Overview
Slice by HB Baking is a dessert-focused spot in Kapahulu, on the Honolulu side of Oʻahu, anchored at 1016 Kapahulu Ave #150. The current Google record says it is operational, and the bakery’s own site matches the address, phone number, and operating days. For a traveler, the draw is not a full-service bakery in the generic sense but a highly specific ice-cream-and-pastry stop built around slices, pies, cakes, and a few baked items.
What makes it notable is the concept: the shop built its reputation on ice cream pies and related desserts, then expanded into a retail location and mobile dessert service. The tone from both official and media coverage is that this is a destination for over-the-top sweets rather than an everyday neighborhood bakery. (hbbaking.com)
Cuisine & Specialties
This is a dessert shop centered on house-made ice cream creations, especially ice cream pie slices, ice cream cakes, shave ice, scoops, and a small baked-goods selection. The menu leans playful and layered rather than minimal: crusts, ice cream fillings, toppings, and garnishes are used to build desserts that sit somewhere between bakery slice, ice cream parlor treat, and celebratory cake. The shop also says it can accommodate vegan and gluten-free guests, though that should be read as a useful option rather than a fully separate menu. (hbbaking.com)
- Overall menu style: dessert-first, with the core lane being ice cream pies and cakes by the slice, plus whole pies/cakes, scoops, shave ice, sundaes, cookies, brownies, and coffee.
- Notable specialties supported by the menu and coverage: Strawberry Shortcake, Snuggy Bear, Caramel Banana Butterfinger, Chocolate Mousse, Lemon Meringue, and Matcha Cookies & Cream; bibingka brownies; house cold brew; sundaes; shave ice with fruit, mochi, and ice cream. (hbbaking.com)
- Price range / spend: expect a casual-dessert spend that can climb quickly. Official menu pricing shows slices around $9.50, scoops at $5–$7, brownies and coffee around $4, a sundae special at $17, and whole cakes roughly $40–$145 depending on size and customization. Earlier reporting described whole-pie and cake prices in the same general range. (hbbaking.com)
- Dietary usefulness / limitations: the shop explicitly says it accommodates vegan and gluten-free guests, and the menu marks “dairy free” on the PDF. That is a real plus for a dessert shop, but the evidence does not show a broad savory or fully allergen-segregated operation. (hbbaking.com)
Notable Features & Ambiance
The experience appears to be a compact retail dessert stop rather than a sit-down restaurant. The bakery’s own site says the flagship store is in Kilohana Square and notes free parking there, which is useful for a quick treat run. Media coverage and review snippets describe a bright, playful dessert counter with visually elaborate slices and cakes, though the evidence base here is more about the product than a heavily documented dining room. (hbbaking.com)
- Service model and seating style: counter-service retail dessert shop; ordering by the slice is the norm, with whole pies/cakes available by preorder or when supply allows. (hbbaking.com)
- Atmosphere and decor: described in secondary coverage and review summaries as fun, colorful, and whimsical; the appeal is visual as much as culinary. That said, this is an inference from repeated descriptions and imagery, not a heavily documented dining-room feature. (honolulumagazine.com)
- Amenities or practical features: free parking is stated on the official site; the shop also appears on Uber Eats and promotes daily specials on Instagram. (hbbaking.com)
- Best fit: a dessert stop, celebratory pickup, post-dinner treat, or “something special” outing.
- Weaker fit: anyone looking for a full meal, a quiet long-stay café, or a broad savory menu.
