Hula Boba

They moved to Kapolei near Simply Overprice & Cha ching Wah wah$$$
The snow ice price went up, but everything else too. I’m guessing high rental space.
Tried the snacks, different and foreign, but good.

Chinatown location may have been closed but check out their other location in Waipahu…
94 – 340 Waipahu Depot St
Waipahu, HI 96 797
(808) 677‑6930

Great fresh fruit boba! I have only had the strawberry passion so far, but it was so tart, sweet, and fresh tasting, with a surprising strawberry seed crunch as I munched on the dark tapioca pearls… a pleasant $ 3 treat!
Slight downside, is that it’s not as big as $ 3 bubble drinks are in other spots in Chinatown… BUT it has a really amazing taste, and is definitely worth $ 3! Will be back for more… definitely!

Honestly, I was a bit skeptical when I was led here by my coworker friends after lunch at JJ Dolan’s. They have an assortment of candies, snacks, and Asian drinks (no Vitasoy to my disappointment) as well as offers boba milk tea, smoothies, and snow ice.
The only snow ice place I’ve been to is Frost City so I really didn’t know what to expect when other places started offering snow ice. A regular size is $ 3, add $ 1 for large size. You get to choose a base snow ice flavor (I chose mango) and then add toppings. Their toppings didn’t look very appetizing, and they don’t offer any fresh fruits. You can pick between various flavors of those popping balls, jelly, or this thick gelatinous syrup. I stayed safe and picked mango popping balls and lychee jelly to go with my mango ice.
Surprisingly, it was amazing! The ice was exactly the same as Frost City’s. Despite the absence of fruits, the jellies had a nice chew to it complementing the ice’s velvety texture. The flavor of the ice is also the same as Frost City’s, very subtle in flavor and not too sweet. The size is doubled at half the price! It was simply heaven as I munched on this for a good 15 minutes (at least?!). It was a nice palate cleanser after a heavy pizza meal.
Cons: Cash only! Parking sucks in Chinatown.

I stumbled upon Hula Boba while scouring for plants to put on my desk and bam shows Hula Boba.
I went in and had to wait 30 seconds before the lady greeted me and assisted me. Thinking ti’ll be a similar experience to Coffee or Tea I ordered the Jasmine boba with custard, and she looked at me like I was from another country. I explained to her what the custard was and she still had no idea. TT. TT She did specify she had different pearls or boba if I wanted, so I stuck wit the original; boba.
It was good; but as you sip more and more the flavor dissipated into thin air, it got nasty more and more as I drank it! Such a waste for boba, but it was that bad.
I normally love the things Olivia D or Michelle L recommend, but Olivia, you were dead wrong on this place.

This place is not bad when it comes to bubble tea. It is inexpensive, or shoud I say not overpriced like some other $ 5 bubble tea joints… The only downside is that they use powder for their drinks, which I sometimes don’t like.
But Hula Boba has pretty good milk tea, even though it may be powder. I also like their flavored teas too. They have the popping boba and fruit jelly that I usually add to my green tea, at no extra charge.
The snow ice is pretty good too. I’ve only tried the Phillipine Mango Snow Ice, so I can’t say much about the other flavors. They also have snacks lined up against the wall, which I don’t see many people buying. It’s like potato chip or cracker snacks, only that it’s from Hong Kong, China, and even the Phillipines!
Ask for a frequency card — Buy 10 drinks, get one free! Good at both their Chinatown location and Waipahu location.

This is one awesome snow ice place that I happened to stumble onto when just cruising around the Chinatown area. Good thing it was a hot sunny day. This place has some awesome bubble/​boba drinks, milk teas, and snow ice. I never tried snow ice before and was gald that I got to try it out for the first time. What could my attention was a little sing that had Philippine mango snow ice available. I just had to try it out. The prices were not bad and the portion for the small/​regular cup is pretty big. It’s about 3 bucks for a small snow ice and 4 bucks for a regular. I got to try out 2 boba flavors which are lychee and strawberry. The staff and customer service is good. The prices are pretty good and decent. During the time that I came, there was only on staff worker and she was very helpful and nice. They have other flavor of snow ice and drinks and they have a pretty simple and big menu for you to look at and choose from. It’s located in Chinatown on N. Pauahi, right by the intersection of Smith St. and Maunakua in between those located. Next time I am coming to Chinatown, I am for sure coming back if they are open.
Unilocal 365 Challenge #313/​365

