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BEST DENTISTS 2026

C H I N A T O W N T H R O U G H A L E N S P. 1 6

W I L L R E S T A U R A N T S E V E R B E T H E S A M E ? P. 5 7

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Without swift action, Hawai‘i faces a dire future and more exorbitant electricity costs. What will it take to move aggressively enough with renewable alternatives? P. 22

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F E B RUA RY 2 0 2 6

FOR YOUR FAVORITES FEBRUARY 1, 2026 the BEST OF HONOLULU BALLOT opens

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Tell us who should be crowned Best of HONOLULU at honolulumagazine.com/ bestofhonoluluvoting

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C E L E B R AT I N G H AWA I‘I’S S O U L F E B R U A RY 2 0 2 6 V O L . L X N O. 6

Contents

AARON K. YOSHINO

Find more blown-glass matcha bowls from Bolei Girl on page 13.

FEATURES 16 Chinatown Through a Lens It’s edgy, vibrant, dynamic and diverse—that’s what makes it a focal point for many of our city’s street photographers. BY DIANE SEO AND K ATRINA VALCOURT

22 Lights Out? Without swift action, Hawai‘i faces a dire energy future and more exorbitant electricity costs. What will it take to move aggressively enough with renewable alternatives? BY MARY VORSINO

33 Best Dentists HONOLULU Magazine helps you find the dentist you need, whether it’s for a routine checkup or more specialized work, with this list of the best dentists in the Islands. DEPARTMENTS    4 Editor’s Page

OUT-OF-CONTROL ENERGY COSTS

That’s what we face and why we’re diving into renewables. BY DIANE SEO

5 Currents Welcome the Year of the Fire Horse, a new spot for local groceries, fitness studios and more.

57 ‘Ono

WILL RESTAURANTS EVER BE THE SAME?

Reduced hours, higher prices, QR codes and a shift toward small, casual concepts: Our dining scene is in flux. Ten longtime restaurateurs tell us what’s happening. BY MARI TAKETA

64 Afterthoughts    KOUIGN OF HEARTS

I only indulged in the kouign amann while in Brittany, France, where it originated—until I tasted a local version that kicked it to the curb. BY DON WALLACE

PROMOTIONS AFTER PAGE 32

Hawai‘i Perspectives Winter 2025 Report   Pacific Resource Partnership’s latest edition shares the results of a recent survey to understand the mindset of Hawai‘i residents. 47 Hawai‘i’s Best Dentists   Learn more about some of the professionals who earned the title of Hawai‘i’s Best Dentists. ON THE COVER: Composite by James Nakamura Original photo by GARY HINCKS/ SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

F E B RUA RY 2 0 2 6

E DI TOR’ S PAG E

Out-of-Control Energy Costs Artist Spotlight:

That’s what we face and why we’re diving into renewables.

Kahi Ching

HY START THE NEW YEAR with a cover story on

alternative energy, a weighty topic that’s difficult to discern and explain? For me, it comes down to energy bills. I recently attended a dinner and sat across from a woman in her 20s who works in marketing. We started chatting about Hawai‘i’s hot weather, which led her to explain that she has to run the AC at her ‘Ewa Beach townhouse, and that her monthly electricity bill now exceeds $700. “Seven hundred dollars?!” Before I sold my three-bedroom East O‘ahu home four years ago, I was paying about $225 a month to HECO, and I hadn’t realized how much costs had risen. “How can you afford that?” I asked. “I can’t,” she said. I couldn’t stop thinking about our conversation well after that dinner, and I began asking others about their electric bills. Costs ran the gamut, but the bottom line: $700 a month wasn’t an anomaly for a middle-income O‘ahu homeowner. Our state holds the unwanted distinction as having the highest electricity costs in the country, primarily because we rely so heavily on imported petroleum for our electricity generation, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Over the past decade, Hawai‘i’s electricity prices have risen a terrifying 51%. It’s clear why so many in Hawai‘i are getting priced out, and saying we’re in crisis mode is hardly hyperbole. For locals to remain here, we have to drastically reverse our trajectory and collectively get serious about our state’s goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. So, with this objective, I tapped veteran reporter Mary Vorsino, who was more than eager to dig into the topic, well aware of its urgency. What she learned was that the future is cloudy. “While the state’s renewable energy goals are robust, the Islands are now lagging other parts of the country when it comes to renewable energy production and we are still very reliant on imported fossil fuels to power our homes, fuel our cars and keep our economy running,” she says. “The good news is there are options; but everyone I spoke to—from government officials to environmentalists and industry experts—agreed that the time for implementing them is running out. Hawai‘i must act now, they say, because the status quo could soon no longer be viable.”

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR DIANES@HONOLULUMAGAZINE.COM

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

A A R O N K . YO S H I N O

DIANE SEO

➸ WHILE PAINTING the Fire Horse for HONOLULU (featured on opposite page), Kahi Ching focused on an inspiration of hope. “I wanted to create a beautiful, elegant horse that would make us look forward to 2026,” he says. “I’ve been told that 2026 is a good year [in the Chinese zodiac], and I wanted to reﬂect that. I wanted the horse to be where you look at it, you feel optimistic about where things are headed.” When Ching, a runner, thought about the spirit of the horse, he remembered its strength and stamina to run long distances, so he painted a “mystical horse” in motion. He also wanted to pay homage to his Chinese ancestry. “I’m Chinese, Hawaiian and Caucasian, and when I do artwork, it’s a celebration of all my kūpuna. They’re all there when I paint.” —Diane Seo

LIFE IN HONOLULU

Currents

HAPPENINGS

Year of the Fire Horse

➸ TO COMMEMORATE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR, which begins Feb. 17, we asked local artist Kahi

Ching to create an original piece of work in honor of 2026’s Fire Horse. The Chinese zodiac sign symbolizes the power, intelligence and endurance of the horse and the brightness and clarity of fire. This combination only comes around every 60 years. Ching’s gorgeous depiction in watercolor and charcoal reflects hope and energy for the new year. In Honolulu, events celebrating Lunar New Year will take place in Chinatown and elsewhere. See page 6 for more information. —Diane Seo, artwork by Kahi Ching “Year of the Horse Series” by Kahi Ching, 2026 See the entire series on Instagram @kahigallery

D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 5 /J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 6

CURRENTS

February Picks Top events this month. BY ANDREA LEE

FILM Honolulu African American Film Festival Feb. 5–March 1 / Doris Duke Theatre $15 film screenings, $50 opening reception See eight features and a short film program centered around Black experiences, including The Fisherman, which follows a Ghana man pursuing his dream of buying a fishing boat, with a talking fish at his side. honolulumuseum.org, @honolulumuseum

FESTIVAL Punahou Carnival Feb. 6–7 / 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Punahou School / Free admission Eat malasadas, burgers and Portuguese bean soup, catch thrills on rides, play games and have a roaring good time at Carnival 2026: Welcome to the Jungle. punahou.edu, @punahouschool

OPERA The Riot Grrrl on Mars Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 15, 4 p.m. Blaisdell Concert Hall / From $40 This English adaptation of The Italian Girl in Algiers transposes the story to Mars, where the Riot Grrrl has come to rescue her captive sweetheart, Mosquito, from the King of Mars. hawaiiopera.org, @hawaiioperatheatre

FESTIVAL Chinatown Festival & Parade Feb. 14 / 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Free admission ‘A‘ala Park & Beretania Street Ring in the Year of the Horse during the city’s biggest Chinese New Year celebration with food vendors, entertainment and a grand parade of lions, dragons and community organizations.

ALL PHOTOS: COURTESY OF PUNAHOU SCHOOL

HAPPENINGS

SEE MORE THINGS TO DO THIS MONTH AT HONOLULUMAGAZINE.COM/THINGS-TO-DO.

chinatown808.com, @chinatown808hi

CONCERT HapaSymphony Featuring Keauhou Feb. 27 / 7:30–9:30 p.m. Blaisdell Concert Hall / From $43.50 HapaSymphony brings Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winning band Keauhou together with the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra for a lively night of traditional Hawaiian music. myhso.org, @hawaiisymphonyorchestra

The Punahou Carnival Art Gallery, Hawai‘i’s largest art show, features more than 1,000 paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures, ceramics and glass by nearly 300 Hawai‘i artists. The gallery will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 6, and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7.

GIFTS

LOVE IN BLOOM Instead of gifting short-lived roses, make the Valentine’s Day feels last with locally designed floral pieces. BY ANDREA LEE PHOTOS: COURTESY OF ARLIE GL ASS, NANI WELCH KELI‘IHO‘OMALU, L AINE HONOLULU

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

ARLIE GLASS Glass Pua Handmade glass lei flowers in dazzling colors that can also be worn as jewelry. From $38.

ALOHA DE MELE Pareos Vibrant, hand-drawn floral works become wearable or hangable art. $45.

LAINE HONOLULU Charms Local flowers shine on hand-stamped bracelet, anklet and necklace charms. $15.

arlie-glass.com, @arlie_glass

alohademele.com, @alohademele

lainehonolulu.com, @lainehonolulu

CURRENTS

What’s New In Fitness

ARRIVAL S

New In Town Places and activities that have opened recently.

COURTESY: RE VOLT STUDIO

ANDRE A LEE

DE ATH BY SCR APBO OKING

REVOLT STUDIO

Hailing from the Bay Area, this matcha specialist has opened its first Hawai‘i shop in the Waikīkī Heritage Hotel, offering drinks and soft serves made with Uji matcha. The Hawaiian ube matcha latte is a location exclusive. —AL

3434 Wai‘alae Ave., Unit 2, Kaimukī, @deathbyscrapbooking

260 Beach Walk, Waikīkī, maruwuseicha.us, @maruwuseichausa

KIANA SANDVOLD

The former pop-up now has a shop in Kaimukī housing not only stationery and scrapbooking materials but also bags, trinkets, forever lei and more things that bring joy, made by more than a dozen local artists. —AL

MARI TAKETA

Work up a good sweat on Hekili Street at Kailua’s newest exercise studio, opened by social media fitness influencer Kristine Kelley. Revolt offers indoor cycling classes —both high energy and flow-focused—along with a variety of mat-based hot classes featuring infrared heat, including Pilates and resistance training. There are also a handful of mom-geared classes designed for prenatal needs and postpartum recovery. —BT

MARU W U SEICHA

THE PIG & THE L ADY

MAKENA

The popular Vietnamese fusion restaurant has planted new roots in Kaimukī. Alongside signature dishes like Le Fried Chicken Wings and pho, new menu additions include a Shelly senbei and caviar and a Hokkaido scallop carpaccio. —AL

This offshoot of SoHa Living has grown into its own jewelry brand. Now at its first storefront on Ala Moana Center’s third level next to Uniqlo, Makena offers pieces inspired by Island life and nature. —AL

3650 Wai‘alae Ave., #120, Kaimukī, thepigandthelady.com, @pigandthelady

1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Ala Moana, @makenahawaii

146 Hekili St., #101, Kailua, revoltstudiohawaii.com, @revoltstudiohawaii, @kristinenicolekelley

CHANNE Y TANGHO

ANDRE A LEE

BY ANDREA LEE AND BRIE THALMANN

VSSL UNION If a yoga studio and jiujitsu academy had a baby, this would be it. Co-founded by big-in-Japan yoga instructor Juri Ko and longtime jiujitsu instructor Jason Aquino, new cross-training studio VSSL is now open on the first floor of Mō‘ili‘ili’s Hale Mahana building and offers classes for adults and keiki. The studio even boasts its own snack bar, Ola Mana Healthbar, featuring a menu of smoothies, acai bowls, toasts, matcha and coffee. —BT 2615 S. King St., Mō‘ili‘ili, vsslunion.com, @vsslunion

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BY THE NUMBERS

Hawai‘i’s Racial Mix

White Black American Indian Asian Native Hawaiian/Paciﬁc Islander Hispanic/any race

Our Islands’ demographics continue to change. Here’s the latest breakdown based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s Vintage 2024 State and County population characteristics, released last June.

RACE ALONE OR IN COMBINATION AND ETHNICITY* U N ITED STATE S

0.5% 7.9%

10.2%

20%

H AWA I‘I

43.5%

27.4%

2.3%

Kaua‘i County

Honolulu County

10.9%

27.2%

51.9%

25.6%

52.5%

2.2% 2.5%

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

62.1%

3.7% 2.6%

Maui County

Hawai‘i County

10.8%

9.7%

* The sum of individual categories may be more than 100% because people who reported may be more than onerace were tallied in more than one category

57.6%

28.5.%

38.4% 4.2% 2.1%

49.3%

12.1%

35%

51.9%

2.0% 2.6%

44.7%

58%

3.3% 5.1%

GETTY IMAGES; ABSODELS, INDEED

15.2% 77.6%

CURRENTS

URBAN PLANNING

Renderings of what the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District could include

Our Aloha Stadium Wishlist



Hālawa will be undergoing major changes over the coming decades. Here’s what we want to see. BY K ATR INA VALC O U RT

has taken place, and yet, we don’t know much about the future of the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District. The old stadium should be dismantled by midyear, with the new one opening in March 2029. The 98 acres around the stadium, however, will be developed over the next two decades and beyond. In August 2025, the Stadium Authority approved an agreement with developer Aloha Hālawa District Partners, whose master plan calls for thousands of housing units, hotel and office towers, and entertainment, retail, education and open spaces. It’s one of the largest public works projects ever undertaken by the Hawai‘i state government—and one need only look at other stadium districts around the country to see its potential to serve the community. For example, in Georgia, The Battery Atlanta is anchored by Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves. Beyond the ballpark are shops, restaurants and housing along with a concert hall, virtual reality games, a movie theater, escape rooms, a coworking space and a distillery. Even for non-baseball fans, The Battery Atlanta is a destination. In Titletown—the district around Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin—there’s a sports medicine clinic kitty-corner from the Packers’ home field. It’s even staffed by the team’s physician and offers free walk-in injury assessments, whether you’re an NFL player or not. And just like The Battery Atlanta, Titletown includes much more beyond sports—a hotel, brewery and public plaza, and events such as free meditation, game nights, and seasonal activities like skating and tubing. What do we need to make NASED both a destination and something that serves our local community? The developers are off to a good start, with plans to include a cultural museum and a Hawai‘i Music Hall of Fame. It should also have coffee shops, small-business incubators and educational campuses, like The District Detroit, which is home to Wayne State University’s business school, the University of Michigan’s Center for Innovation and a technical high school. Regardless of how those plans play out, the new stadium project needs to be worth the $400 million the state is investing in it. We’ll be watching.

COURTESY: ALOHA HĀL AWA DISTRICT PARTNERS

HE SWAP MEET HAS MOVED, the farewell concert

F E B RUA RY 2 0 2 6

CU U RR RREENNTTSS

FOOD FINDS

In Real Life Farm Link has opened its own brickand-mortar store, giving customers direct access to its locally sourced foods.

S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

The Rice Farm Returneth?

