii. We know there are many people in San Diego who know and love Ululani’s Shave Ice, just like us. And for those who haven’t tried Ululani’s’ Hawaiian Shave ice, we are happy to serve them up some aloha spirit along with delicious Hawaiian shave ice and welcome them to experience a bit of Maui in our hometown of San Diego.”