I’m glad I’m a frequent Chinatown explorer. I found this tiny gem that sells snacks and bubble teas, Hula Boba. This place has milk tea, flavored bubble teas, and even snow ice. Haven’t tried their snow ice, but the pictures look really yummy.
My favorite drinks are the Milk Tea and Thai Iced Tea. It’s their thai iced tea that brings me back to this store over and over again. Milk tea pretty darn good, too. Hula Boba even used the machine to seal the drink. You might think I’m crazy but it’s kinda fun watching the machine seal the cups after the drink is made. Whenever I’m in Chinatown doing some grocery shopping on the weekend, I visit Hula Boba. The owner is way, way nice and smiley unlike the ones you know at Coffee or Tea. :)

If you want to try a twist on shave ice, try the snow ice at Hula Boba.
Instead of ice, they shave frozen soy milk and then add fruit toppings (lactose intolerant people, rejoice!).
The portions are pretty big. At first look, you may want to share. At first taste, you’ll be spoon fighting for the next bite.

OHHHH MAHHHH GAHHHHHHH I think I found my NEW milk tea place!
After Boba Loca closed down I was bummed because I love milk tea and I knew no other place compared to their milk tea… Coffee or Tea is a close encounter to Boba Loca but not quit as fresh and good.
So, this past Saturday after eating at J.J. Dolan’s and walking around downtown I stumbled here and curiously looking at their menu and the milk tea being only less than $ 3 I decided to try it out! OMG was it extremely good and the closest thing to Boba Loca’s milk tea! It came with the softest and sweetest pearl (which I normally do not like) and the freshest made milk tea, not those already made ones and all the worker does is pour it in a cup (like Coffee or Tea). It’s also lid sealed and not just those regular kinda lids. My bf got the passion peach tea which was also good but I don’t think it went well with the pearl and peach is just not my flavor. This place even sells cheap and good products from can coffees, wafers, candy, chips, etc all for super cheaper than the stores! We got this huge strawberry vanilla wafers that was only $ 2 and was so good and all individually wrapped!
The worker was so nice to us and she made my milk tea fabulous! I asked her the hours of operation and she said Mon-​Sat I believe was 9−5pm and Sunday’s they are closed so it’s perfect hours and perfect location especially when walking down downtown under the blazin hot sun!
I’m such a milk tea freak and tried so many places that I swear by there milk tea!

«Biyatch, puh-​lease.»
I think that’s what my brain says every time I have a boba/​tapioca pearl smoothie drink that’s not from Yunnie’s [on «The Ave» by UW/​U-​District Seattle] because everything else is incomparable. So it’s like a competition because Yunnie’s has such tender and flavorful balls I want to have them in my mouth all the time.
I really don’t know what to say. I ordered a honey dew melon smoothie for $ 3. This is cheap. Everywhere else in Hawaii they’ll charge you extra for boba even though you’re going to a boba shop; kinda dumb, ya? They might as well charge you for the cup, lid and big ass straw.
If you aren’t already in Chinatown/​Downtown, then you probably don’t want to spend time looking for metered street parking. If you’re near, then this is probably your best bet. This place is better than the other boba place … the one right outside Maunakea Marketplace. Shoots, I forget the name. Then again, I’m guessing this is one of the better places in Chinatown to get boba … especially because it’s clean and there aren’t rats with sombreros hanging out in the corner playing mariachi music.
I went here right after eating Phở, so perhaps my taste buds were on overdrive and couldn’t really appreciate what this cutesy and colorful shop had to offer. I’ll probably head back here some other time to try their «Signature Dish» of Philippine Mango snow ice and I hope that my brain won’t be so damn vulgar and tell me that I’m dumb for not sticking to Ailana Shave Ice.
I really like their logo and the neat sound that «hula boba» creates — sounds almost like I’m in the circus or speaking in tongues
p. s. HI Lori I.
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Being the fatty that I am, I went back to Hula Boba right after work because the Phillipine mango snow ice was on my mind.
I’ll keep this short:
If you’re craving frozen non-​dairy coffee creamer, «Philippine mango» that tastes like canned peaches in syrup and janky condensed milk then by all means order the Philippine mango snow ice.
This place is lame.
I’m over it.

Ahh, after a nice lunch walk how can I resist when walking by here a nice passion fruit tea with tapioca balls makes me feel like a kid every time (I want to shoot those balls at something haha) but the big thing is it is so refreshing and even more so on a hot day!
The prices for the drinks are on the average so not too bad, the location a bit out of the way for most downtown people but it usually is toward the end of my walk so perfect for me.