BY M A R I TA K E TA

UH Mānoa and the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology explore Hawai‘i’s rice farming potential.

verse and into real life. Hō‘ili‘ili by Farm Link, the storefront it opened last fall in Mō‘ili‘ili, sells everything you see on its website. Island-raised produce and meats, milk, yogurt, ice cream, bread, cookies, even beer and hard cider: It’s all here in a compact neighborhood store, with ‘Ili‘ili Cash & Carry sandwiches and pizzas to boot. How? A real-life retail presence was a likely next step for Farm Link, which exploded from $400,000 a year in pre-pandemic sales to $5 million now. Until last October, that revenue came from wholesale and online orders that were delivered across O‘ahu

BY BRIE THALMANN

ONSIDERING HOW MUCH RICE WE CONSUME IN HAWAI‘I, you might be surprised at how much of the

cms.ctahr.hawaii.edu, @ctahr

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

The roasted octopus with olive oil, inspired by Azorean spearﬁsher Paulo Afonso Vieira

ALL PHOTOS: COURTESY OF TEN SPEED PRESS

crop is actually grown on-island: none. Every year, we import on average a staggering 140 million-plus pounds. So, after learning that UH Mānoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience is exploring the possibility of once again growing rice in the Islands, our interest was piqued. We say “again,” because rice farming was a thriving industry in the late 19th century—at one point, rice was Hawai‘i’s second-largest crop after sugar. Bringing it back could reduce consumer costs and offset our state’s food insecurity. The endeavor is a collaboration with the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. “Japan is an expert in rice,” says Tomoaki Miura, professor and chair of CTAHR’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management. “And the agricultural issues that Japan and Hawai‘i face, like small parcels, small-scale operations and complicated topography, are very similar. Collaboratively, we can come up with solutions.” The project took root last year at a farm in Kapa‘a on Kaua‘i, with the planting of Koshihikari, a premium variety of Japanese short-grain white rice. The area’s wet climate makes it an ideal locale. Three months later, its harvest yielded 400 pounds of rice, currently being evaluated for quality and taste. At the time this article was written, the project was expected to also roll out on O‘ahu with the same rice variety planted on one-tenth of an acre at the Waimānalo Research Station. “Waimānalo gets a lot of rain but has sunny days as well, making it a good place to start experimenting,” Miura says. “The soil there is very rich, fertile and retains water well.” CTAHR plans to gradually expand cultivation areas over the next few years. “If we are able to supply even a small amount of rice, we may be able to contribute to [Hawai‘i’s] food sufficiency,” Miura says.

ALL PHOTOS: A ARON K. YOSHINO

O CALLY SOURCED ONLINE GRO CER FARM LINK has stepped out of the digi-

CURRENTS

ALL PHOTOS: A ARON K. YOSHINO

BOOKS

or picked up at Farm Link’s Kalihi warehouse. Planning for the store went into overdrive late last summer after Alejandro Briceño, ‘Ili‘ili’s chef-baker and co-owner, learned his cancer had returned. With that, Farm Link and ‘Ili‘ili inked an agreement, a win-win for both, and the store opened weeks later. Specialty finds abound: fresh poi from He‘eia, Breadshop loaves and baguettes from Kaimukī, Neko Koneko craft lattes from Liliha, Mille Fête cookies and ice cream from Chinatown. Also rare on O‘ahu are Atebara potato chips from Hilo, Kula strawberries and blueberries, and, in season, persimmons from

Maui’s Hashimoto family farms. There are even packaged food gifts—local chocolates, teas, honeys and salts—as visitors are discovering. And if you just need bananas? They’re right by the star fruit. 2065 S. Beretania St., Mō‘ili‘ili, farmlinkhawaii.com, @farmlinkhawaii

BOOKS

GOOD MEAL HUNTING In her new cookbook, spearfisher Kimi Werner whips up delectable meals from wild-caught ingredients.

OST KNOW KIMI WERNER AS A CHAMPION SPEARFISHER, an accomplished

freediver and passionate environmentalist. But her new book, Kimi’s Kitchen: An Ocean Woman’s Guide to Wild Home Cooking, slated to hit shelves in early March, reveals one of the waterwoman’s lesser-known skill sets—her ability to transform fresh catches

from the ocean and land into delicious, showstopping meals. It’s know-how honed through years of culinary schooling and time spent as a line cook. Humbly rooted in Werner’s Island upbringing, the book’s 79 recipes span multiple cultures. With its richly flavored broth, the hearty venison ramen is a take on her grandmother’s comforting somen noodle soup. A tribute to her mother’s gau gee, Werner’s “ugly” dumplings are stuffed with minced fish, water chestnuts and loads of veggies. And the smoked shank beans and sopapillas nod to her dad’s family ties in New Mexico. Throughout, Werner offers a bevy of insights, including a rundown of her pantry staples and equipment, and tips on sourcing fresh ingredients, the best invasive species to eat, and how

to clean and cut your own fish. She also shares stories and lessons from her life’s journey, delving into her upbringing in coastal Ha‘ikū, Maui, where she tagged along with her dad as he spearfished for family meals, to her current life as a globe-trotting mom and wife, whipping up meals for a family of her own. —BT kimiwerner.com, @kimi_swimmy

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CURRENTS

HONOLULU HOME

Joy Meets Girl Drink in Bolei Girl’s happinessinfused glassware. ENCIRCLED WITH SHIMMERING THREADLIKE WISPS and dotted with delicate jewel-hued orbs

In the Loop Fiber artist-designer Amelia Samari shapes simple rope into exquisite baskets and bags.

 Samari’s baskets feature cotton rope for a soft, organic feel.

“I LIKE HOW VERSATILE ROPE IS,” Amelia Samari says. “I like that I can create so many different shapes, different sizes with it.” Woven structures have long been a passion for the Kaimukī designer, who has a background in fine arts, specifically in floor looms. “I’ve always been drawn to fiber work and that kind of cathartic, repetitive work—it’s very meditative and contemplative,” she says. Her line emerged in 2015 as a fun hobby. Baskets came first, followed by bags a few years later. Since then, Samari has refined her aesthetic, honing her minimal silhouettes and muted, earthy palette. She counts the fashion world among her influences, along with her culture. “My dad was from Iran, which has a very rich textile history,” Samari says. Her spiraled creations feature two types of rope, a cotton version with a relaxed, natural vibe and a nylon variety with a subtle sheen and dressier feel. Outfitted with top handles, the bestselling Mini bag boasts a dramatic V-shaped body. True to its name, the single-strap Miele bag mirrors the gentle curves of a honey pot. Samari lived in Arizona for a spell, so the line includes a series of vessels—bowls, planters and baskets—that layer desert sunset hues. And the abstract Billow basket series (our fave) channels fluffy clouds with softly rounded handles that appear as if formed from puffs of air. Graceful and decidedly sculptural, they’re just as much art pieces as they are accessories. —Brie Thalmann ameliasamari.com, @am_sam 12

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

The popular Mini bag (below) also comes in a 4-inch Baby version.

ALL PHOTOS: COURTESY OF AMELIA SAMARI

SPOTTED

meant to mimic beads of water, Bolei Girl’s blownglass matcha bowls and cups are unlike any we’ve ever encountered. In their creation, UX designerturned-artist Jannie Lai aims to capture glass’s fluid nature when in its melted form. Along the way, she plays with light and shadow by overlaying swirls of color—hallmarks of her glasswork—to mesmerizing, kaleidoscopic effect. Even the acts of mixing matcha and finishing a drink are considered in the vessels’ hand-polished bottoms, which have

A ARON K. YOSHINO

CURRENTS

a reflective, lenslike finish. “These tiny moments in our daily lives should absolutely be celebrated,” Lai says. “It’s not just about making a beautiful piece that sits on the table and looks pretty; it’s something that you use every day.” Crafting pieces that bring joy is the impetus behind what Lai calls her kawaii aesthetic. Her line also includes vases, jewelry and

whimsical kagami mochi-inspired sculptures. “Life is like too serious nowadays,” she says. “Even humor can be controversial depending on what someone defines as funny. But joy, it’s hard to argue with what joy means, right? With what makes you happy?” —BT Available at Fishcake, 307C Kamani St., Kaka‘ako, @bolei.girl

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CONNECTIONS

A Perfect Match BY DIANE SEO

LOOD SISTERS. That’s how Mariel Tadena and Nicole Fabela describe their bond. Yet separated by more than 2,500 miles, they likely would never have connected if their worlds hadn’t aligned in a transcendent way. Tadena was an 18-year-old student at UH Mānoa who recently put herself on the national marrow registry after learning about the need for minority donors. In California, Fabela, also Filipino, was running out of options after two stem cell donations had failed to stop her acute myeloid leukemia. “I was super excited, super shocked, but also scared,” says Tadena, now a 21-year-old UH junior, about learning she was a match in 2022. “It was a roller coaster of emotions, but I knew in my heart that I would do it if I ever got the call.”

Fabela was diagnosed with leukemia in 2021 while attending nursing school in Southern California. She underwent her first transplant, with peripheral blood stem cells donated by her sister that August, but they never fully engrafted. The next year, she received another donation from her brother and things were looking good for about seven months before she relapsed. “It was devastating because a transplant is seen as the only thing that can cure you, and having a full sibling match is usually the ideal situation,” Fabela says. “We were at a loss. We didn’t know where we were going to go from there.” Blood stem cell donation is a cure or treatment for more than 75 different blood cancers and disorders, including AML. The best match is typically a donor from a similar ethnic background, which can make it challenging for Asian Americans like Fabela who are underrepresented on the National Marrow Donor Program registry. Although Tadena wasn’t a full match, she was close enough. On Nov. 7, 2022, Tadena donated blood stem cells at Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children. Fabela received the transplant the following day in California. “She was honestly our answered prayers,” Fabela says. More than three years later, the 28-year-old remains in remission, is back in nursing school and resuming her life. Because the process is anonymous, the two women weren’t told much about each other, including each other’s names. So, when the NMDP asked if they wanted to meet at the organization’s conference in Nashville in 2023, both jumped at the chance. Nervous and excited, they met onstage, both wearing blue and white by coincidence. It was surreal. “Seeing her walk towards me, I felt all the emotions. I remember crying my eyes out, but I couldn’t stop smiling,” Tadena says. The two have stayed in touch; they consider each other family. “She’s someone who will be in my life forever,” Fabela says. “Every time I talk about her, I get emotional. It was like an impossible connection that happened.”

Nicole Fabela, left, met Mariel Tadena in 2023, and the two have stayed in touch since.

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

COURTESY: NATIONAL MARROW DONOR PROGRAM

Two young Filipinas, one in Hawai‘i and the other in California, are forever entwined by the gift of life.

For more information on becoming a marrow donor, visit nmdp.org

C U RC RU ERNRTESN T S

TA I L S O F T H E C I T Y

Going the Distance Year after year, kōlea travel thousands of miles to winter in Hawai‘i. BY K ATR INA VALC O U RT

OR MORE THAN 40 YEARS, Oscar “Wally”

SUSAN SCOT T, HAWAI‘I AUDUBON SOCIET Y

Johnson has been coming to Hawai‘i to study the kōlea, or Pacific golden plover, which migrate to the Islands for the winter. “It’s changed my life in many ways, and it’s resulted in friendships and various kinds of relationships that otherwise wouldn’t have happened,” he says. “And when you are working on a bird like this, it just becomes a part of your everyday activities, almost.” Johnson is an affiliate research scientist in the Department of Ecology at Montana State University in Bozeman. He came across the birds in the Marshall Islands in the 1970s and has been studying them ever since. Using GPS to track them from Alaska, where they raise their chicks, Johnson says the birds are “special little creatures.” Many people in Hawai‘i have kōlea in their yards, but what they might not realize is that these are the same birds every year. “They’re very site-faithful,” Johnson says, and most live six or seven years, though some survive more than 21 years. “People establish a relationship with the birds and become very attached to them. I think that’s kind of special.” Johnson has been studying a flock of about 70 birds at the national cemetery at Punchbowl. “They’re all territorial. We recently did a study using GPS with those guys and found about 90% of the birds that leave return and wind up back on the very same territories again.” One of those that Johnson banded in March 2022, nicknamed Mr. Necker, flew to Alaska, then Rus-

Oscar “Wally” Johnson checks on Mr. Necker, who wore a tiny satellite-tag backpack to trace his movements across the Pacific.

sia, then Mokumanamana (also known as Necker Island) in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, then ended up back at Punchbowl seven months later. He was most recently seen returning to his usual spot this past August. “Here on the mainland … we don’t develop the same kind of relationship that you do in Hawai‘i with this bird, and people are amazed at the fact that they can migrate these long distances and navigate so precisely back to a specific place,” Johnson says. “There are other birds out there that can do the same thing, but plovers are just attractive, and they’re able to coexist very nicely with us.”

F E B RUA RY 2 0 2 6

CHINATOWN THROUGH A

LENS

It’s edgy, vibrant, dynamic and diverse, and that’s what makes it a focal point for many of our city’s street photographers. B Y D I A N E S E O A N D K AT R I N A VA L C O U R T

U R I N S P I R AT I O N for this photo essay came

from the recent exhibit River to Richards: Documentary Photography in Hawai‘i 2025, held late last year at the Downtown Art Center. The juried exhibition showcased photos of Hawai‘i photographers working in Chinatown, from River Street to Richards Street. HONOLULU creative director James Nakamura and HONOLULU photographer Aaron K. Yoshino loved the diverse ways the artists in this exhibit captured Honolulu’s uniquely complex center. Here are some of the photographers who stood out to them, and their works.

1 6

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

James Knudsen Bus Stop 50 collection

Bus stop 50—a gritty Chinatown locale on North Hotel Street near Kekaulike Market—has become a destination for James Knudsen, serving as his visual and sensory muse. He captured the people, action and surroundings there as part of a street photography project he titled “Bus Stop 50.” To depict his subjects authentically, he waited for buses to come and go; he says many of the people he captured are workers headed to jobs in Waikīkī. Knudsen, who moved from Japan to Hawai‘i 14 years ago, regards Chinatown as one of the few places on the island with cool backgrounds. “One of the things about street photography is you want the background to be interesting too, not just the people in the foreground,” he says. “And Chinatown has this. That’s what makes it so interesting to shoot.” —DS

Note: While James Knudsen was part of the River to Richards exhibit, these Bus Stop 50 collection photos were not part of the exhibit.

Bus Stop 50 collection COURTESY: JAMES KNUDSEN

Bus Stop 50 collection

James Knudsen is a Honolulubased educator and photographer who focuses on street and urban-landscape projects. jamesknudsenphotography.com, @jamesknudsen45

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Howard J. Wolff Smoker

COURTESY: HOWARD J. WOLFF

Howard J. Wolff almost never goes to Chinatown without his camera. “There’s always something worth photographing, whether it’s a person, place or a moment in time,” he says. “It’s historic, seedy, colorful, bustling.” The photos featured here were shot a few years before the pandemic, in and around Chinatown’s legendary marketplaces. As a street photographer, Wolff doesn’t ask people to pose. What caught his attention as he shot the “Smoker” was the beautiful natural light at the time, as well as the man’s face, posture and background. “I didn’t want to approach him to have him be anything other than authentic, so all I did was lift my camera, look at him to catch his eye and gave like a little upward nod to ask the question, ‘Is it OK if I take your picture?’ nonverbally,” Wolff recalls. “He gave me a downward nod. I just did two clicks and walked away and knew that I had a great shot.” He describes the end result as a “moment-intime photo that can’t be duplicated.” —DS

Meat for Lunch? series

Trained as an architect, Howard J. Wolff worked as a consultant to international design firms, traveling to 45 countries for his work. He has been pursuing photography both professionally and personally. howardwolffphotography.com

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

Meat for Lunch? series

Alison Uyehara

TRACY CHAN/DOWNTOWN ART CENTER

Lunch Special

Alison Uyehara typically takes her photography students from ‘Iolani School on “field trips” to explore the colorful, gritty, unpredictable streets of Chinatown. “I’m always trying to see it in a different way,” she says. What she loves about capturing Chinatown: “There’s color, texture, old architecture, it feels historic and kind of chaotic,” she says. “Things are always changing and moving, which makes it exciting to shoot.” Uyehara appreciates the diversity of the people and businesses of Chinatown, and her “Lunch Special” photo, shot prior to the pandemic, reflects this. “It shows a lot of different aspects of Chinatown all kind of crammed into one shot,” she says. “And because of the reflection, you’re seeing what’s in front, but also behind you. You get all these little elements in a collage feel.” —DS

Along with teaching photography at ‘Iolani School, Alison Uyehara has worked as a commercial photographer.

