10 Facts About Kona Ice Only True Fans Know

Shaved ice is both a playground and poolside staple that conjures memories of summer break and seemingly endless sunny days. The delicate shavings bring the treat to fluffier heights than the average snow cone. This lighter-than-air texture is contrasted by boldly flavored syrups that give the dessert a full-on tropical feel. A staple refreshment in the Hawaiian islands, it's no shock that it became a popular choice on the mainland as well! It's even garnered some pretty notable adult fans, including none other than President Obama, who's been spotted picking up the sweet treat whenever visiting his home state. 

Chances are if you've chowed down on some shaved ice, you've frequented a Kona Ice truck. The bright blue vehicle adorned with islandy accents and a penguin mascot is pretty hard to miss. The cheerful mobile vendor is a common visitor to local parks, school events, and busy sports venues. Kona Ice is more than just your old-school ice cream truck. The growing business has an interesting history and some fun tidbits any fan would want to know. 

When we think of mobile summer snacks, it's typically the ice cream truck treats in countless nostalgic flavors that come to mind. The ice cream truck would jingle as it cruised down the street. Gangs of neighborhood kids would dig in their pockets and count up change to buy a sweet frozen treat from the roving truck. However, when the founder of the Kona Ice Truck, Tony Lamb, frequented an ice cream truck with his kid, he was less than impressed. The truck was dirty and unkempt, and his young daughter was very hesitant in approaching it. What made it worse was that ultimately the quality of the treat was less than stellar. This was disappointing for Lamb, and the idea bloomed to reimagine the ice cream truck in a friendlier, cleaner design, and with a new, high-quality dessert.

By 2007, Lamb and a team of engineers had created arguably the most important aspect of the business, the Kona Entertainment Vehicle. The truck is about as family-friendly as it gets — featuring bright colors and cheerful music stylings. An open-concept, efficient kitchen design and well-maintained ice-shaving machines provide a clean aesthetic that patrons love. 

While shaved ice may seem like a given for the summer in the United States, its origin in the U.S. can actually be traced to Hawai'i, where it's called shave ice. Over on the islands, the sweet ice is considered some of the best Hawai'ian food to grab. But, really, shave ice's history goes beyond the island, quite literally! A sweet treat called Kakigori has been popular in Japan since as early as the 10th century. When laborers emigrated to the Hawaiian islands, they brought the refreshing treat along. What was once meant as a cooling treat to break up hot work days is now a popular snack for everyone from local surfers to eager tourists.

When the Kona Ice brand was developed, many of the themes paid homage to the treat's Hawaiian background. The Kona moniker shares its name with a district on the big island, known for its stunning scenery and famous coffee. The trucks are adorned with iconic island imagery including a tiki bar and the truck's mascot riding the waves on a surfboard. Kona even released an app-based game called Island Rush where you guide the brand's trademark penguin through a Hawaiian-inspired world featuring volcanos, palm trees, and sandy beaches.

Still, Kona Ice got its start very far from the islands of Hawai'i. In fact, the sweet treat truck was created in none other than the Bluegrass State, Kentucky! While Kentucky cuisine is typically based on burgers and Bourbon, it can also lay claim to one of the best-known summer treats. The mobile ice-shaver can be found all across the country nowadays, but the company still makes efforts to support the local economy. Founder Tony Lamb tells Fox 19, "You don't get involved in Kona unless you're community-minded. And it started here in Northern Kentucky. We started giving back to our schools, our youth sports and clubs, and things."

In the 2010s, the company offered a two-year mentorship program to Kentucky-based graduates. These mentees get the chance to end the program with their own dedicated territory to start their ownership careers. Their two years of work can also earn them completely paid-off franchise fees.

Still based in its original starting point of Florence, Kentucky, the corporation has hosted an annual convention Kona Ice Konvention in its home state for the last eight years.  The convention provides an opportunity for Kona Ice franchise owners to meet up and exchange ideas on how to best improve their businesses. It also brings money into the region during the slow season of winter. In fact, the convention is so popular, that it injected a million dollars into the local economy in 2023. 

Perhaps a secret ingredient to the success of the Kona Ice business model is how customizable its treat is. The franchise's trucks are souped up with what's referred to as the "Flavorwave." This is a line of syrup dispensers lined up on the side of the truck that allows patrons to top their shaved ice with the exact amount of syrup their heart desires!

The truck has ten flavors that the company praises as fan favorites. Kona's top-ranked flavor, Tiger's Blood is a delightful mix of sweet berry and tropical coconut notes. There are also classic blue raspberry, grape, and cherry options. For those wanting to stick to island vibes, they can veer toward the pina colada and Island Rush flavors. And the best part is, the serve-yourself format allows patrons to mix and match any of these flavors to their unique tastes. Pair mango and lime for a fruity twist or layer watermelon and strawberry syrups for an iconic taste of summer. The possibilities are endless and you can even ask the driver for additional flavors they keep behind the counter.