Popping boba, like popping fish eggs. Looks like ikura, fish eggs. Very nice sweet flavor. I’ve tried the strawberry and passion bobas. I like the shaved ice milk? I asked what they use but couldn’t really understand what it was. my translation, shaved ice milk.
We saw Scott and Mayumi Suzui from Ultimate Japan show. Scott was asking about it and i told him it was good. he got Skyler to try it. My claim to fame, with a tv star.

Hula Boba is my favorite boba spot in Honolulu. Tasty, refreshing and affordable, with friendly service!
Located in the heart of Chinatown and a five minute walk from Downtown, it is perfect for those looking for a cool drink or a treat after lunch.
There are many tea flavors one can choose from for their drink order. I usually order the milk tea or jasmine tea with boba. Their shave ice looks delicious but I have yet to try that. Besides their drinks and shave ice, they also sell a variety of packaged snacks.
The only downside about Hula Boba is there is usually only one person working. This may delay you for a minute or two, especially if there are others in front of you in line. However, the ladies who help me each time I visit are consistently courteous and friendly which leave a lasting impression.
Lastly, don’t forget to pick up their customer stamp card, especially if you visit Hula Boba on a regular basis!

Great, slightly sweet boba! I recommend the strawberry passion fruit smoothie but it all looks so good!
This may be my boba stop from now on since it appears that Boba Loca closed.
Who knew that I would ever like boba? I hated the stuff when I had it on Maui. I finally figured out that the quality of the boba was junk. One of the reasons I enjoy living on Oahu is being able to have good boba drinks… yay! Now if only Maui could have good boba, I may be more tempted to move back…

After stuffing my face somewhere in Chinatown, I still have room for dessert. Hula boba is def better for their desserts and snow ice. Recently, I went and got the jasmine milk tea w/​boba. Mhmm… def not as flavorful as other places, but I’m giving them a 4star, becuase I know everything else is great.
The mango PI snow ices is yum. The snow ice is generally smooth and soft, perfect for a hot day. Really the ice would taste good alone, but adding the toppings just makes it that more dangerous! :) I also say light on the condensed milk, you really don’t need that much.

OH my yumminess! I tried their ice cream/​shaved ice with little juice balls on it… I have never had anything like it! It looks like tapioca balls, but when you bit into it, it’s juice! They had three flavors, strawberry, mango, and lychee. And of course, the mother of all toppings… CONDENSED MILK!!!
It was a very good dessert! I love the textured balls, very innovative! It was very sweet and delicious! Perfect on a hot day!

I was craving for some boba, or what us main landers from Seattle call «bubble tea». I was having lunch in chinatown wandering around a little while before i had to get back to work. I’ve walked past this little shop a few times and never really paid attention to it until now. The shop is soo cute! The bright colors and signs really makes you smile and turns your bad mood into a good one. The lady who owns the shop is one of the nicest business owners I’ve ever come across. She was so sweet and welcoming when we walked in. She was also very patient with me since I of course didn’t know what to order. Too many choices and I didn’t want the «Ugh I should’ve gotten that one» feeling.
I finally decided on the Thai milk tea. The service was so quick I only had time to take a couple pictures! I took a sip, half expecting it to be either too sweet or too bland. But to my surprise it came out perfect! Too bad it was a little on the small side, I finished my tea in about 2.5 seconds and was tempted to get another one.
Oh well, next time I’ll just remember to get a larger one!

I admit it, I am a spoiled Bay Area brat surrounded by the best of foods and drinks. I didn’t know I was going to be a boba snob until I was craving some in Hawaii.
The lady was really, really nice, so it pains me to give her just two stars. Maybe I just ordered the wrong item, but I did ask her what was good and she recommended the Thai Milk Tea. So maybe you should stay away and order something else.

Since I’m drinking one of their bubble teas, I thought I’d hammer out a quick review. Hula Boba has the cheapest bubble drinks in the state and they’re damn good. They have all the usual flavors – strawberry, milk tea, melon, etc.-but I am enamored with the green tea flavors. Right now, I’m drinking passion fruit green tea with the tapioca pearls. I love this place because the tapioca is always fresh and chewy, the green tea is refreshing and not too sweet, and my drink only cost $ 2.50!
I also like their shaved ice because instead of that sickly sweet syrup that most places in Hawaii use, they put gooey, tart, real fruit toppings and condensed milk on top of the shaved ice. I had the green mango and I liked the authentic Asian flavor, but my local friend didn’t care for it because it was too tart for him. Better for me; I didn’t have to share!