Diaspora

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Cathy Malia Löwenberg

TRACY CHAN/DOWNTOWN ART CENTER

River Street series

Cathy Malia Löwenberg felt frustrated with the way unsheltered people tend to be photographed without agency or voice. Then she met Nessa Vierra near the corner of North Pauahi and River streets, which Vierra had called home for 15 years. “She asked to see my portfolio and then asked me to come back that weekend to photograph her ‘Chinatownionian’ friends,” Löwenberg says. That exchange eventually led to a collaboration between the two women, both of whom hated how the media portrayed people living on the street. “I wanted people to see themselves with dignity, to take the time to stand with style and pride, choosing how they wanted to be seen,” Vierra says. “Our ‘Chinatown Pictionary’ gave us a combined feeling that we belong, that each one of us was alive and recognized as human.” Vierra says Löwenberg is the only photographer she’s encountered who isn’t afraid to come close. “She actually talked with us,” she says. “She took photos that mattered—and gave a copy to every person she photographed.” That was three years ago. Since then, many of those portraits have been used to identify people at the morgue and given to families to display at funerals. —KV

Nessa

Cathy Malia Löwenberg is an attorney at the Hawai‘i Civil Rights Commission. She began engaging with and documenting houseless individuals in Chinatown in 2023. @icontacthawaii 20

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

Tess

Travis

Anthony Consillio

TRACY CHAN/DOWNTOWN ART CENTER

Keep Door Closed

Anthony Consillio, who’s been photographing the streets for about 10 years now, goes wherever the light is. For “Keep Door Closed,” that meant Maunakea Marketplace. “This is a favorite spot of mine to photograph due to the textures or brickwork, architecture and awnings that create interesting-shaped shadows,” he says. To capture the shot, Consillio sat and waited until a woman approached the door from the outside just as a man walked by. Consillio loves shooting Chinatown, with its grit, older architecture and colors, especially all the red, he says. He can spend hours walking around as the light changes, creating unique images. “People ask me all the time, ‘Don’t you get tired of it?’ I’m like, ‘No, I’ve never been tired of going down to Chinatown,’” he says. “It’s got a lot of old, weird architecture, which creates a lot of really nice and interesting shadows.” —KV

Anthony Consillio has been a professional photographer for more than 20 years and is currently a delegate for Fujifilm in Hawai‘i. @consilliophotog

Scarlet

F E B RUA RY 2 0 2 6

Without swift action, Hawai‘i faces a dire energy future and more exorbitant electricity costs. What will it take to move aggressively enough with renewable alternatives?

By M A R Y V O R S I N O N THE FRONT YARD of Stacey Alapai’s home in

rural Makawao, two salvaged solar panels are set up on the grass. They’re charging a battery generator, which powers her refrigerator and other appliances. The setup is basic—Alapai plans to eventually move the panels to her chicken coop roof—but she hopes it serves as a grassroots model to help other working-class Maui families access renewable energy. Alapai’s pilot program aims to supply households with battery generators and used solar panels, an effort fueled by concerns about her own electric bill and her quest to figure out why it was rising. In her case, the culprit turned out to be a faulty water heater. But along the way, she asked other questions. Why is power so expensive in

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

the Islands, with bills two to three times higher than the national average? And is Hawai‘i moving quickly enough to achieve its ambitious renewable energy goals? “To understand what was going on required me to be persistent to get any kind of help. That was the gateway for me realizing being poor is expensive when it comes to this issue,” says Alapai, who in 2025 co-founded the Upcountry Energy Resilience Project with fellow organizer Shay Chan Hodges. The goal, she says, is to help households adopt green energy. While Alapai’s efforts are not a cure-all for Hawai‘i’s broad energy problems, she may be building something valuable: community awareness and eagerness to explore alternative energy sources. Experts agree.

ORIGINAL PHOTO: ALAMY, IMAGE COMPOSITE: JAMES NAKAMURA

F E B RUA RY 2 0 2 6

FEATURE

LIGHTS OUT?

COMMUNITY SUPPORT IS CRITICAL MICHAEL COLÓN, energy director for impact invest-

NET ZERO BY 2045? IT WON’T BE EASY RESEARCHERS, legislators and

policymakers say weaning the state off its imported oil addiction while rapidly building to 100% net electricity generation from renewable sources, as required by state law by 2045, will impact every part of daily life and could be one of the most significant challenges Hawai‘i has ever faced. Tomorrow’s grid will almost certainly mean new infrastructure and technologies creeping into neighborhoods statewide; it’s expected to require billions of dollars in government and private spending, and community tensions are almost inevitable. Underlying the conversation is the reality that the demand for electricity (locally and nationally) is only rising, with transportation going electric and AI technologies poised to sap more energy from the grid. While a clear roadmap for achieving “energy sovereignty” in the Islands remains unclear, there is also a growing acknowledgment that the state will need to take aggressive action—and soon—to reach its energy goals. That’s why it’s exploring technologies beyond solar, from geothermal to biofuels and even non-renewable energy like nuclear. Although Hawai‘i can celebrate sizable progress in renewable energy generation, the wins are dwarfed by the work ahead. “Hawai‘i is a national leader in renewable energy goals, yet we are lagging in our renewable energy transition,” says David Mulinix, co-founder of Greenpeace Hawai‘i.

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

ment firm Ulupono Initiative, says amid the flurry of investments, community members need to be assured that costly and disruptive energy projects aren’t just extractive but will improve their quality of life—and lower their electric bills. “The community needs to be behind it, and the community needs to benefit,” Colón says. “How do we enable communities to do their own energy planning? We have the right mindset and focus on people, and so I think those values will show up when it’s important. We also have great resources in Hawai‘i from a renewables standpoint. It’s a matter of making it all come together.” Residents of all incomes also must start seeing dividends from renewable energy investments, agrees Kealoha Fox, the city’s chief resilience officer. “We have to find new sustainability projects that get to the heart of infrastructure upgrades and really demonstrate this is part of a broader effort to cut costs. We don’t have the luxury of simply reducing carbon emissions. It has to hit people’s pockets.” Fox now pays Hawaiian Electric about $700 a month to power her three-bedroom home in Mililani, built in the 1970s. And that’s without air conditioning. So, while energy efficiency efforts on government buildings help taxpayers—they lead to lower costs for the state and make it possible for officials to divert funds to other programs—she knows home power bills are where the public sticker shock is really felt.

WHERE DO THINGS STAND? ABOUT 38% of Hawai‘i’s electric generation comes

from renewables, up from about 15% in 2015, when the state’s 100% renewable energy mandate was adopted. While onlookers applaud the strides made in decarbonizing an island-by-island patchwork of grids, they’re quick to note that progress has been uneven, especially for low-income families, and that the work left to do must be achieved at a faster clip. Colón notes one significant area of concern on O‘ahu is slower-than-hoped progress on renewables. State Sen. Glenn Wakai, chair of the Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs, says lower power bills from renewables haven’t materialized, either. “We’ve been on the renewable energy crusade for 10 years, but our electricity rates continue to rise,” he says. And he points to issues at Hawaiian Electric, which he says is tackling its renewable energy obligations while also grappling with its response to the Maui wildfires and, more broadly, seeking to update its aging, inefficient infrastructure. “There are big issues that are going to hamper our big goals,” he says. “Hawaiian

HAWAI‘I’S ENERGY BY PRIMARY SOURCE Hawai‘i’s total energy consumption broken down into renewable energy and non-renewable sources, including coal, natural gas and petroleum. Renewable Energy

9,310 (Billion BTU)

Non-Renewable

20,641 (Billion BTU)

274,199 (Billion BTU)

249,794 (Billion BTU)

2002

2022

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

Electric is in a period of trauma, and they have to figure out how to stay alive and then they have to figure out how to keep the lights on.” HECO officials acknowledge the scale of the undertaking— and that Hawai‘i’s pathway for achieving total renewable energy generation remains uncertain. While solar power has made up most of the state’s renewable energy gains, it’s unlikely to get the Islands to the finish line, experts say. And in the search for other top renewable energy sources, geothermal power and biofuels are emerging as top contenders. At the same time, with energy sovereignty at the forefront, lawmakers are studying whether nuclear—hardly renewable and banned by the Hawai‘i Constitution—could be a viable option amid a global race to build cheaper and safer “small modular reactors,” or SMRs. They would be situated in communities to help keep up with rising energy needs.

THE CONTROVERSY WAKAI ARGUES HAWAI‘I “needs to be part of the discussion on nu-

HAWAI‘I NET ELECTRICITY GENERATION (2023) Petroleum 67% Small Scale Solar 13% Utility Scale Solar 6% Wind 6% Geothermal 3.2% Biomass 2.6% Other 1.6% Hydroelectric 0.8%

clear” and the Legislature is slated to take up the issue this year, armed with a working group report on the near-term potential for the technology in the Islands. But he and others agree nuclear presents significant hurdles, not least of which includes a two-thirds vote in the Legislature to overturn the constitutional ban. Community sentiment to nuclear projects is likely to be skeptical at best and hostile from several quarters, including from environmentalists. And while SMRs are getting plenty of attention globally, including from the U.S. military, none have yet been built in the United States. (The first ones in the U.S. aren’t set to come online until the early 2030s.) Mulinix, of Greenpeace Hawai‘i, says he was “quite surprised” when he first heard legislators wanted to investigate the feasibility of using nuclear power in the Islands. “The fact that nuclear power is not safe, clean, cheap, nor efficient is settled science,” he says. “Regulators have searched for over 70 years for a permanent disposal site and still have found no safe place in the entire country to store nuclear waste. Nuclear waste we create in Hawai‘i would be stuck here.” He adds that it would hardly be considered green to ship radioactive waste out of state. “And why would we want to burden and pollute someone else’s home with our radioactive waste for thousands of years? That is not pono.”

THE STATE COMMITTED TO LOWER ENERGY COSTS GOV. JOSH GREEN, meanwhile, says that while his office is closely

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

monitoring the “associated buzz” around SMRs as a “promising source of carbon-free electricity” and awaiting more details, he and his team are more focused on “what we can realistically do to F E B RUA RY 2 0 2 6

Stacey Alapai at her home in rural Makawao, where she set up solar power 26

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

F E AT U R E

lower energy costs and create a more reliable energy ecosystem in the next five years.” For Green, that “what” includes establishing a partnership with Japanese power producer JERA Co. Inc. to create a so-called bridge to energy sovereignty with more affordable alternative fuels like liquefied natural gas, or LNG, which is still a fossil fuel but burns cleaner and is more efficient than petroleum. Proponents argue it would provide the grid with greater certainty while the state continues to make progress on a more renewable energy future. Opponents, though, say upgrades for LNG are a waste of money and a step in the wrong direction. Sherry Pollack, co-founder of 350Hawai‘i, says that LNG isn’t clean or cheap, and instead of solving the state’s energy challenges, it will exacerbate them. “The fossil fuel industry uses ‘greenwashing ’

to market it as clean or transitional fuel, but every stage of the LNG life cycle spews potent greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere,” she says. “As for the touted lowering costs and building resilience, LNG would do the opposite. Price volatility of LNG is a well-established fact. “Every dollar spent on LNG would move us backward by delaying our investment and transition to truly clean renewable energy.” Green believes the state is making progress toward its mandates, and he points to an executive order he issued in January 2025 that seeks to hold the state to a more aggressive renewable energy timeline and streamline energy permitting. “The state’s plan is to partner with well-capitalized partners who share our values on affordability, energy reliability and a totally renewable and decarbonized

LIGHTS OUT?

future,” he says. “The state is keenly aware that O‘ahu is a more challenging place to achieve these objectives due to land constraints and population density. That’s why we cannot afford to further put off the push for more efficient power generation and cheaper, lower carbon fuels like natural gas.” With none of the islands at selfsufficiency on renewables alone, Hawai‘i continues to import millions of gallons of crude oil each year to power what the State Energy Office has dubbed an “aging and largely inefficient power plant fleet.” In fact, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, petroleum makes up fully 90% of Hawai‘i’s energy consumption, more than any other state. (The state’s last coal-powered plant, which provided 20% of O‘ahu’s energy, closed in 2022.)

CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

FUELING

“The goal here is to show people it’s possible, and build from there.”

HAWAI‘I TODAY,

INNOVATING

—S TACE Y A L A PA I

FOR TOMORROW

Hawai‘i Gas plays a critical role in Hawai‘i’s energy landscape, providing reliable, resilient energy to homes and businesses across the islands. We invest in and develop innovative technology to advance clean energy solutions, decarbonize our fuel mix, and accelerate our clean energy transformation. Learn more at Hawaiigas.com.

F E B RUA RY 2 0 2 6

FEATURE

LIGHTS OUT?

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

PROBLEMS WITH OUR CURRENT ENERGY PLAN PUTTING THE PROBLEM IN PERSPECTIVE, Hawai‘i has the

third-lowest total energy consumption among the states, but still uses 16 times more energy than it produces, the EIA reports. Importing petroleum for electricity is not only costly and inefficient, it exposes the state to “multiple layers of fragility,” according to Sustainable Energy Hawai‘i, a nonprofit that’s working to make energy more affordable. The state’s grid relies on market whims, and shocks to the system are all too common—from pandemics, disasters and violent conflicts in oil-producing nations. “It’s absolutely the worst way to produce electricity,” says Mark Glick, the state’s chief energy officer. The Neighbor Islands, with their smaller populations and larger expanses of vacant land, have seen the greatest growth in renewable energy generation. In 2024, 59% of electricity generated on Hawai‘i Island was sourced from renewables, with geothermal energy contributing the biggest share (14%). On Maui, 41% of power generation is renewable; on Kaua‘i, it’s about half (mostly from utility-scale solar and hydroelectric systems). On O‘ahu, renewables comprise just 31% of the generated energy. The Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative, one of the country’s newest utilities with about 30,000 residential and 5,000 commercial customers, says on sunny days it can operate its grid on 100% renewable generation for up to nine hours.

PERCENT CHANGE IN RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICITY PRICE

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

O‘ahu

Maui Lāna‘i

38 % 34%

% change in Sept. 2025 over Jan. 2021 baseline Source: State of Hawai‘i DBEDT

AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICITY PRICE PER MONTH FOR O‘AHU

DESPITE SUCH PROGRESS, Hawai‘i trails the nation’s

CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

25%

Moloka‘i

Hawai‘i Island

LAGGING BEHIND OTHER STATES renewable energy leaders, by a lot. Some 92% of net electricity sales in South Dakota are from renewable sources, the highest percentage in the country. Meanwhile, Iowa is at 83%, Kansas 74%, and New Mexico 67%, according to a new analysis from the nonprofit Environment America Research & Policy Center in Denver. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates Hawai‘i could generate the equivalent of five times its electricity demands each year from the sun alone and 12 times from wind. But tapping into those energy sources has proven difficult. And it will only get harder. In addition to an aging electrical grid and the significant wildfire prevention investments and upgrades required in the wake of the Lahaina disaster, Hawai‘i is also facing rising energy needs with the electrification of the transportation sector and competing priorities for vacant lands, including housing and agriculture. In June 2015, then-Gov. David Ige gathered envi-

47 %

Kaua‘i

$0.54 $0.52 $0.50 $0.48 $0.46 $0.44 $0.42 $0.40 $0.38 $0.36 $0.34 $0.32 $0.30 $0.28 $0.26 $0.24 ($/kWh)

2012

2014

2016

Source: State of Hawai‘i DBEDT

2018

2020

2022

2024

FEATURE

LIGHTS OUT?

HAWAI‘I’S ALTERNATE ENERGY FUTURE

Solar

Much of Hawai‘i’s progress on its renewable energy goals is due to solar power; some 44% of singlefamily homes served by Hawaiian Electric have solar systems and roughly a fifth of power generated on O‘ahu comes from the sun. The problem with solar as a replacement to oil is twofold. For one, solar energy on its own isn’t “firm.” In other words, it can’t be relied on at all times to meet baseline energy needs. Battery storage is required to fill in the gaps at night and on cloudy days. Solar also needs space and, in the case of utility-grade farms, lots of it.