Central to the inception of Kona Shave Ice, was to not only provide an alternative to ice cream trucks but to also offer up a healthier alternative. Shaved ice is still a treat, but the options allow more to enjoy it! Allergy sufferers often have a hard time finding sweets that are safe. According to Kona Ice, peanuts and eggs aren't used anywhere on the truck or in the syrup manufacturing facilities. Plus, the offerings are gluten-free and dairy-free as well. 

Kona has also started offering syrups with specific health needs in mind. There's a Vita-Blend option with reduced sugar and immune-supporting vitamins C and D. In order to be compliant with educational dietary guidelines, the truck offers a Fruit First syrup with a pear juice base. Those watching their sugar can enjoy stevia-based syrups that are also vegan-friendly and Kosher. So, even if you have dietary restrictions, you can share in the delight when you see the bright blue truck appear.

Within the first 10 years of the business, Kona Ice experienced major expansion. It was regarded widely as a franchise success story with more and more trucks popping up, first in Kentucky and then in different states. This success is due, in part, to the company's commitment to quality and supporting franchisees. In 2016, Lamb told Fox News, "We are selling franchises as fast as we can build them. We expect to sell 100 franchises this year...I could do more, but I don't want to impact the quality of training."

By 2018, the humble shaved ice stand on wheels had topped 125 million in sales. Today, the company is still experiencing growth and boasts over 1,500 trucks nationwide. That's a pretty far cry from the franchise's first year of business where it sold just 13 trucks! Today, Kona Ice trucks can be found in 49 U.S. states and in Canada.

Because Kona Ice is a franchise, anyone with enough capital can apply to operate their own KEV and manage their own territory. The initial fee is $15,000 and it only takes about a month or two to get a truck up and running. A total investment of about $150,000 and $190,000 is typically needed to acquire a vehicle and equipment, as well as cover other start-up costs. Franchisees sign a ten-year contract and pay annual royalty fees on a sliding scale as they gain experience.

However, franchisees are valued by the company and seen as partners. An onboarding trip to the headquarters is included with the initial franchise fee. Here, these new owners learn the ins and outs of the business and gain tools for success. Lamb values his franchisees and their contributions to the company's success. Keeping fees low to allow more entrepreneurs to participate is important to him and he's only raised his fee one time. He tells NBC News, "People said, charge $15,000, and as your concept gets better, increase it...But what they don't realize is that I'm not selling franchises, I'm forming partnerships. I've turned the tables around, where I'm subject to my franchisees' approval, not the other way around. I hope to earn their respect and the privilege to sign them up again when their contract expires 10 years down the road."

Some businesses try to figure out how to sell their product as widely and often as possible. Nonetheless,b Tony Lamb, initially thought that the trucks would provide a seasonal gig, and created his business model with that in mind. However, eventually, enough franchisees came forward noting that they would like to try to sell during the winter. So, Lamb turned back to the drawing board to make it happen.  He quickly found that it wasn't as much as redesigning the treat, but rather, bringing the experience inside. This eventually resulted in the Kona Ice Mini, a transportable kiosk that could be brought inside youth organizations, fundraisers, and sporting events. The concept proved to be a hit, and the shaved ice seems to be good in any weather.

The pandemic brought on additional challenges. Kona Ice is usually served at events and in public spaces such as school fundraisers or community pools — spots that were shuttered during lockdowns. So, the company had to figure out how to sell its products in a new way. Lamp tells QSR Web, "We had to pivot quickly and offer what we're now calling Kurbside Kona, where you can pre-order a delivery of Kona Ice right to your house. ... (This) tech-driven door-to-door model ... allowed us to recoup a good portion of lost revenues from canceled events."

A large part of Kona Ice's business model is being able to market and sell at school and social events. The company has raised more than $50 million for an assortment of community organizations in the 16 years it's been in business. Different methods of fundraising include having a Kona Ice Truck parked at an event or selling punchcards with the school receiving a portion of the sales. The franchise also offers a special type of fundraiser where they park near sporting events and help raise funds for a participating team. 

Kona further proves to be a proud supporter of educators. The #SeetheChange program allows the company to give back to classrooms through the promotion of its bright color-changing cups and its partnership with Adopt a Classroom. The company also provides support for the American Heart Association and the Make-a-Wish Foundation, raising over $2 million for the organization.

Kona Ice launched the Kona Krafted line in 2017 that sought to make a more mature and artisanal line of flavors — presumably for adults and teens to enjoy. Flavors of this more adult line include cocktail-inspired favorites like blackberry mojito, cosmopolitan, and appletini. There are also innovative flavor combinations like strawberry sriracha and rose petal lemonade. Even the classic Kona Ice truck was revamped to have a darker, yet nonetheless tropical, after-hours feel to it. Now, don't get too excited, all of the flavors are alcohol-free! 

Nonetheless, this is a pretty genius move to appeal to the adults that may be accompanying the franchise's younger clientele. These flavors can encourage these guardians to purchase a cup of shaved ice of their own. Plus, they're a genius way to appeal to a new demographic eager to enjoy a more adult twist on a childhood classic.