Actually, water ice and Italian ice are not the same thing. In Philadelphia, water ice is relatively coarse crushed or shaved ice with flavored syrup, while Italian ice is very smooth, almost creamy in consistency, and the flavor is mixed in at the factory rather than poured over it on the spot. Actually, what the Hawaiians call "shave ice" (sometimes called "ice shave" on the Big Island) is almost identical to Philadelphian water ice. Only in Philly, they don't have flavors like ginger, coconut, mango, lilikoi, and blue vanilla.

'Spaw, I'm honored. I think it's been more than a year since you've graced us with that mellifluous effulgence. Of course, I don't read every thread... And it's a good thing it's still warm enough to leave the windows open.

Aloha,
Mark