ILLUSTRATIONS: GETTY IMAGES

Wind

Getting a wind farm up and running isn’t easy. Developers must consider impacts on wildlife, nearby homes, schools and businesses, and elements such as shadow and noise. Still, wind is the second-largest contributor to renewable electricity generation in the Islands. When it comes to more growth, however, offshore wind projects don’t have the support of the Trump administration and onshore wind isn’t right for some areas. And like solar, it’s not considered “firm.”

Biofuels

Biofuels, which entail generating fuel from plant matter or even animal waste, comprise a small percentage of all renewable energy generation in the Islands. They could become a bigger player in years to come, including in the transportation sector, but the potential for biofuels grown and produced locally is constrained by land area and water availability.

but moving ahead with such a project would face significant challenges, including overturning a state constitutional ban. Environmentalists are also ready to halt any nuclear project, citing concerns about how radioactive waste would be handled and stored.

Liquefied Natural Gas Geothermal

Puna Geothermal Venture, near Kīlauea, is Hawai‘i’s only geothermal plant and recently received approval to expand its output, which accounts for about 14% of Hawai‘i Island’s electricity generation. But there are hurdles, including opposition from Native Hawaiians concerned about desecration of sacred spaces. Residents who live near PGV have also raised safety worries. It’s not yet clear whether geothermal could be an option for other islands since it would require funding to dig exploratory wells.

LNG isn’t green, but it’s greener than petroleum, which is why the state sees it as a “bridge” to 100% renewable energy generation. Those who support moving to LNG say it would strengthen the grid, but opponents call that argument “greenwashing.” Last fall, Gov. Josh Green entered a partnership with Japan’s largest energy company as part of a plan to begin importing LNG. Experts say transitioning to LNG, though, would require billions of dollars in infrastructure upgrades.

Hydrogen

Nuclear

To weigh the risks and benefits of nuclear power, many are eyeing small modular reactors, billed as compact “neighborhood” nuclear reactors with more advanced safety features. The state Legislature is poised to discuss nuclear power in 2026,

Hydrogen has been described as an energy “Swiss Army knife,” capable of being used in different ways. Currently, Hawai‘i Gas blends locally made hydrogen and

renewable natural gas produced from the Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant into its fuel mix delivered to customers. In 2026, a pilot project will test hydrogen storage and delivery in the Islands. F E B RUA RY 2 0 2 6

F E AT U R E

LIGHTS OUT?

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BUT IT’S NOT A COMPLETE SOLUTION ronmentalists, lawmakers and Hawaiian Electric executives in his office to sign a first-in-the-nation law mandating 100% of electricity generation come from renewable sources by 2045. At the time, one-sixth of the state’s power generation was from renewable sources. More than a decade on, Hawai‘i can celebrate how far it’s come in greening its grid.

SOLAR A SUCCESS IN FALL 2025, for example, Hawaiian Elec-

tric announced it surpassed 1 gigawatt of generating capacity from rooftop solar and battery storage connected across the state—roughly equivalent to the output of a large power plant. In marking the milestone, HECO noted 44% of single-family homes served by the utility now have solar systems, one of the highest solar adoption rates in the nation. Solar panels have also become a frequent sight on the rooftops of businesses, government buildings and parking structures. And they’re making a difference—if not in people’s pocketbooks than toward achieving the state’s clean energy goals. A city project to install solar panels and battery systems atop the Neal Blaisdell Center essentially resulted in the center becoming a net zero venue during the day. Other government buildings are hitting the same mark and saving on monthly utility bills. Indeed, experts say, solar power has proven a boon for the sun-drenched Islands, doing much of the work in getting the state closer to its renewable energy goals. On O‘ahu, some 15% of electricity is generated from distributed (or rooftop) solar while 6% is sourced from utilityscale solar photovoltaic systems; 6% comes from wind.

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

WHILE SOLAR ENERGY is cost effective, it’s not without down-

sides. For one, to be a viable option for large-scale generation, utility-scale solar projects need to be “firm,” which means they have to be consistent 24 hours a day. Without large (and costly) battery storage systems, solar is not considered firm—and neither is wind. There’s also the concern about space: Large solar farms need lots of land and on O‘ahu, especially, that’s a problem. A 2025 Sustainable Energy Hawai‘i report that considered different energy future scenarios for the Islands concluded that a renewables portfolio relying on solar for about 80% of its net generation would require about 580 square miles of land to be set aside for photovoltaic solar systems. That’s about the size of the island of O‘ahu.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates Hawai‘i could generate the equivalent of five times its electricity demands each year from the sun alone and 12 times from wind.

GETTY IMAGES; E+, SIMONNKR

Wind turbines and solar panels on O‘ahu

Colton Ching, Hawaiian Electric senior vice president of planning and technology, says there’s one more big problem with solar and wind. From January to March, Hawai‘i’s soggy winter months, solar and wind generation falls way off. To address the drop-off, you’d have to “overbuild,” or install more photovoltaic solar systems than would otherwise be needed, Ching says. And when it comes to wind, that could pose unique challenges. Onshore wind projects must take into account such factors as noise, shadows, and proximity to homes and schools. There are no offshore wind projects in the Islands, and while the state and HECO are interested in pursuing the idea, it’s far less likely one would get funding anytime soon because of opposition from the Trump administration.

THE PROS AND CONS OF GEOTHERMAL CHING SAYS the ideal scenario would be to adopt a

renewable resource that can produce “the power we need all year long.” What is that other energy source? One of the most promising candidates could be geothermal energy, says Nicole Lautze, a UH professor and director of the Hawai‘i Groundwater and Geothermal Resources Center. A recent report she co-authored found that, with public support and modernized policy, geothermal could be key to a balanced energy portfolio. “Intermittent renewable energy can only get us so far toward our renewable energy objectives,” she says. “We have had an expansion of solar energy, but F E B RUA RY 2 0 2 6

FEATURE

LIGHTS OUT?

OTHER POTENTIAL SOURCES OF ENERGY BIOFUELS, or fuels from agricultural crops, are also

being studied as a potential source of renewable energy. But experts agree that vast tracts of land would be needed for it to supply enough energy and to be commercially viable. “As the state forecasts toward 2045, most of the gap from solar energy is, right now, being filled by a combination of wind and biofuels,” Colón says. “But the cost of biofuels and the viability and community acceptance of wind are big questions.” Dane Wicker, deputy director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, says the status quo is unsustainable, for households and the economy. He urges residents to keep that in mind for the pain yet to come, as major changes to the grid translate into less-than-ideal realities in people’s backyards. “You still do have to address concerns,” he says. “But every community is going to have to undertake some infrastructure, whether housing, farming or energy.” That might be where people like Stacey Alapai and organizations like the Upcountry Energy Resilience Project come in. Alapai says her goal is to help ordinary households reap real benefits from energy efficiency and sustainability projects. She says it’s why her group secured “second life” solar panels, replaced because they were no longer quite as efficient, for distribution to Maui wildfire survivors. A $40,000 grant from the Rotary Foundation helped cover the cost of battery generators along with some technical training. “The goal here is to show people it’s possible,” she says, “and build from there.”

we haven’t seen much of a dent in the reliance of fossil fuels, and we’ve seen our electricity prices rise.”

THERE ARE OBSTACLES TO GEOTHERMAL ENERGY, THOUGH. THE STATE’S ONLY GEOTHERMAL power

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

Stacey Alapai’s EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro portable power station draws up to 220 watts of solar power.

AARON K. YOSHINO

plant, Puna Geothermal Venture on Hawai‘i Island, was completed in 1993 and currently generates about 14% of the island’s power needs. PGV has received approval to replace 12 older generating units with three new ones and then put in a fourth unit in a second phase of development. The upgrades are aimed at increasing the plant’s output by nearly 58% under a power purchase deal with HECO. The State Energy Office says there is lots of room to grow geothermal on volcanically active Hawai‘i Island. However, PGV has drawn significant community opposition, including over feared health and safety concerns and from Native Hawaiians worried about desecration of sacred spaces and profiteering. Addressing those issues is central to moving forward with any significant geothermal projects, says Ulupono’s Colón. “The way PGV was developed caused a lot of generational trauma for some folks and addressing that is important,” he says. “There needs to be an understanding that there are legitimate cultural concerns.” Colón points to models of ownership that could benefit Indigenous communities and avoid divisive standoffs. In particular, he says, Hawai‘i could look at New Zealand and Maoriowned geothermal development projects. Lautze also notes studies are underway or in the pipeline to determine whether geothermal is viable across our island chain. Her research indicates that Lāna‘i could host geothermal energy. “If there were enough geothermal resources, I think geothermal could stand alone,” she says. “But we haven’t made the investment to figure out if we have enough geothermal.”

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Winter 2025 Report

Understanding the Mindset of Hawai‘i Residents

An Initiative of Pacific Resource Partnership

S PEC IAL PROMOTIONAL S ECTION

Quinn T. exemplifies the professional, educational, and social aspects of modern life as she pursues both her career and higher education in Honolulu. In between the hustle and bustle of city, suburban, and campus life, Quinn economizes her income by socializing with friends over literature.

S PEC IAL PROMOTIONAL S ECTION

Making Hard Calls for Hawai‘i’s Future

The critical decisions we make now will define the state’s course for years to come. Every choice carries weight—not just for today, but for generations. Hawai‘i’s 1.4 million residents stand at a crossroads, where chronic, overlapping issues and the policies that address them will determine the islands’ future. The Winter 2025 edition of Hawai‘i Perspectives is a scientifically conducted survey that gives voice to more than 900 residents across O‘ahu, Hawai‘i Island, Maui County, and Kaua‘i, capturing the anxieties and aspirations that reflect this moment. “Hard Calls” is more than a theme—it is our daily reality. After years of inaction and modest efforts, we now face decisions that we can’t postpone. How deep is the hole we’re in? We’re still digging. Roughly 64,000 affordable homes are needed today in Hawai‘i. The question is no longer if we should build, but how quickly we can act. At stake is nothing less than

Hawai‘i’s identity, our host culture. The 2020 U.S. Census reported that only 47% of Native Hawaiians lived in Hawai‘i, while 53% resided on the continent. Also sobering, the Native Hawaiian population living outside of these islands is growing five times faster than those who remain. Hawai‘i’s high cost of living—driven by housing, food, energy, and transportation— leads the nation. Families renting homes, buying groceries, and filling gas tanks know this reality all too well. At this critical juncture, Hawai‘i Perspectives offers a snapshot of a community wrestling with urgent challenges, potential solutions, and the ultimate, lifedefining “hard call” of whether to stay or go. Mahalo for engaging in this critical conversation. The future of Hawai‘i is at stake and every voice—every decision—matters.

Pacific Resource Partnership (PRP) has been a contributing member of the community for nearly 40 years, working on behalf of the 6,000 men and women employed as union carpenters and 250 large and small contractors throughout the state. With our capabilities in research, industry relations, and project and civic advocacy, we are committed to building a stronger, more sustainable Hawai‘i in a way that promotes a vibrant economy, creates jobs, and enhances the quality of life for all residents.

An Initiative of Pacific Resource Partnership

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Domineque B. is a young man living on O‘ahu. He focuses on amplifying the voices of young locals in his community by serving on the Honolulu Youth Commission. As economic and social forces put increasing pressure on Hawai‘i’s children and young adults, Domineque remains hopeful that Hawai‘i’s future can be preserved with committed investment in his peers and their concerns.

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Methodology

Anthology Research

This survey of Hawai‘i residents was conducted to track attitudes on a variety of issues that affect our island communities. It was conducted among a random sample of Hawai‘i residents using a mixed-mode approach that included telephone and online fielding. Research respondents were screened to ensure they were 18 years of age or older and fulltime residents of the state of Hawai‘i. The sample for this mixed-mode survey was compiled from multiple sources: third party online sample providers, publicly available contact lists of Hawai‘i residents including voter contact lists, and random digit dialing, augmented by Anthology Research’s proprietary panel of Hawai‘i residents who have opted to participate in research. A total of 907 surveys were collected from July 1 to August 10, 2025. The margin of error for a sample of this size is +/- 3.25 percentage points with a 95% confidence level. Statewide totals were weighted to represent the estimated proportions of adults by ethnicity in each county. To deepen our understanding of the survey results, two focus groups were convened with registered voters representing both O‘ahu and the Neighbor Islands. Direct, anonymized quotes from these conversations are woven into the report to highlight resident sentiment.

CONTENTS Making Hard Calls For Hawai‘i’s Future

Methodology 5 Pessimism Still Clouds Outlook

The Worsening Housing Crisis

The Housing Availability Gap

Infrastructure is Essential for Housing

Charting a Course for Rail’s Future

U.S. Military in Hawai‘i

Hawai‘i’s Hardest Decisions Can’t Wait

Moving Forward

Anthology Research is a Honolulu-based full-service market research firm founded in 1995 that provides rigorous quantitative and qualitative research services to clients throughout the Pacific Region. Leveraging its experienced team of telephone interviewers and the latest in online polling technology, Anthology has conducted polling programs for numerous federal, state and county political races, as well as sought public opinion on some of the most important issues facing the Islands.

Daubert Design Co. Daubert Design Co. is a branding and creative design consultancy based in Honolulu. Founder and designer Warren Daubert is known for his ability to humanize brands by creating distinctive visual identities that tell a brand’s story and communicate its purpose. Frequent collaborator James Nakamura specializes in crafting visual narratives through a variety of mediums. Both have worked with clients in multiple industries including renewable energy, environmental conservation and sustainability, IT, retail, publishing, and fashion. Daubert is the former creative director of Hawaii Business Magazine. Nakamura is currently the Creative Director for HONOLULU Magazine.

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State of the State and Nation

Pessimism Still Clouds Outlook Hawai‘i is Still Moving in the Wrong Direction Where do we stand as a state and as a nation? It’s a horse race, but pessimism prevails. For 47% of survey respondents Hawai‘i is on the wrong track (down from 53% last year). Only 36% say we’re on the right track (up from 28%). The remaining 17% are unsure which track we’re on.

Akira K. is a resident of Kaua‘i who works for the county. She wants to serve her community even more but must weigh cost-of living challenges, which includes some of the highest housing costs in the nation.

S PEC IAL PROMOTIONAL S ECTION

54 44 %

Looking beyond Hawai‘i, respondents are even less optimistic about the nation. Statewide, 63% of residents believe the U.S. is on the wrong track. On the flip side, those who believe we’re headed in the right direction grew slightly – 28%, up from 21% last year.

Wrong Track

Even less optimism about the country

a ck Tr t gh

ck Tra ng

Wrong Track

63 47 28 36 %

Right Track

Dividing lines

Democrats (44% right direction) are the most optimistic about the direction of Hawai‘i, while Republicans lean pessimistic (54% wrong direction). By gender, more women think the state is on the wrong track, 50% vs. 43% of men. Registered voters are significantly more optimistic about Hawai‘i than non-voters, with 38% saying the state is headed in the right direction versus just 21% of non-voters.

Right Track

A break in the storm? Long-term optimism ticks up If there’s a bright side in ranking our state, optimism about Hawai‘i’s future has grown since last year, with fewer residents saying we’re headed on the wrong track. While less than half of residents born and raised in Hawai‘i (44%) believe we’re headed in the wrong direction, transplants have a dimmer outlook, with 51% saying we’re on the wrong track.

Wrong Track Right Track

45%

56%

53%

47%

41%

28%

36%

2019

2023

2024

2025

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S PEC IAL PROMOTIONAL S ECTION

Who’s thriving? Statistically, Hawaii residents who report being better off financially than they were a year ago tend to be male, college educated, employed full-time, own their homes, lean conservative, and likely live with a child under 18 and/or are a union member.

