Conversations with Nate And Masha Crawford

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nate And Masha Crawford.

Hi Nate and Masha, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Our passion for shave ice began on trips to the beautiful islands of Hawaii. On one of those trips to the Big Island, Nate consumed over twenty shave ice in just eight days. He must have averaged at least three shave ice a day, a testament to how incredibly delicious it was. We knew we had to get our fill because once we returned to California, we wouldn’t find anything that compared to the authentic taste of the islands.

The inspiration to turn this personal passion into a business came from a profoundly personal and challenging event. Masha’s parents, who are from Ukraine, happened to be visiting us in California when the war broke out. We’ve been able to keep them safely with us, but the experience highlighted the need to create a new source of income for our family.

It was clear to us that Californians would appreciate this sweet and addictive dessert just as much as we did, so we made it our mission to bring the authentic taste of Hawaii to the West Coast and build a lasting legacy for our family.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Honestly, the road has been fairly smooth so far, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t required a significant amount of hard work. We’ve invested countless hours into every aspect of the business, from the research and development of our product to the preparation and catering of events.

One of our greatest strengths has been how well we complement each other. Masha is incredibly detail-oriented and handles client communications, contracts, and all the “nitty-gritty” aspects of the business with excellence. Nate, on the other hand, is a natural salesperson. His outgoing personality has been instrumental in spreading the word about our business. Our combined personalities have made it easy to connect with clients, which has been a huge asset from the very beginning.

We started as a mobile catering business, spending our first year participating in numerous pop-up markets to build a name for ourselves. We’ve been incredibly blessed with our early clients, who took a chance on us when we had zero online reviews. Our hard work has paid off; over the past three years, with a growing number of positive reviews, we’ve become quite busy, often booking weekends two months in advance during the peak season from April to October. This rapid growth has led us to our next major milestone: opening a storefront in Placentia, North OC, which is currently on track to open in early 2026.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Our Work and Specialties
We’ve built a successful business focused on bringing authentic Hawaiian shave ice to the West Coast, but that’s only part of our story. Beyond our entrepreneurial venture, we both have demanding full-time careers. Masha works as a full-time ICU Nurse Practitioner at a VA hospital, providing critical care to our nation’s veterans. Meanwhile, Nate works as a Project Manager for a cold storage company, having retired from 24 years of service in the Navy in 2024. During college basketball season, we both serve as referees on the women’s side.

What Sets Us Apart
What truly distinguishes us is our relentless work ethic and our ability to balance multiple high-pressure roles. Our diverse professional backgrounds have given us unique and complementary skills. This combination of clinical precision and military-grade planning allows us to run our business with exceptional efficiency.

We are most proud of our ability to build a thriving business from scratch while maintaining our commitments to our full-time careers and family. The success of our shave ice company is a testament to our dedication, not just to our work, but to our community and our family. We took a personal passion and turned it into a successful venture, all while honoring our professional responsibilities and a shared commitment to a sport we love.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
There’s a lot to love about LA, and what we appreciate most reflects our individual personalities. For Masha, the city’s greatest strength is its incredible diversity. It’s a place where people from every corner of the world come together, creating a vibrant tapestry of cultures, languages, and culinary experiences. This rich variety is not just a feature of the city, but a source of constant inspiration and a fundamental part of its character.

For Nate, the immaculate weather and endless variety of activities are what he loves most. Living in a city where you can be at the beach one minute and snowboarding in the mountains the next, all under a clear blue sky, is truly a luxury. There’s always something new to explore, from world-class museums and music and sports venues to unique neighborhoods and hidden gems. The pleasant climate makes it easy to enjoy all of this year-round.

As for what we like least, it’s a common sentiment that the city’s sprawling nature and traffic can be a challenge. The need to drive everywhere and the time spent in congestion can be frustrating, but we’ve learned to manage it as a part of life in such a dynamic city.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.alohaspiritshaveice.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alohaspirithawaiianshaveice/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095057949897
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/aloha-spirit-placentia-3

Image Credits
Last 3 images – Said Photography (https://saidphotography.pixieset.com/)