Log 46: Baptism by Ice

Generally speaking, I am a bit skeptical that anyone would choose a bowl of shaved ice over a bowl of ice cream. I waited three days before I actually had my first shave ice from Ululani’s, because I just don’t crave shaved ice like that, even though employees get one free per day. But the day of my fourth shift, it was hot out, and I was craving anything cold, so I made myself one. My shift manager, Kayla, claimed that I couldn't go wrong with any flavor combination. To put this claim to the test, I prepared myself a mango and wedding cake concoction. I tentatively took a first bite. Incredible. That's the only word that can describe how good that shaved ice was. I get it now; I would stand in line for a bowl of that stuff too.

I started my job at Ululani's this past Sunday. And frankly, it's kind of intense. Ululani's has three locations just in Lahaina. One across the street from my hostel, one a little further down on the exact same street, and one at the Hyatt two miles down the road. They basically have a monopoly on shaved ice on Maui, and they're expanding to the mainland soon. 

Anyways, right now I’m in training to be a shavista at their Hyatt location for my first couple weeks. A “shavista” is Ululani's trademarked term for a barista, but for shaved ice. Being a shavista is high pressure. Ululani's is currently short-staffed, so instead of watching and learning, they put me right on the front lines.

There are four shavista’s needed to serve shaved ice. First, a shavista working the register, greeting customers, taking orders, and passing them on to the other shavistas. Next, you need a shavista manning the ice-shaving machine (I have not made it far enough in my training to use the machine yet). Their job is to get the shaved ice packed down in cups and scoop ice cream when necessary. They also have to retrieve new blocks of ice when one’s finished. After the ice machine shavista finishes filling a bowl, the next shavista is there to trim the shaved ice. This job is (hard) done by using chopsticks to sort of weed whack the shaved ice so it looks shapely and none hangs over the lip of the bowl. Then, you need to poke holes for the flavored syrup to absorb into, starting with a little moat all around the perimeter of the shaved ice, then 16 holes spread across the top of it. Once the ice has been ordered, packed, and trimmed, there's only one thing left for the last shavista to do: pour the flavors on top.

So that's the process. And we do it all day, not stop. I swear, there has never been a period longer than five minutes that no one has come to the stand. People really like shaved ice. In a regular shift, each of the shavistas working spend 2 hours working each of the four roles, which is actually a nice way to measure the time. My favorite job is trimming, because although it's difficult and I'm not very good at it (my manager has been very vocal on this topic), when you do it you end up getting little sprinkles of ice all over you, and like I said, it’s sweltering out there. 

I like my coworkers. They're very friendly - my other manager, Tiane, bought me coffee and breakfast before my first shift. Most of the other staff are young, I'd say around 17-28, and they're all air and fire signs, which is good. I ride my bike to work every morning. Well, not my bike, Hakuna Matata’s bike. Although, most people at the hostel have cars and don't use the bikes - so it is basically my bike. Anyways, it's about a four mile ride, and it's actually pleasant enough since I work pretty early in the morning, before the sun is out.

Starting at Ululani's makes me want to stay here longer - an idea that I've been pondering pretty much since I first checked into the hostel. I don't feel like a month here is enough. I want to stay. This will likely be the last time for a long time that I have no real commitments that require me to be anywhere in particular. So, I'm staying! I've been talking with the hostel owner, Daniel, and we worked out a deal for me to stay here through July in the room where the “work stay” girls live. Since it's a smaller room and I’m staying for a while, he's going to charge me $15 less per night than what I was paying to stay in the dorms. I’m taking the deal and moving in on the 10th.

Highlight: When a customer at the shave ice shop wants to charge the bill to their room instead of paying with a card, we have to manually input their last name, room number, and the dollar amount ...and the tip. That means each time someone charges to their room, you have to ask them directly if they would like to tip you. Which is so fun. During my most recent shift, a woman walked up to the shop late in the afternoon, a little ways from closing time. She ordered her shaved ice, and asked if she could charge it to her room. I said yes, typed in her name and room number, and asked her if she “would like to leave a tip today.”

“I have to put it in manually when you charge it to the room,” I explained, when she didn't answer right away. 

“Um…” she said, thinking for a moment. Then she looked me in the eye and said: “No tip is fine.”