REPUBLICAN

D E M O C R AT/ I N D E P E N D E N T

OV E R $ 1 5 0,0 0 0

U N D E R $ 7 5 ,0 0 0

YO U N G , E A R LY T O M I D C A R E E R 1 8 - 49 Y E A R S O L D

PRE-RETIREMENT 50-64 YEARS OLD

MALE

FEMALE

FA MILIE S W ITH CHILD R E N

N AT I V E H AWA I I A N /JA PA N E S E

C O L L E G E G R A D U AT E S

TRANSPLANT

TRADE WORKERS

FA M I L I E S W I T H O U T C H I L D R E N

HOMEOWNERS

NON-HOMEOWNER

Politics of financial well-being

Age and education are factors

Financial well-being is clearly divided along political, demographic, and socioeconomic lines. Republicans report doing better financially than both Democrats and Independents, while men rate their financial situation higher than women.

Residents between 50 and 64 rate their financial situation over the last year the lowest of any group. Education also makes a difference, with college graduates faring better financially than those without a degree.

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S PEC IAL PROMOTIONAL S ECTION

The more you make, the better you feel Income is a decisive factor: households earning under $75,000 are less likely to say they’re better off than a year ago, with only 14% reporting improvement, compared to 36% of households earning over $150,000.

Little change in economic outlook

Financial optimism on the decline

Most of us are forced to make tough choices on how to spend money, and statistically, most respondents say they aren’t better off than a year ago. Statewide, just 6% felt they’re doing much better as a household compared to 4% a year ago.

While no one can predict tomorrow with any certainty, optimism for a brighter financial future has faded compared to last year. Just over a quarter of respondents are optimistic about their financial future, while 37% expect no noticeable change. About a third predict they’ll be worse off.

“If you’re local here, just trying to make ends meet, you’re basically working four jobs or you’re forced to live with someone. That’s how you make ends meet.” — Focus group participant

Household outlook for the year ahead

Better Worse

26%

29%

16%

24%

2023

2024

2019

32% 27%

2025

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Housing

The Worsening Housing Crisis

Yvette A. owns a small construction company on Kaua’i and is well aware of the island’s need to build 5,000 more homes just to keep up with current demand. Like many residents on the Garden Island, Yvette rents her home.

Housing—affordability and availability— continues to top the list of issues that plague Hawai‘i residents. When presented with potential solutions to remove longstanding building roadblocks, respondents were willing to make hard calls about land use, permitting and approvals, density, and development near transit stations. Expediting housing for local families will require new approaches and fresh thinking.

S PEC IAL PROMOTIONAL S ECTION

Housing still the primary worry Some things never change. For years, Hawai‘i residents have grappled with the lack of affordable housing, homelessness, and the crushing cost of living. These are chronic issues that continue to erode opportunity, push families to the brink, and force many to leave the islands. Residents are clear: the time for conversation is over. It’s time for policymakers to make hard calls of their own and deliver impactful solutions to create more housing. Until then, housing and other lingering problems will continue to exact a heavy toll on our residents.

Hurting from soaring living costs

24% 18% 13% 8% AFFORDABLE HOMELESSNESS HOUSING

HIGH COST OF LIVING

CRIME/ VIOLENCE

ENVIRONMENT

ECONOMY/ JOBS

GOVERNMENT BUDGET, SPENDING,

Concerns, potential solutions AG R E E

The percentage of residents who want government to focus on the high cost of living fell to 13% from 19% in 2024. Regardless, the steep cost of groceries, utilities, even school supplies continue to strain household budgets, leaving many working families one paycheck away from crisis.

Housing needed now, not later Many are frustrated by delays due to government red tape, lengthy permitting, and environmental or cultural reviews. Sentiment is strong for setting statutory limits on review timelines, and a notable number support using government condemnation powers to enable affordable housing, infrastructure, and transit-oriented communities. Many believe lawmakers over-emphasize environmental protection at the expense of housing needs. While this sentiment varies by age, income, and political affiliation, the overall trend points to growing frustration with slow processes and a strong desire for action to expand housing supply.

Govt. red tape is a barrier to more housing in Hawai‘i

Limit time allowed for permitting, environmental or cultural review for new housing

Hawaii needs to build more housing as quickly as possible

Govt. should use its power of condemnation to enable development of affordable housing, infrastructure, or transit-oriented communities Lawmakers have placed too much emphasis on protecting the environment and not enough on building homes for residents

D I S AG R E E

75 11 % % 75 10 % % 71 24 60% 24% 51% 37% %

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Broad support for development policies When respondents were asked to consider six options to tackle the housing crisis, their preferences showed a willingness to make difficult choices to improve housing affordability and availability. There was overwhelming support for establishing a rent-to-own program and transit-oriented development that places homes and jobs near rail lines. Respondents supported a workforce housing fund financed by a nominal tax on commercial and resort properties, suspending slow permitting laws, and increasing height limits in certain areas. Converting agricultural land for housing was the least desirable option with a majority of respondents opposed to the idea.

AG R E E

Start a rent-to-own program that let’s people rent a home with the option to buy it later. A portion of rent may go toward the future purchase price. Build more homes, shops, and jobs near bus or rail stations so people can live and work close to public transportation. Create a Workforce Housing Fund, funded by a 0.022% property tax on commercial industrial, hotel/resort and short-term rentals to help build housing for middle income residents. Temporarily suspend laws that slow permitting and approval of housing projects.

Increase the height limit for new residential buildings in select areas as a way to increase housimg supply and reduce costs for buyers Convert agricultural land to urban use to build more housing in areas where it is needed most.

D I S AG R E E

86 7 79% 13% % % 66 20 % % 58 28 55% 33% % % 38 52 %

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The housing availability gap There’s a quantifiable gap between the amount of housing available in Hawai‘i versus what is needed. County-by-county needs may differ, but the statewide reality is stark: Hawai‘i is short about 64,000 homes. To close the gap, we must consider a wide range of solutions that put affordable projects first. Protecting existing affordable rentals is equally vital.

4,914 OWNERSHIP 2,156 RENTAL 2,758 TOTAL

HOUSING UNITS NEEDED BY COUNTY

25,710 10,287 15,422

14,987 18,879 7,423 1,0121 7,563 8,758

S PEC IAL PROMOTIONAL S ECTION

Before starting construction on homes at Koa Ridge, homebuilder Castle & Cooke Hawai‘i had to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure. The cost of that infrastructure is being passed onto homebuyers.

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Infrastructure is essential for housing Without more infrastructure, we can’t build more homes. Roads, water lines, sewers, and power are the backbone that make housing possible. When modern infrastructure is lacking, housing costs rise and affordability grows further out of reach. Determining who foots the bill for infrastructure – government or homebuilders – gets us closer to solving the housing crisis.

THE GOVERNMENT

THE HOMEBUILDER

Who picks up the tab? When it comes to housing, the old adage “There’s no such thing as a free lunch” rings true. If homebuilders are forced to pay for infrastructure, that cost is passed on to individual homebuyers, often adding hundreds of thousands of dollars to the price of a home. Residents are split on who should bear the burden for infrastructure – government (53%) or homebuilders (46%). Neighbor Island residents are statistically more likely to assign the costs to the government, while on O‘ahu there is greater preference for the homebuilder to pick up the tab. Those who are most concerned about affordable housing strongly prefer that the government cover the costs (60%). However, as education and income rise, support shifts toward having homebuilders pay for infrastructure. For example, half of college graduates favor homebuilders absorbing these costs, compared to only 40% of those without a degree.”

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Are you in favor of changing the state constitution to allow for a new type of infrastructure financing through bonds?

FAV O R

OPPOSE

DON’T KNOW

“I think we have to diversify how we pay for things on this island. We have to look at all the resources that are available to really make this work.” — Focus group participant Nicole W. of Salt Lake on creative financing that allows government to pay for infrastructure up front

S PEC IAL PROMOTIONAL S ECTION

Invisible costs overhead and beneath your feet keep prices high

ABOVE GROUND ( e l e c t r i c i t y, s t r e e t l i g h t s )

$2,975,119.61 TOTAL $44,640 PER UNIT

The median price of a home is $1,045,000, with infrastructure making up 30% of the total cost. This is equivalent to a down payment. This example is of a housing project in Kona where a home costs $1.2 million.

AT G R A D E ( R OA D S , PAT H S )

$7,258,422 TOTAL $125,145 PER UNIT

BELOW GROUND ( S E W E R , WAT E R )

$2,589,105 TOTAL $51,295 PER UNIT

$12,822,647.48 TOTAL INFRASTRUCTURE COST FOR PROJECT $221,080 PER UNIT COST

S PEC IAL PROMOTIONAL S ECTION

Skyline

Charting a Course for Rail’s Future

S PEC IAL PROMOTIONAL S ECTION

UH MĀNOA

➡

Support for Skyline holds steady It’s been nearly 20 years since O‘ahu residents narrowly voted to move forward with rail transit – a decision that continues to shape debate over the island’s future. Overall support on O‘ahu is holding steady at 51%. Those on the Neighbor Islands have a somewhat more favorable view of Skyline with 59% supporting the rail transit program.

Redirect rail funding, raise property taxes? If the current 0.5% G.E.T. surcharge on O‘ahu was redirected to other government needs, would respondents support an increase in real property taxes to continue funding rail construction? Their answer: a big, fat No. On O‘ahu, nearly 8 in 10 residents (79%) oppose redirecting the funds, signaling clear resistance to any move that might force the City and County of Honolulu to raise property taxes to keep rail construction on track.

SUPPORTIVE OF S K Y L I N E O N O ‘A H U

SUPPORT 0.5% G . E .T. S U R C H A R G E OVER PROPERTY TA X E S O N O ‘A H U

O P P O S E R E D I R E C TI N G 0 . 5 % G . E .T. FUNDS TO OTHER N E E D S O N O ‘A H U

Keep G.E.T. funding source Residents are grappling with how to continue funding Skyline construction. When asked to choose between retaining the half-percent G.E.T. surcharge on O‘ahu instead of raising property taxes, a majority of residents statewide favor keeping the O‘ahu surcharge (82%). Support was even stronger on O‘ahu at 88%. On the Neighbor Islands, support was solid but lower, at 70%. Among homeowners, the preference for maintaining the surcharge was even clearer, with 85% favoring it.

Support

70%

88%

67% 72%

23%

10%

29% 26%

Oppose

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U.S. Military in Hawai‘i

Aloha for the Armed Forces Hawai‘i is the only state in the nation where every branch of the military has a presence and it’s hard not to notice that influence on these islands. Hawai‘i ranks second in the nation in defense spending as a percentage of state gross domestic product, or GDP, at 9.2%. That amounts to $6,943 of spending for every Hawai‘i resident, which is second only to the state of Virginia.

U.S. Marine Pfc. Aliyana Hamilton, a combat engineer with the 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, shares a smile during the Turkey Trot at Mokapu Elementary School on Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i, Nov. 27, 2024. Photo: DVIDS

S PEC IAL PROMOTIONAL S ECTION

How important is the military to Hawai‘i’s economy?

Race, roots, education and economics shape sentiment

While the majority of residents (89%) agree the U.S. military is important to the state’s economy, they are concerned about the impact that warfare training and other activities have on the environment, and they worry that military personnel who live off base are further straining the state’s housing market.

AG R E E T H E U . S . M I L I TA R Y I S I M P O R TA N T T O T H E S TAT E ’ S ECONOMY

View Military as “Very Important” to Economy Native Hawaiian / Part-Hawaiian Caucasian / Part-Caucasian

33% 54%

Importance of Military Contribution Born & Raised in Hawai‘i Transplants to Hawai‘i

47% 56%

Groups Showing Higher Support for the Military • • • • • • • • • • • V E R Y I M P O R TA N T

O‘ahu residents Registered voters Financially secure individuals College educated People who believe the state is on the right track Republicans Males Older adults Affluent households Homeowners Transplants

S O M E W H AT I M P O R TA N T

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The military conundrum AG R E E

Military benefits vs. drawbacks Hawai‘i residents have a conflicted relationship with the military. The benefits are many – jobs, economic stimulus and regional security – but events in recent years have caused many to question the military’s continued presence in the state. Despite criticism of the military in some sectors, nearly 7 in 10 respondents believe the advantages of the armed forces in Hawai‘i outweigh the drawbacks. Respondents say, however, that the U.S. military should build more housing on its bases, be more transparent in its decision-making and improve communications with the community.

Benefits of military presence outweigh drawbacks The military should build more housing on bases The military shows respect for Native Hawaiian culture and lands The military communicates well with residents

The military is transparent in decision-making

Is the military connected to surrounding local communities? When asked how connected the U.S. military is to Hawai‘i’s communities, results split sharply along political, demographic, and cultural lines. Overall, though, the majority of respondents (57%) feel the military has established connections to the local community.

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D I S AG R E E

68 59 44 41 32

% %

19 24 43 47 54

Yes, it’s connected.

58%

54% 53%

42%

44% 47%

No, it’s disconnected.

41%

% % % %

S PEC IAL PROMOTIONAL S ECTION

High Stakes Negotiations for Hawai‘i Lands In 1964, the State of Hawai‘i leased thousands of acres of land across the islands to the U.S. Department of Defense for 65 years. Most of these leases were issued for just $1 and are scheduled to expire between 2028 and 2031. The leases and easements held by the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force are on Hawai‘i Island, O‘ahu, Maui, Kaua‘i, and Ni‘ihau.* The Army holds the most significant group of leases – encompassing some 29,000 acres on Hawai‘i Island and O‘ahu – which expire in 2029. The Army announced earlier this year that it was downsizing its training footprint on O‘ahu and would not seek to - Valley. The renew its lease for state lands in Makua service is currently in negotiations to retain roughly 22,000 acres of leased land on Hawai‘i Island at Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA), one of the only areas in the Pacific for long-range artillery training. At this time, it’s uncertain if the proposed renewal terms and all of the acreage will be retained. Many believe the land lease negotiations present an opportunity for the state to reassess its relationship with the military. * Office of Hawaiian Affairs

Support leans toward retention of Pōhakuloa Native Hawaiian groups, environmentalists, and community advocates have been the most ardent and vocal critics of the Army’s use of Pohakuloa, citing the presence of cultural sites and environmental damage. Although respondents are largely divided on the issue, slightly more of them (48%) are in favor of the Army retaining use of the state land while 41% said they oppose retention.

% OPPOSE

SUPPORT

% DON’T KNOW

22,000 acres in limbo W I NT E R 2 02 5 | HAWAI ‘ I PE RSPECT I VES | 21

S PEC IAL PROMOTIONAL S ECTION

Solutions

A total of 3,500 homes are being built at Koa Ridge in Central O‘ahu. The cost of the required infrastructure including sewers, water lines, electricity, and roads is passed onto each person or family that buys a home. Creative financing that allows government to pay for infrastructure would lower home prices.

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Hawai‘i’s Hardest Decisions Can’t Wait Hawai‘i is no stranger to crossroads and tough choices. We’ve faced them before, and each time, the decisions we’ve made have reshaped these islands. Among our notable moments: the exponential development that came after Statehood in 1959, the rapid growth of tourism in the 1970s and 1980s, the COVID-19 pandemic and a slew of natural disasters. Today, we stand at another turning point, confronting challenges that will determine whether future generations can thrive here or be priced out, pushed away and left behind.

Housing is the most urgent test Castle & Cooke Hawai‘i’s Koa Ridge development in Waipi‘o, which delivered more than 200 affordable townhomes to first-time buyers with below-market loans, offers a glimpse of what’s possible. Yet the demand for affordable housing dwarfs such efforts. If we are serious about tackling the crisis, we must consider solutions that include fast-tracking affordable projects, encourage smaller-lot housing in underused areas, the possible use of state lands for housing development, and ensuring that infrastructure costs don’t automatically inflate home prices. Building mixed-income communities and protecting existing affordable rentals are equally vital.

Expedite new home building Hawai‘i residents broadly agree on the urgent need for more housing, but opinions on how to achieve that goal vary across demographics. Younger and lower-income residents show the greatest frustration with red tape and favor strict limits on review timelines. Support for government condemnation is highest among young adults under 35 years of age and those in Central and West O‘ahu, and weakest among older groups.

