CONTRIBUTED BY MONETTE EAMES
Motherleaf Exterior
A recent visit to Camp Schwab reminded me of visits to the North Shore in Hawaii. Visits to the North would always end with trips to the competing shave ice stands. I remember patiently waiting in line for my soft, pineapple flavored shave ice with a treasure trove of vanilla ice cream and azuki beans on the bottom while chatting away with my best friend as she waited for her rainbow shave ice with sweetened condensed milk topping.
Motherleaf Shave Ice
With the end of our trip to Oura Wan Cottages, I was on a mission to find a shave ice stand, and then I remembered the little shop by Camp Courtney. Soft, melt-in-your-mouth, ice, just like home. We arrived and there were a few people enjoying their huge servings of delight. We ordered ours—one strawberry and one with milk zenzai which is basically sweetened condensed milk with mochi balls and soft bean jam. We ate them—or more like placed them in our mouths and swallowed, drank, as the ice melted instantly. It was heaven under the sun!
Motherleaf Menu
This place is a great place to visit on a warm Okinawan day. The best thing about this place? It’s the best QUALITY shaved ice I’ve ever had in Okinawa. And it is also the cheapest, with the basic flavored ones being only Y150.
Hours: 11:30-6:00 closed Mondays
Phone: 972-3769
Directions: From Courtney’s main gate, turn right and keep driving until you see Family Mart. Motherleaf Shave Ice is right next to Family Mart.
It is not unusual to wait 30+ minutes for a “snocone” here on Sundays! They take your order, give you a number and you join all the others standing around waiting for their “snocone” goodness! I am currently trying all the flavor combos, but last Sunday I had mango with condensed milk inside and on top with azuki beans and mochi. It was the best one so far! Parking can someimes be a problem and I’m sure the Family Mart folks HATE sharing a parking lot with Motherleaf, lol. There is a parking area across the street you can use if needed. LOVE, LOVE Motherleaf!
do you know how i can get there from Kadena??
There are several different ways, but the easiest may be to exit Gate 2 and go down to the 330 intersection. Turn left on 330. 330 will turn into 75. Stay on 75 for quite a while and you will see the Courtney Towers then shortly after that you will see Courtney’s main gate on your right. Stay on 75 past the main gate and there will be a Family Mart up ahead on your right. Motherleaf shares the building with the Family Mart. Hope you find it. It is yummy!!