Icy treats for hot days as Kona Ice returns for third year

By Elisa Claassen For the Tribune

LYNDEN — Kona Ice of North Whatcom County is back for the third year at the Northwest Washington Fair. What they o er is cold shaved ice on hot days from the incredibly colorful truck that is hard to miss.

In ation has impacted prices in terms of sugar and even paper products, said Owner/Operator DiAnna Kleindel. Yet they are eager to be back at the Fair. e vitablend system is one option with 40% less sugar and relies on fruit for avor and stevia.

e Kona truck is about the size of an aid car and they also have two additional units – a trailer and a mini unit – that are available for events. “We come to your event, and we are extremely exible and mobile. It only takes a few minutes to set up and we are ready to go.”

What makes Kona so unique? “We have patented avorwave. We hand you the cup of shaved ice which is about as soft as snow – and you can put the avors on it yourself from the Flavorwave machine if you want or we have avors inside the truck as well.” e top 10 avors in the avorwave are blue raspberry, tiger’s blood, groovy grape, island rush, lucky lime, moonster mango, ninja cherry, pina colada, strawberry’d treasure and watermelon wave.

Inside the truck the avors include adult avors, such as strawberry daiquiri, fuzzy navel and blackberry mojito.

“Kids go bananas for Kona Ice,” Kleindel said. “It starts with the fun factor. We have an incredible truck with all of the colors and charm, the tiki hut top, steel drum music playing from the loud speakers, our engaging characters and our avorwave.

In addition to our vitablend avors we o er sugar-free and dye-free avors as well. e truck brings almost an amusement park energy wherever it stops.”

From small events to much larger ones, the Kona Ice team can serve up to 400 treats in an hour. Kona Ice accepts cash, credit card and Apple Pay.

Sizes vary from the kiddie to klassic to king and even kowabunga.