Homelessness: the human face of our housing shortfall The growing visibility of encampments is a daily reminder of what happens when the cost of living outpaces wages. Other cities, notably Houston, have shown that “housing first” combined with supportive services can reduce homelessness dramatically. Hawai‘i’s kauhale villages—clusters of tiny communal homes with wraparound support—are a promising local

model. But prevention is just as important. Small amounts of rent assistance or emergency aid can prevent families from falling into crisis.

Fix high energy costs Some argue that importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) would allow us to replace oil in power generation, lowering electricity costs by as much as 15%. More than half of our respondents (52%) feel that way. LNG burns cleaner than oil and can stabilize the grid, but it risks delaying Hawai‘i’s transition to 100% renewable energy by 2045. Other places, like Puerto Rico and Massachusetts, have used LNG as a temporary fix and “bridge fuel.” One solution would be for Hawai‘i to treat it the same way.

Sufficient water is critical Communities want to know that new housing will have sufficient drinking water. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply is investing in new sources and is moving forward on desalination, a strategy already used in San Diego, Tampa, and Santa Barbara. Desalination can serve as insurance against drought or emergencies and can play a role in protecting long-term supply.

Efficient preservation efforts Preservation reviews are essential to protect Hawai‘i’s cultural treasures, but the long development delays that result often stall badly needed projects. One solution is not to cut corners, but to bring clarity and resources to the process—more staffing, digital tracking, and upfront mapping—so we can do both. W I NT E R 2 0 2 5 | HAWAI ‘ I PE RSPECT I VES | 23

S PEC IAL PROMOTIONAL S ECTION

The Downtown Honolulu (DoHo) Run Club, started in 2024, began as a convenient way to exercise after work. Since then, it has grown as a community of like-minded locals who gather weekly to reclaim their shared working community. Each Thursday members of this diverse activity group can be seen running through the recently established Downtown Business Improvement District—a reminder that our public spaces belong to all those who live and work in proximity.

S PEC IAL PROMOTIONAL S ECTION

Moving Forward Since 2019, PRP’s Hawai‘i Perspectives has tracked the pulse of our islands—capturing how residents view the issues that define our social landscape. Seven years later, the challenges before us remain steep, but not insurmountable. What they require is urgency and a willingness to share responsibility— between homebuilders and government, between the state and counties, and among all of us who have the privilege of calling Hawai‘i home. How do we generate the momentum—and the will—to tackle the hard issues head on? We believe it begins with education. Learning about important issues is the way we gain the reliable information we need to make informed decisions. When knowledge and understanding prevail, hearsay and self-interest lose their grip. Decisions cannot be made in silence or behind closed doors. Every voice must be heard. If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu, as the saying goes. Dialogue must happen in talk story sessions, panels and forums, town halls, televised debates—even at watercoolers. Lastly, we must put our voices into action by learning about political candidates and ballot issues and voting for those who best align with our own vision for the future. Here, we can do better. While 90% of those eligible to vote are registered, less than half have voted in all of the recent elections.

We’ll always have to make hard calls, but they don’t have to divide us. Despite our differences, we often share the same goals: a safe future for our children, stability for our families, preserving what makes our community thrive. When we ground ourselves in these truths and place fairness and respect at the center, we strengthen the connections that hold us together and help ensure that Hawai‘i remains a place where families can live with dignity, security, and hope. Hard calls, yes. But the worse call would be to do nothing. —Pacific Resource Partnership

S PEC IAL PROMOTIONAL S ECTION

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PRP Initiatives Industry Integrity

Partners For Democracy

Non-compliance with Hawai‘i’s labor, employment and construction sector laws affects legitimate businesses in all industries, every taxpayer and the entire state economy. In partnership with government officials, businesses, workers and the public, PRP is committed to raising awareness of these fraudulent activities and ensuring unscrupulous operators do not take advantage of workers and those living in the community.

Partners for Democracy is PRP’s non-partisan civic leadership development program designed for emerging leaders who have a passion for political advocacy and a desire to bring about change in Hawai‘i. The Partners for Democracy program teaches participants how to develop and execute successful political and public policy advocacy campaigns for those interested in making positive change by taking on leadership roles and advocating for economic, community, and social issues.

Research Data informs everything we do. The construction industry plays a vital role in both sustaining and stimulating Hawai‘i’s economy. PRP tracks new projects, building permits, and public works activity, using data to analyze the industry’s direction and impact. In addition to Hawai‘i Perspectives, we conduct data-driven work on specific projects and areas of activity that increase our understanding of the health of the industry, both locally and statewide, as well as Hawai‘i’s economy.

Executive Leadership Series The Executive Leadership Series is an intensive, 9-month leadership development program, custom-tailored for Hawai‘i’s next generation of construction leaders. Led by some of Hawai‘i’s top design and construction industry consultants and practitioners, the program covers a broad range of topics required for success in the construction industry, from personal development to business essentials.

Hawai‘i Directory of Public Officials A public service provided by PRP, the Hawai‘i Directory of Public Officials is a guide to elected and appointed federal, state, and county government representatives. This directory has been an invaluable tool for civic engagement for over 20 years. PRP assumed responsibility for this publication from the Hawai‘i Institute for Public Affairs in 2018.

KĀKOU KĀKOU is a civic engagement app developed exclusively for Hawai‘i. It enables users to contact elected officials, register to vote, weigh in on hot-button issues, and advocate alongside local nonprofit organizations. The app allows access to the Hawai‘i Directory of Public Officials and provides a tool for creating support for legislation and community efforts. Download KĀKOU for free now:

To learn more about any of PRP's initiatives or programs, visit prp-hawaii.com or call (808) 528-5557.

W I NT E R 2 0 2 5 | HAWAI ‘ I PE RSPECT IV ES | 27

S PEC IAL PROMOTIONAL S ECTION

An Initiative of Pacific Resource Partnership

PHOTOS: AKOVA AND GAWRILOFF/ISTOCK/GET T Y IMAGES PLUS VIA GET T Y; ILLUSTRATION: ALI K AHFI IMAGES/DIGITALVISION VECTORS VIA GET T Y IMAGES

2026 BEST DENTISTS

Best Dentists 2026 HONOLULU Magazine helps you ﬁnd the dentist you need, whether it’s for a routine checkup or more specialized work. Everyone on this list comes highly recommended by other dentists, who know the work of fellow professionals.

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2025 BEST DENTISTS

HOW WE CREATED THIS LIST W H O C O N D U CTED TH I S S U RV E Y? Professional Research Services, a Detroit-based company that administers peer-review surveys of professionals including doctors, lawyers and dentists. W H O WA S S U RV E Y ED ? PRS contacted more than 3,000 licensed general dentists and dental specialists (including oral and maxillofacial specialists and pediatric specialists) in Hawai‘i and asked them which dentists they would recommend across seven geographical areas within the Islands. Each dentist was allowed to recommend up to five colleagues in each given dental specialty. Once the ballots were complete, each nominee was carefully evaluated on the basis of the survey results, the legitimacy of their license, and their current standing with the Hawai‘i Dental Board. Dentists who received the highest number of votes in each specialty are reflected by specialty and in alphabetical order. W H AT I N STR U CTI O N S W ER E TH E Y G I V EN I N C O M PL E TI N G TH E S U RV E Y? Voting was done online in the summer of 2025. Dentists who visited the site were instructed to vote by clicking on a nomination field and selecting a dentist, organized by specialty. All licensed dentists in the state were available for selection. Dentists were able to recommend up to five colleagues in each given dental specialty and were able to manually nominate five physicians if they did not appear on the drop down list. Respondents were allowed to modify their ballots until the closing date. D I D S PEC I A L I ST S VOTE O N LY O N TH EI R OW N S PEC I A LT Y, A N D V I C E V ER S A FO R G EN ER A LPR ACTI C E D ENTI ST S ? No, people could vote across all practices.

C O U L D A D ENTI ST VOTE FO R H I M O R H ER S EL F? No, dentists are only able to vote for their colleagues, as the survey was designed as a peer review. Additionally, each dentist appearing on the list received more than one vote. W ER E D ENTI ST S O N E V ERY I S L A N D I N C LU D ED I N B OTH N O M I N ATI O N S A N D P O L L I N G? Yes. W H AT A R E TH E VOTI N G CATEG O R I ES ? The listing includes seven specialties: general dentistry, endodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics and prosthodontics. Dentists were allowed to vote for five dentists in each category. W ER E R ES P O N D ENT S A L LOW ED TO M A K E C O M M ENT S O N S PEC I FI C D ENTI ST S ? This is a straight listing—no comments were allowed to influence the final list. H OW I S TH I S A N O B J ECTIV E L I STI N G I F IT ’ S B A S ED O N O PI N I O N S ? Like medicine, dentistry is a profession that relies upon dentists referring one another. Peer review is a very effective method of determining who is the best in the field, since it’s based on the opinions of those most in the know: their colleagues. A R E R ES U LT S C H EC K ED AG A I N ST STATE O F H AWA I ‘ I R EC O R D S FO R C R I M I N A L ACTI O N O R M I S C O N D U CT ? W H AT WO U L D H A PPEN I F A M I S C O N D U CT C O M PL A I NT H A D B EEN FI L ED AG A I N ST A W I N N ER ? Yes, PRS checks with the Professional and Vocational Licensing Board of the Hawai‘i Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. If a dentist is not in good standing or isn’t currently licensed, that dentist would not be included on the list.

The professionals listed were selected by their peers in a survey conducted by Professional Research Services of Troy, Michigan. For further information visit prscom.com or email PRS at sshevin@prscom.com.

Endodontics Endodontists are dentists who deal strictly with the pulp of the tooth, known as the nerve or root. They perform root canals and other surgical procedures.

Brad B.H. Ching Apex Endodontics Inc.

Andrew Chong

Kimo Chun

Connor Dang

Jay Geistkemper

Craig Haga

Hawai‘i Endodontics

O‘ahu Endodontics Inc.

Hawai‘i Endodontics

1401 S. Beretania St., Suite 575

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1416

Randall D.J. Yee, DDS, MSD Inc.

Endodontic Associates LLC

(808) 218-6650

(808) 949-3960

Kailua Professional Center, 30 Aulike St., Suite 404, Kailua

1063 E. Lower Main St., Suite C-224, Pu‘uone Plaza, Wailuku

Daphne Chung

(808) 242-6857

(808) 235-3131

1401 S. Beretania St., Suite 575

Westridge Shopping Center, 98-150 Ka‘ōnohi St., Suite C120, ‘Aiea

(808) 439-8500

45-270 William Henry Road, Suite 102, Kāne‘ohe

579 Farrington Highway, #201, Kapolei

(808) 596-8625

Joseph Chu

75-155 Lunapule Road, Suite A, Kailua-Kona

Kaua‘i Endodontics

(808) 238-3170

Kukui Professional Center, 4365 Kukui Grove St., Suite 105, Līhu‘e

(808) 482-3060

Hawai‘i Endodontics

(808) 218-6650 Kailua Professional Center, 30 Aulike St., Suite 404, Kailua

(808) 235-3131 Westridge Shopping Center, 98-150 Ka‘ōnohi St., Suite C120, ‘Aiea

(808) 439-8500 579 Farrington Highway, #201, Kapolei

Zachary T. Dodson Maui Endodontics Inc.

1401 S. Beretania St., Suite 575

(808) 218-6650 Kailua Professional Center, 30 Aulike St., Suite 404, Kailua

(808) 235-3131

(808) 872-9224

Westridge Shopping Center, 98-150 Ka‘ōnohi St., Suite C120, ‘Aiea

Derrick C. Fu

(808) 439-8500

Honolulu Endodontics

579 Farrington Highway, #201, Kapolei

135 S. Wakea Ave., Suite 211, Kahului

The Hale Pāwa‘a Building, 1401 S. Beretania St., Suite 480

(808) 597-1221

Sean A.N. Gurney Aloha Endodontics 94-1144 Ka Uka Blvd., Suite 5, Waipahu

(808) 201-3636

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 208

(808) 591-1515 Mary Savio Medical Plaza, 98-1247 Ka‘ahumanu St., Suite 218, ‘Aiea

(808) 455-9051

Hsiao-Ling Hoshino Hoshino Endodontics LLC 1150 S. King St., Suite 607

(808) 202-2066

Matt Eiyoshi Hoshino Hoshino Endodontics LLC 1150 S. King St., Suite 607

(808) 202-2066 CONTINUED ON PAGE 36 34

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

@CASWELL_ORTHODONTICS

@CASWELLORTHODONTICS

(808) 536-2223

CASWELLORTHODONTICS.COM

1210 Ward Ave #200, Honolulu, HI 96814 4618 Kilauea Ave. #4, Honolulu, HI 96816 MILIL ANI : Mililani Town Center, 95-1249 Meheula Pkwy #B9 Mililani, HI 96789 WARD :

K AHAL A :

2026 BEST DENTISTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 34

Adam S. Inaba

Aimee Kim

Kevin Schlang

Randall D.J. Yee

Eugene Azuma

Peggy Chen

Endodontic Associates LLC

Hawai‘i Endodontics

Hawai‘i Endodontics 1401 S. Beretania St., Suite 575

Azuma Dental – Dr. Eugene Azuma, DDS

Ala Moana Dental Care

1401 S. Beretania St., Suite 575

Randall D.J. Yee, DDS, MSD Inc.

(808) 218-6650

1060 Young St., Suite 220

Kailua Professional Center, 30 Aulike St., Suite 404, Kailua

1063 E. Lower Main St., Suite C-224, Pu‘uone Plaza, Wailuku

(808) 235-3131

Westridge Shopping Center, 98-150 Ka‘ōnohi St., Suite C120, ‘Aiea

(808) 439-8500

579 Farrington Highway, #201, Kapolei

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 208

(808) 591-1515 Mary Savio Medical Plaza, 98-1247 Ka‘ahumanu St., Suite 218, ‘Aiea

(808) 455-9051

Andrew T. Inaba Endodontic Associates LLC 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 208

(808) 591-1515 Mary Savio Medical Plaza, 98-1247 Ka‘ahumanu St., Suite 218, ‘Aiea

(808) 455-9051

Blake C. Ishikawa Honolulu Endodontics The Hale Pāwa‘a Building, 1401 S. Beretania St., Suite 480

(808) 597-1221

Jason C. Joe Advanced Endodontics of Hawai‘i 1060 Young St., Suite 323

(808) 695-2266

Howard Kang Hawai‘i Endodontics 1401 S. Beretania St., Suite 575

(808) 218-6650 Kailua Professional Center, 30 Aulike St., Suite 404, Kailua

(808) 235-3131 Westridge Shopping Center, 98-150 Ka‘ōnohi St., Suite C120, ‘Aiea

(808) 439-8500 579 Farrington Highway, #201, Kapolei

Jessica Liu

Farid Shaikh

Hawai‘i Endodontics

1401 S. Beretania St., Suite 575

(808) 218-6650

Kailua Professional Center, 30 Aulike St., Suite 404, Kailua

(808) 235-3131

Westridge Shopping Center, 98-150 Ka‘ōnohi St., Suite C120, ‘Aiea

(808) 439-8500

579 Farrington Highway, #201, Kapolei

Patrick J. Munley ‘Ohana Endodontics 31 E. Lanikaula St., Suite C, Hilo

Whitney A. Torigoe-Smith Endodontic Associates LLC

(808) 319-2522

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 208

Wade K. Nobuhara

(808) 591-1515

Endodontic Associates LLC

Mary Savio Medical Plaza, 98-1247 Ka‘ahumanu St., Suite 218, ‘Aiea

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 208

(808) 591-1515 Mary Savio Medical Plaza, 98-1247 Ka‘ahumanu St., Suite 218, ‘Aiea

(808) 455-9051

Paulo Nogueira

(808) 455-9051

Stuart Wisotzky Hawai‘i Family Dental 1847 S. Kīhei Road, Suite 101, Kīhei

(808) 856-4625

Endo Arte

Megan Yamaguchi

Pali Palms Plaza, 970 N. Kalāheo Ave., Building C, Suite 110, Kailua

Honolulu Endodontics

(808) 254-4661

The Hale Pāwa‘a Building, 1401 S. Beretania St., Suite 480

(808) 597-1221

Noz Yamauchi Island Endodontics Hawai‘i 3660 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 309

(808) 955-8778

(808) 242-6857

Henry Connor Yim Honolulu Endodontics The Hale Pāwa‘a Building, 1401 S. Beretania St., Suite 480

(808) 597-1221

Rachel Yorita Aloha Endodontics 94-1144 Ka Uka Blvd., Suite 5, Waipahu

(808) 201-3636

Michael Yuen Elite Endodontics 3221 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 370A

(808) 739-9800

(808) 427-0705

Tommy Bae Premier Dental Group HI 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1119

(808) 942-2338

Steve Barba Lahaina Smiles Dental 1280 S. Kīhei Road, Suite 209, Kīhei

(808) 667-7711 141 Ma‘a St., Kahului

Weilin Bono Hawai‘i Family Dental 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-300

(808) 748-4973

Rocio E. Bustamante Hi‘iaka Dental

General Dentistry A general dentist is like a family practitioner in medicine, able to diagnose and treat a wide range of dental conditions. A general dentist also helps coordinate care with specialists.