History & Background
Meaningful background does exist. Slice by HB Baking began in 2019 selling bibingka brownies, then expanded into ice cream pies, cakes, and other baked goods. The business opened its first retail location in May 2021, later added an ice cream truck operation in 2022, and is run by chef/owner Heather Lukela and her husband David Lukela. Reporting also ties Heather to pastry leadership at Top of Waikiki/Sky Waikiki and earlier work at other major Honolulu hotels and restaurants, which helps explain the polished, layered dessert style. (hbbaking.com)
Review Sentiment Snapshot
What People Love
The strongest pattern is enthusiasm for the desserts themselves: people repeatedly single out the ice cream pies, cake slices, bibingka brownies, and visually elaborate treats as memorable and indulgent. Review-style summaries and media coverage also point to friendly service, creative presentation, and a sense that the desserts feel handcrafted rather than mass-produced. This is well supported across official description, magazine coverage, and third-party review snippets. (hbbaking.com)
Common Gripes
The main downside that shows up with some consistency is price. Coverage explicitly calls some items pricey, and a review snippet says the desserts can feel “overpriced,” even while still being tasty. Portion-size expectations also appear in the review snippets: at least one customer found cupcakes smaller than expected. These cautions are lightly to moderately supported, not overwhelming, but they are real enough to mention. (honolulumagazine.com)
Practical Visitor Tips
- Current official hours are Wednesday–Thursday 12:00 PM–8:00 PM, Friday–Saturday 12:00 PM–9:00 PM, and Sunday 12:00 PM–5:00 PM; Monday and Tuesday are closed. Google’s hours match the official site closely. (hbbaking.com)
- Expect a walk-in dessert stop, not a reservation-based meal. For whole cakes, the shop recommends advance ordering; the official site says custom ice cream cakes need about 5 business days, while the menu PDF says choice pies require 24 hours’ notice. Those two lead times suggest different products have different ordering rules. (hbbaking.com)
- If you want the best chance at a specific flavor or whole pie, call ahead rather than assuming same-day availability. The shop says whole pies can sometimes be done same day depending on availability. (hbbaking.com)
- Free parking is a plus at the Kilohana Square location, which matters on Kapahulu where parking can otherwise be tight. (hbbaking.com)
- Daily specials are promoted on Instagram, so the day-of lineup may be more interesting than a static menu suggests. (hbbaking.com)
- This is a strong choice for a dessert-first outing after dinner in Waikīkī/Kapahulu, but not a place to build a full itinerary around unless you are specifically seeking sweets.
Verification Notes
- Official site and Google Places agree on the core identity: Slice by HB Baking, 1016 Kapahulu Ave #150, Honolulu, HI 96816, (808) 202-8601, hbbaking.com. (hbbaking.com)
- Google Places marks the business as OPERATIONAL; official site content is consistent with an active retail location. (hbbaking.com)
- There is minor drift in how the address is rendered across sources: Unit 150 vs #150, but these appear to be the same location rather than a relocation issue. (hbbaking.com)
- No major verification issues found
Sources
- HB Baking official home page —
https://hbbaking.com/— retrieved 2026-04-02 — most useful for current retail identity, menu framing, hours, parking, ordering guidance, and service options. - HB Baking “About Us” page —
https://hbbaking.com/about-us/— retrieved 2026-04-02 — most useful for origin story, ownership, and expansion history. - HB Baking online menu PDF —
https://hbbaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Online-Menu-11125.pdf— retrieved 2026-04-02 — most useful for specific flavors, price points, and ordering notice language. - Honolulu Magazine feature on the Kapahulu move —
https://www.honolulumagazine.com/hb-baking/— retrieved 2026-04-02 — most useful for signature items, price context, and the business move from earlier locations into Kapahulu. - Honolulu Magazine earlier feature on the original Slice concept —
https://www.honolulumagazine.com/ice-cream-pies-by-the-slice-are-a-new-thing-in-chinatown/— retrieved 2026-04-02 — most useful for founding context, the earlier Jolene’s Market location, and the role of Heather and David Lukela. - Restaurantji listing —
https://www.restaurantji.com/hi/honolulu/slice-by-hb-baking-/— retrieved 2026-04-02 — most useful for recurring customer praise and price-related complaint patterns. Treat as secondary review-summary evidence rather than a primary source.
