Guri Guri

In the early 20th century, Jokichi Tasaka invented an ice cream–sherbet hybrid so good that he called it “goodie goodie.” After emigrating to Maui from Japan, he opened a confectionary store and sold the frozen treat to fellow immigrants looking to beat the Hawaiian heat. Though they mispronounced the original moniker as “guri guri,” the new name stuck and became the official title of both the treat and Tasaka’s store.

Guri guri’s exact recipe remains a secret, but most hypothesizing chefs agree that it’s likely a frozen blend of strawberry or pineapple juice, lemon-lime soda, and sweetened condensed milk. The result is light and fruity, yet rich and creamy. Blending the best of ice cream and sherbet, the treat leads diners to wax poetic, describing it as “if a slushie and ice cream had a baby” or “if a shaved ice cart and ice cream truck had a head-on collision into your tongue.”

Located in the Maui Mall, Tasaka Guri Guri is now run by Jokichi’s granddaughters. They keep things simple, serving up only two flavors: strawberry and pineapple. Occasionally, they’ll release a limited-edition flavor such as lime or orange, but diners better act fast: These sell out quickly.