1001 Kamokila Blvd., Suite 157, Kapolei

(808) 692-8888

Bryson N. Chang Kōkua Smiles – Dental Care of Pearlridge 98-1005 Moanalua Road, Suite 2000, ‘Aiea

Kaka‘ako Smiles 715 S. King St., Suite 425

(808) 521-4421

Gerald Adachi Kaka‘ako Smiles 715 S. King St., Suite 425

(808) 941-5555

Jared S. Cheng Dr. Jared S. Cheng, DMD 1314 S. King St, Suite 725

(808) 596-2285

Tzu-Min Chien Pearl Family Dental Care Inc. 1000 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 235, Pearl City

(808) 456-5953

Angela M.A. Chin Angela M.A. Chin, DMD, FAGD 1314 S. King St., Suite 418

(808) 488-8577

Kevin K. L. Ching Kevin K.L. Ching, DDS 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 408

(808) 946-0442

Paul G. Ching Paul G. Ching, DDS 2228 Liliha St., Suite 303

(808) 550-4499

(808) 489-9530

Clinton Cho

Hubert K. Chang

Clinton Cho, DDS

Hubert Chang, DDS

Dana Adachi

1601 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 101

1060 Young St., Suite 225

1580 Makaloa St., Suite 1010

(808) 949-3177

(808) 944-3000

Amy S. Choy

Malcom H.M. Chang

Kukui Plaza Dental Associates

Malcom H.M. Chang DDS Inc. Kāhala Office Center, 4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 202

50 S. Beretania St., Suite C201

(808) 536-4026

(808) 734-0216

Austin G.H. Choy

(808) 521-4421

David T. Chen

Jason C. Ako

Kuo & Chen Dental Group LLP

Kukui Plaza Dental Associates

Kāhala Modern Dentistry 4747 Kīlauea Ave., Suite 109

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1505

50 S. Beretania St., Suite C201

(808) 536-4026

(808) 951-6888

David Chun

(808) 734-6022

Jui-Yu Belle Chen

Kelvin N. Asahina

Kōkua Smiles – Wai‘alae Dental Care

Kelvin N. Asahina, DDS 1010 S. King St., Suite 502

3270 Wai‘alae Ave.

(808) 732-4377

(808) 593-9025 CONTINUED ON PAGE 38 36

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

2026 BEST DENTISTS

Hawaii’s best dentists go the extra smile for local families.

Live Well, Smile More.

Hawaii Dental Service (HDS) proudly partners with Hawaii’s best dentists to ensure exceptional care for our valued members. With more than 95% of Hawaii’s licensed, practicing dentists participating in the HDS network, members have access to the largest dental network in Hawaii and nationwide— giving HDS members the ability to choose the best dentist to meet their needs and receive highquality oral health care.

Learn more about our local dentist network and plans at HawaiiDentalService.com

F E B RUA RY 2 0 2 6

2026 BEST DENTISTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 36

Alvin H.L. Chung

Marcus A. Hannah

Jesse D. Hollander

Ji Kim

Dexter J. Lee

Brett Mandich

Alvin H.L. Chung, DDS

Kailua Dental Arts – Dr. Marcus Hannah & Dr. Kathleen Oliver

Kai Dental

Laulani Dental Care

Ala Moana Dental Care

1325 S. Kīhei Road, Suite 201, Kīhei

970 N. Kalāheo Ave., Suite A-305, Kailua

(808) 879-1117

91-1123 Keaunui Drive, Suite 232, ‘Ewa Beach

Kings Dental & Implant Services

3468 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 222

(808) 737-8988

Jayna L. Chung Jayna L. Chung, DDS & Jacy A. Yoshimoto, DDS 46-001 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 418, Kāne‘ohe

(808) 236-0216

Hien Doan Kaimukī Center for Dentistry 3221 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 376

(808) 737-9032 Kalihi Center for Dentistry

2024 N. King St., Suite 107

KidShine Dental & Orthodontics 850 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 215, Pearl City

Tiffani Dunn Kona Smile Co. 76-6225 Kuakini Highway, Suite A101, Kailua-Kona

(808) 254-5454

Aaron Harada ‘Aiea Pearl City Dental Care 98-1256 Ka‘ahumanu St., Suite 303, Pearl City

(808) 488-1988

Lloyd S. Hataishi Lloyd S. Hataishi, DDS 98-1247 Ka‘ahumanu St., Suite 203, ‘Aiea

(808) 354-0808

(808) 848-2400

Peter Kim

Jennifer Cheng Lee

Temple Valley Dental Group

Dr. Jennifer Cheng Lee, DDS

(808) 941-4497

Ko‘olau Center, 47-388 Hui Iwa St., Kāne‘ohe

Glenn Inouye

1314 S. King St., Suite 725

(808) 239-6711

(808) 596-2285

Keith M. Koga

Zachary R. Lee

Dental Innovations Hawai‘i

‘Aiea Newtown Dental Group

98-211 Pali Momi St., Suite 725, ‘Aiea

98-1247 Ka‘ahumanu St., Suite 321, ‘Aiea

(808) 484-0600

(808) 487-5596

Kristi C.T. Koyanagi

Kyle K. Leong

Dentaworks Hawai‘i

Leong Family Dental

1060 Young St., Suite 305

1020 Kakala St., Suite 801, Kapolei

(808) 501-1166

(808) 839-7796

Reid T. Koyanagi

2885 Pa‘a St., Suite 203

Russell R. Imanaka Russell Imanaka, DDS 1580 Makaloa St., Suite 828

Hawai‘i Family Dental 46-056 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 288, Kāne‘ohe

(808) 748-4974

Berwyn Y. Ito

(808) 487-7944

Berwyn Y. Ito, DDS Inc.

Garrett Hayashi

1600 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1400

Aloha Family Dentistry Hawai‘i 45-1144 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 304, Kāne‘ohe

(808) 235-0018

Nina Hayashi Nina Hayashi, DDS & Wayne Hirota, DDS 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd.

(808) 947-8888

Jeffrey A. Kagihara Jeffrey Kagihara, DDS 1702 S. King St.

(808) 941-7505

Scott Kanamori

Reid T. Koyanagi, DDS 1585 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1710

Kanamori Dental

(808) 949-7333

3434 Haleakalā Highway, Pukalani

Steven A. Kumasaka

(808) 329-8180

(808) 942-2338

William Enoka

Heather Hearon

Pearl Family Dental Care Inc.

Wailuku Dental Group 255 Imi Kala St., Wailuku

930 Valkenburg St., Suite 209, Pearl Harbor

(808) 244-8808

Kanemaru Family Dental

Scott R. Hiramoto

410 Kīlani Ave., Suite 221, Wahiawā

(808) 422-2112

(808) 791-0200

Kelly Kawahara

Jonathan Lau

Smile Suite

Wailuku Dental Group

54 Maui Lani Parkway, Suite 2020, Wailuku

255 Imi Kala St., Wailuku

Honolulu Smiles

(808) 622-4354

1060 Young St., Suite 212

(808) 538-0047

(808) 756-9161

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1304

94-615 Kupuohi St., Suite 206, Waipahu

Chad Kawashima

(808) 955-0004

(808) 688-2888

1139 Bethel St.

Bennett G.M. Gum Bennett G.M. Gum, DDS 1010 S. King St., Suite 403

Hawai‘i Dental Wellness

Stephen R. Ho

(808) 533-3892

Stephen R. Ho, DDS

Bobby Kim

438 Hobron Lane, Suite 209

(808) 201-1863

(808) 589-2486

(808) 488-1988

David Matto Ala Moana Dental Care

(808) 839-7795

1601 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 101

Cedric Lewis

(808) 941-5555

Kōkua Smiles – Wai‘alae Dental Care

Jeffrey K. Miyazawa

3270 Wai‘alae Ave.

Jeffrey K. Miyazawa, DDS

John K. Morioka

Hideki Kurokawa DDS

(808) 622-4354

Todd Goode

98-1256 Ka‘ahumanu St., Suite 303, Pearl City

Hideki P. Kurokawa

1953 S. Beretania St., Suite 3A

The Smiling Place Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

‘Aiea Pearl City Dental Care

(808) 235-4524

410 Kīlani Ave., Suite 221, Wahiawā

Jennifer H. Hirota

Blake Matsuura

45-950 Kamehameha Highway, Kāne‘ohe

Peter Kyriakakis

(808) 756-9161

91-1121 Keaunui Drive, Suite 112, ‘Ewa Beach

(808) 435-6062

Kanemaru Family Dental

(808) 945-9898

Hawai‘i Family Dental ‘Ewa Beach

(808) 247-2240

(808) 487-5596

54 Maui Lani Parkway, Suite 2020, Wailuku

(808) 691-4292

45-480 Kaneohe Bay Drive, Suite C-17, Kāne‘ohe

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 715

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1319

1301 Punchbowl St.

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1207

Kelli KanemaruTakeuchi

Smile Suite

The Queen’s Health Systems - Manamana (Punchbowl)

Jill E. KanemaruHwang

98-1247 Ka‘ahumanu St., Suite 321, ‘Aiea

Todd Girard

Robert M. Marusko

46-030 Kamehameha Highway, Kāne‘ohe

Fujioka Dental Group Inc.

Kent K. Hironaka DDS

(808) 941-5555

Steven A. Kumasaka, DDS

Lawrence M. Fujioka

Kent K. Hironaka

1601 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 101

(808) 572-0822

‘Aiea Newtown Dental Group

(808) 955-1510

555 N. King St., Suite 111

Ala Moana Dental Care

Gemini Dental Center

(808) 244-8808

Andy Lee Kōkua Smiles – Dental Care of Pearlridge 98-1005 Moanalua Road, Suite 2000, ‘Aiea

(808) 489-9530

(808) 732-4377

(808) 400-9016 98-1005 Moanalua Road, #2000, ‘Aiea

(808) 489-9530

Beatrice P. Loo Kalihi-Pālama Health Center – Dental Clinic 915 N. King St.

(808) 845-0686

Raymond Loo Raymond Loo, DMD 848 S. Beretania St., Suite 305

(808) 524-1102

Jeffrey Manago

John K. Morioka, DDS 850 W. Hind Drive, Suite 206

(808) 377-5266

Wendell K. Morita Wendell Morita, DDS 30 Aulike St., Suite 202, Kailua

(808) 262-8227

Randall Motooka Hawai‘i Dental Wellness 1139 Bethel St.

(808) 533-3892

Tina Mukai Aloha Stadium Dental Associates

Jeffrey Manago, DDS

4510 Salt Lake Blvd., Suite B3

615 Pi‘ikoi St., Suite 1807

(808) 487-9948

(808) 592-0333

1601 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 101

(808) 941-5555 CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

in Hawaiʻi

GERALD ADACHI, DMD

DANA ADACHI, DDS

MAX UYEDA, DDS

At KAKA‘AKO SMILES, our mission is to make every patient feel cared for, understood, and comfortable, while delivering the very best dental care possible.

Since 1986, DR. GERALD ADACHI has been committed to practicing dentistry with this philosophy. In addition to being recognized by HONOLULU Magazine, he is also the 2026 recipient of the Hawai‘i Dental Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his professional and ethical excellence and contributions to the profession.

DR. DANA ADACHI is a graduate of the University of Missouri—Kansas City School of Dentistry and completed her General Practice Residency at the University of Southern California. She finds working with her patients to improve their oral health and achieve the smile that makes them feel healthy, beautiful, and confident the most rewarding aspects of her profession.

A graduate of the University of Missouri—Kansas City School of Dentistry with an Advanced Education in General Dentistry certificate from the Long Beach VA Medical Center, DR. MAX UYEDA is dedicated to caring for his Hawai‘i community with compassion and skill. He especially enjoys placing dental implants to restore function, confidence, and improve long-term oral health for his patients.

KAKA‘AKO SMILES strives to bring its patients personalized, comprehensive dental care. Each doctor is dedicated to listening to their patients’ concerns, and to achieving results with clinical expertise and artistry in a safe and caring environment. Drs. Gerald Adachi, Dana Adachi, and Max Uyeda are honored to be recognized as HONOLULU Magazine’s 2026 Best Dentists. “On behalf of our entire team, mahalo to our colleagues and patients for your trust in our office.”

715 S. KING ST., SUITE 425 | HONOLULU, HI 96813 | (808) 521-4421 | KAKAAKOSMILES.COM

2026 BEST DENTISTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 38

Dennis T. Nagata

James J.K. Oh

Jon Ozaki

Arleen Regala

Stephen S. Salvador

Cecile Sebastian

Landmark Dental Group/Dental Sleep Medicine Hawai‘i

James K. Oh, DDS

‘Aiea Pearl City Dental Care

Regala and Su, DDS, LLC

Diamond Head Dental Care

Smile Innovations Cecile Sebastian, DDS

(808) 531-2533

98-1256 Ka‘ahumanu St., Suite 303, Pearl City

99-128 ‘Aiea Heights Drive, Suite 602, ‘Aiea

1160 Kuala St., Suite 200, Pearl City

Landon M. Oka

(808) 488-1988

(808) 488-1900

(808) 214-9287

1003 Bishop St., Pauahi Tower, Suite 340

Jaclyn M. Palola

Jason I. Revestir

Palola Dental 94-1221 Ka Uka Blvd., Suite 201, Waipahu

Temple Valley Dental Group Ko‘olau Center, 47-388

DHDC Honolulu, 3045 Monsarrat Ave., Suite 7

(808) 678-3000

Hui Iwa St., Kāne‘ohe

Waikīkī Landmark Building, 1888 Kalākaua Ave., Suite C311

(808) 946-6326

1641 Nu‘uanu Ave.

Landon M. Oka, DDS 4747 Kīlauea Ave., Suite 113

Wesley K. Nihei

(808) 737-6229

Wesley K. Nihei DDS Inc.

Leslie K. Okimoto

100 Kahelu Ave., Suite 114, Mililani

Leslie K. Okimoto, DDS

(808) 621-0747

1221 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 848

Kris L. Nip

(808) 597-1322

Dental Day Spa of Hawai‘i

Wynn H. Okuda

3660 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 301

(808) 734-2099

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Floor 7, Suite 722

Ted T. Sakamoto, DDS

6700 Kalaniana‘ole Highway, Suite 216

Wesley T. Sato

615 Pi‘ikoi St., Suite 801

Wynn H. Okuda, DMD

(808) 649-2691

(808) 593-0835

Kaimukī Dental Group, LLC

The Wai‘alae Building, 3660 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 315

Deborah P. Poole

Michael Sakuda

Upcountry Dentistry Deborah P. Poole, DDS

Michael Sakuda, DDS & Associates

3434 Old Haleakalā Highway, Makawao

40 Aulike St., Suite 214, Kailua

(808) 419-6826

(808) 261-1968

Nishioka Family Dental

Robert L. Ornelles Robert L. Ornelles, DDS LLC

Maui Mino‘aka Dentistry 141 Ma‘a St., Suite A, Kahului

William Sicilia Bright Wave Dental 1314 S. King St., Suite 510

3221 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 315

(808) 593-8476

(808) 737-7905

Justin Sjulson

Mason A. Savage

Enchanted Lake Dental

Mason A. Savage, DDS, LLC 4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 210

1150 S. King St., Suite 307

Lisa Shitamoto

(808) 242-6605

(808) 943-9338

Ted T. Sakamoto

(808) 734-1099

(808) 455-3485

Honolulu Dental Clinic

Hawai‘i Pacific Dental Group Inc.

