A Taste of Hawaii in Pella

Pella has a new gem in town—Paradise Ice Shave Ice Trailer! The Dutch Greeters celebrated the grand opening of Paradise Ice with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by Dutch Greeters, marking a “sweet” occasion for our community. You may recognize the name Paradise Ice as they made a splash at Thursdays In Pella events this summer, quickly becoming a crowd favorite!

 

Paradise Ice isn’t just your typical icy treat; it’s shave ice, which is quite different from the traditional sno-cone. Unlike sno-cones, shave ice is meticulously shaved off a clear ice block, resulting in fluffy, airy ice that allows flavors to be perfectly infused. All of the flavors offered at Paradise Ice are imported from Hawaii, giving you an authentic taste of the islands right here in Pella.

 

Guests can choose between two delicious styles: the Mainland style, which features only shave ice and flavors, or the Island style, where ice cream is served at the bottom, topped with shave ice and your choice of flavor. To elevate the experience, they offer additional toppings like snow cap (a sweet cream) or Li Hing Mui powder—a beloved Hawaiian blend of salt, sugar, and ground plums.

 

Cindy Nikkel, the owner of Paradise Ice, is no stranger to Pella. In fact, she was raised here and has lived here for many years. A former softball coach, Cindy’s journey into the world of shave ice began during a phone call with an old friend from Hawaii. After a conversation with her friend, who was also her old assistant coach, Cindy realized she wanted to embrace more freedom of time in her life. “You need more flexibility in your life!” her friend exclaimed during their convo. This phone call set Cindy, and husband Bryan, on a path to create something truly special with Paradise Ice.

 

With guidance from her friend in Hawaii, who grew up in Oahu making shave ice and agreed to teach the Nikkels the secrets of the trade, the Nikkels were handed a wealth of knowledge about shave ice. However, Cindy and her husband Brian soon faced the challenge of sourcing clear block ice, which is essential for authentic shave ice. After realizing there were no local options in the state of Iowa for procuring the ice, Bryan ingeniously created a method to make their own, paving the way for their new vision and venture.

Paradise Ice’s first official event was at Tulip Time this past May, where they initially expected to sell about 3,000 servings. To their astonishment, they sold 818 on the very first day alone! This overwhelming response not only covered their initial setup expenses but also validated their decision to embark on this new journey as they walked away from the event with an extra $5. “After we sat down and had those $5 I thought perfect God! You gave us what we needed! It was a sign this is what we should be doing,” Cindy reflected.

 

Beyond serving delicious shave ice, Paradise Ice is also driven by a greater mission. The Nikkels are deeply passionate about helping those in Afghanistan, supporting individuals who are courageously sharing their faith of Christianity in a challenging environment. A portion of the proceeds and all tips from Paradise Ice go toward supporting this mission. “We feel like God has woven our stories together. We are blessed with this opportunity to help,” Cindy shared.

 

Family and friends have been integral to Paradise Ice’s journey, helping with everything from graphic design to volunteering at events. As Brian put it, “This has been a really great family opportunity. We are having fun!”

 

Paradise Ice has quickly become a beloved part of our community, serving up not just refreshing treats but also fostering connections and goodwill. Next time you see them at an event, be sure to stop by Paradise Ice for a taste of their authentic shave ice and to support a mission that’s close to their hearts. Here’s to more smiles, more flavors, and more community connections as Paradise Ice continues to sweeten our area! Welcome to Pella and PACE Nikkel fam! Your adventure is just beginning!