Julia Nishioka 719 Kamehameha Highway, Pearl City

Rohinton J. Patel

(808) 239-6711

Riichiro Sato

(808) 537-2880

(808) 734-5671

1058 Keolu Drive, Suite B104, Kailua

(808) 261-6767

Jeffrey S.D. Sonson Kailua Dental Care 602 Kailua Road, Suite 101, Kailua

(808) 596-2851

(808) 263-6620

ENDODONTIC

ASSOCIATES LLC

Craig S. Haga, DDS, MS Andrew T. Inaba, DDS Adam S. Inaba, DDS Wade K. Nobuhara, DDS, MS Whitney Torigoe Smith, DDS

ENDODONTIC ASSOCIATES, LLC

in Hawaiʻi

With 60 years of experience, Endodontics Associates LLC proudly provides excellent customer service and unmatched endodontic care. Patients can rest easy knowing that they are being treated at Hawai‘i’s most established endodontic practice. Founded in 1966 by Dr. Carl Haga, Hawai‘i’s first dentist trained in endodontics, Endodontics Associates LLC uses state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge technology in a stress-free environment. 2026 Best Dentists Dr. Craig Haga (son of Dr. Carl Haga), and nephews Dr. Adam Inaba and Dr. Andrew Inaba are committed to staying at the forefront of the industry to provide you with the personalized treatment and excellent customer service you deserve. Dr. Wade Nobuhara, a 2026 Best Dentist, joined the practice in June 2020, adding more than 30 years of endodontic experience to the team. Whitney Torigoe Smith recently joined the practice in 2025. Born and raised on the island, she completed over 10 years of military service as a dental officer and is looking forward to serving the people of Hawai‘i. “As a local family practice, we take the extra steps to treat every patient like family, and to ensure they receive comfortable, patient-centered and the most up-to-date care,” says Dr. Craig Haga. Endodontic Associates LLC serves patients at two convenient locations: the Ala Moana Building and the Mary Savio Medical Plaza in ‘Aiea. 40

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

ALA MOANA BUILDING 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., #208 Honolulu, HI 96814 (808) 591-1515 fax (808) 593-8628 ea96814@gmail.com MARY SAVIO MEDICAL PLAZA 98-1247 Ka‘ahumanu St., #218 ‘Aiea, HI 96701 (808) 455-9051 fax (808) 486-0344 ea96701@gmail.com

Celebrating 60 Years Visit our website to make online referrals.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 48

endodonticassociatesllc.com

2026 BEST DENTISTS

Angela Su

Lance I. Teramoto

Nina Tran

Regala and Su, DDS, LLC

Lance I. Teramoto DDS Inc.

Kings Dental & Implant Services

99-128 ‘Aiea Heights Drive, Suite 602, ‘Aiea

4747 Kīlauea Ave., Suite 101

555 N. King St., Suite 111

(808) 488-1900

(808) 737-9882

(808) 848-2400

Brennan N. Takagi

Jeffrey Thomas

Tammy Tran

Brennan Takagi, DDS

Hawai‘i Family Dental

Wade Takenishi DDS

Pan Am Building, 1600 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 807

1847 S. Kīhei Road, Suite 101, Kīhei

1314 S. King St., Suite 702

(808) 949-0033

(808) 856-4625

(808) 593-2775

Derek Takai

Kristen C. Todoki

Jill Uehara

Wai Kāhala Dentistry, LLC

‘Āina Haina Dental Group – Kristen C. Todoki, DDS

Uehara Family Cosmetic Dentistry

4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 210

(808) 732-1424

Wade Takenishi

850 W. Hind Drive, Suite 112

(808) 373-2184

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1400

(808) 955-2505

Gary T. Umeda

Wade Takenishi, DDS

Camden Tokunaga

1314 S. King St., Suite 702

Tokunaga Family Dentistry

Gary T. Umeda, DDS - General & Airway Focused Dentistry

(808) 593-2775

91-902 Fort Weaver Road, Suite 208, ‘Ewa Beach

1580 Makaloa St., Suite 560

(808) 689-7964

(808) 942-9420

612 Kīlani Ave., Wahiawā

Brooke Uperesa

Ala Moana Dental Care

1601 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 101

Laulani Dental Care

(808) 949-2378

Scott Takiguchi

(808) 941-5555

91-1123 Keaunui Drive, Suite 232, ‘Ewa Beach

Takiguchi Dental Group

Hawai‘i Family Dental – Kapolei

Ashley Takiguchi Takiguchi Dental Group 2525 S. King St., Suite 305

2525 S. King St., Suite 305

(808) 949-2378

Kasey-Kalei A. Tamashiro The Drs. Tamashiro 1728 Wili Pa Loop, Suite 100, Wailuku

91-5431 Kapolei Parkway, #1707, Kapolei

(808) 460-7945 Kaizen Dental Center 735 Bishop St., Suite 211

(808) 536-3405

(808) 244-6000

Kathy Tomasu

Julie T. Tanabe

Aloha Stadium Dental Associates

Julie T. Tanabe Inc. 3538 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 206

(808) 734-8969

Travis K. Tanaka Kāhala Smile Professionals

4510 Salt Lake Blvd., Suite B3

(808) 487-9948

Noel S. Torigoe

(808) 354-0808 Kaka‘ako Dental Care 600 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 204

(808) 533-2861

Max M. Uyeda Kapālama Kai Dental – Max Uyeda, DDS 715 S. King St., Suite 425

(808) 845-3300

Catherine Vargas Wailuku Dental Group 255 Imi Kala St., Wailuku

Noel S. Torigoe, DDS

(808) 244-8808

1010 S. King St., Suite 803

Jessica Vo Premier Dental Group HI

(808) 722-9232

Anne Tran

Hawai‘i Family Dental

ToothBuds Dental

98-1268 Ka‘ahumanu St., Suite 203, Pearl City

Hilo, 111 E. Puainako St., Suite 320, Hilo

Tracy N. Tanji Dr. Tracy N. Tanji, DDS 94-873 Farrington Highway, Suite 202, Waipahu

(808) 677-4042

3150 Monsarrat Ave., Suite 201

(808) 735-5437 3-3359 Kūhiō Highway, Līhu‘e

Joined by a team of friendly, attentive staff, 2026 BEST DENTIST DR. BERWYN ITO offers exemplary dental care for all your general and aesthetic needs. From emphasizing gentle techniques to minimize anxiety, to helping each patient make the best, most-informed treatment choices for their needs, he takes great care to ensure patients leave with healthy teeth and happy, confident smiles.

Erin M. Uwaine

(808) 596-2295

4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 309

in Hawaiʻi

“I would like to again give a big MAHALO to my colleagues for nominating me for this prestigious honor. It really is a privilege to be included with such a distinguished group of dental professionals.”

“Thank you to my dental colleagues and mentors for continuing to inspire me to offer the best dental care I possibly can. Thank You to our Patients for their trust and confidence in us. Lastly, Thank You to my Awesome Staff for making us who we are.”

(808) 486-4746

Robert J.M. Wada Kāhala Smile Professionals LLC 4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 305

(808) 732-9232

CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

DR. BERWYN Y. ITO 1600 KAPI‘OLANI BOULEVARD, SUITE 1400, HONOLULU, HI 96814 (808) 947-8888 HDS, HMSA, HMAA, CIGNA AND MOST DENTAL INSURANCE ACCEPTED

F E B RUA RY 2 0 2 6

2026 BEST DENTISTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41

Richard C. Wagner

Keri Anne J. Wong

John T. Wu

Brandon T. Yokota

Gary G.L. Yuen

Richard C. Wagner, DDS

Keri Anne Wong, DDS

Brandon T. Yokota, DDS

Dr. Gary G.L. Yuen, DDS

1150 S. King St., Suite 303

1010 S. King St., Suite 504

Ala Moana Center Dental Group

(808) 596-2553

(808) 946-4939

615 Pi‘ikoi St., Suite 1607

(808) 589-1500

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1019

1943 S. King St.

Scott A. Wardwell

Summer T. Wood

Scott A. Wardwell, DDS 1150 S. King St., Suite 601

(808) 946-0713

Keiko Watanabe Ala Moana Dentistry

(808) 943-8888

Carter S. Yokoyama

Ocean View Dental

Rob Wu

970 N. Kalāheo Ave., Pali Palms Plaza, Suite C309, Kailua

Kōkua Smiles – Dental Care of Pearlridge

Carter S. Yokoyama, DDS

(808) 254-5503

98-1005 Moanalua Road, Suite 2000, ‘Aiea

Kyrell Wright

1440 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1239

Kaimukī Center for Dentistry

(808) 955-1440

3221 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 376

Lauren Weiss

(808) 737-9032

Wai Kāhala Dentistry, LLC

2024 N. King St., Suite 107

4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 210

(808) 732-1424

Aldrin B.L. Wong Aldrin B.L. Wong, DDS 2226 Liliha St., Suite 303

(808) 841-7944

Christopher Wu ‘Ohana Smiles LLC 30 Aulike St., #204, Kailua

(808) 262-4792

(808) 489-9530

Melvin T. Yamada Melvin T. Yamada, DDS 1600 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1319

(808) 955-2439

Ken Yasuhara Ken Yasuhara, DDS – Aesthetic & Restorative Dentistry 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1001

75-5905 Walua Road, Suite 7, Kailua-Kona

(808) 322-0101

Chris Young Aloha Family Dentistry Hawai‘i 45-1144 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 304, Kāne‘ohe

(808) 235-0018

Jaci A. Young The Queen’s Health Systems - Manamana (Punchbowl)

(808) 593-9344

Michelle J. Zhou Premier Dental Group HI 94-235 Hanawai Circle, Suite 1, Waipahu

(808) 677-5944

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery An oral/maxillofacial surgeon is a dentist who can perform surgery in and around the head. Oral surgery ranges from extracting teeth to facial reconstruction for patients who have suffered disease or trauma. Many oral surgeons are licensed to work on some of the same procedures as plastic surgeons, including rhinoplasties and chin implants.

1301 Punchbowl St.

(808) 691-4292

(808) 947-8900

(808) 538-1190

ORTHODONTIC CARE DESIGNED AROUND YOUR SMILE At Kamisugi and Kawamoto Orthodontics, we believe that every individual and smile is unique. We firmly believe in creating an exceptional orthodontic experience for each patient and their family by blending cutting-edge technology with trusted techniques to create a smile you’ll love. With convenient locations in ‘Aiea and Mililani, our friendly and highly trained team is here to deliver the orthodontic experience you deserve in a comfortable and fun environment. Start your journey to a healthier, more confident smile today!

‘Aiea: 98-211 Pali Momi St., Suite 500, ‘Aiea, HI 96701 | Mililani: 95-390 Kuahelani Ave., Suite 1A, Mililani, HI 96789 Schedule your complimentary consultation today: (808) 483-3000 | kamisugi-ortho.com

in Hawaiʻi

2026 BEST DENTISTS

Matthew S. Abraham

Jeremy M. Hannon

David S. Haynes

Eva P. Kiezik

Cameron Y.S. Lee

James M. Michino

Island Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

O‘ahu Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery – Windward

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Associates Inc.

Oral Surgery Hawai‘i

Hawai‘i Oral Surgery

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1720

98-1247 Ka‘ahumanu St., Suite 314, ‘Aiea

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Associates Inc.

(808) 207-3048

(808) 484-2288

98-1005 Moanalua Road, Suite 843, ‘Aiea

1060 Young St., Suite 220

(808) 210-4619

(808) 731-2220

46-056 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 250, Kāne‘ohe

Kristin L. Lee

338 Kamokila Blvd., Suite 203, Kapolei

(808) 674-2255

45-1144 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 301, Kāne‘ohe

Kenneth H. Arakawa

(808) 230-8000

Dr. Kenneth H. Arakawa, DDS

O‘ahu Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery – Honolulu

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1225

(808) 942-9999

Todd G. Carter Maui Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery 33 Lono Ave., Suite 450, Kahului

(808) 244-7634

Joan Greco Hawai‘i Island Oral Surgery – Dr. Joan Greco 280 Ponahawai St., Suite 101, Hilo

(808) 885-9000

Kapi‘olani Business Plaza, 1580 Makaloa St., Suite 725

(808) 973-3747 98-211 Pali Momi St., Pearlridge Office Center, Suite 618, ‘Aiea

(808) 483-3727

(808) 973-3747 98-211 Pali Momi St., Pearlridge Office Center, Suite 618, ‘Aiea

Hawai‘i Oral Surgery

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 920

David K. Hiranaka

(808) 210-4855

(808) 973-3700

David K. Hiranaka, MD, DMD

98-1247 Ka‘ahumanu St., Suite 314, ‘Aiea

Blake K. Kitamura

(808) 484-2288

Oral Surgery Hawai‘i

1060 Young St., Suite 220

Todd K. Haruki Pacific Maxillofacial Center

76-6225 Kuakini Highway, Suite A102, Kailua-Kona

(808) 326-2040

(808) 207-3048

1060 Young St., Suite 312

Michael T. Hironaka

(808) 585-8455

Oral Surgery Hawai‘i

94-1221 Ka Uka Blvd., #B-204, Waipahu

(808) 676-9560

98-1005 Moanalua Road, Suite 843, ‘Aiea

(808) 210-4619

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1720

(808) 207-3048

Earl A. Hasegawa

98-1005 Moanalua Road, Suite 843, ‘Aiea

Earl A. Hasegawa, DDS

(808) 210-4619

135 S. Wakea Ave., Suite 103, Kahului

46-056 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 250, Kāne‘ohe

(808) 877-7775

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1720

46-056 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 250, Kāne‘ohe

(808) 210-4855

Providing excellent and caring pediatric dentistry in Honolulu and Kapolei A place as comfortable as home for a lifelong relationship of dental care. Transform your smile with Honolulu and Kapolei Keiki Dental, where vibrant oral health meets gentle care! Our expert team is dedicated to creating positive dental experiences for your little ones. From routine check-ups to specialized pediatric services, we prioritize safety, comfort, and communication with our patients and their families. Explore our stateof-the-art facility online and schedule your child’s appointment today. Bright smiles start here!

(808) 731-2220

Gregory Y.C. Lung Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Associates Inc. Kapi‘olani Business Plaza, 1580 Makaloa St., Suite 725

(808) 973-3747 98-211 Pali Momi St., Pearlridge Office Center, Suite 618, ‘Aiea

(808) 483-3727

Kapi‘olani Business Plaza, 1580 Makaloa St., Suite 725

(808) 483-3727

Rodney N. Nishimoto Honolulu Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery – Rodney N. Nishimoto, DMD, MD 900 Punahou St., Suite 101

(808) 949-8681

Neil Oishi Pacific Maxillofacial Center 1060 Young St., Suite 312

(808) 585-8455 94-1221 Ka Uka Blvd., #B-204, Waipahu

(808) 676-9560 CONTINUED ON PAGE 44

in Hawaiʻi

Left to right: Dr. Stacie Sueda, Dr. Dean Sueda, Dr. Stephen Sueda

Honolulu Keiki Dental 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd Ste 617 Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 honolulukeikidental.com (808) 944-1603 Kapolei Keiki Dental 4450 Kapolei Pkwy #570 Kapolei, Hawaii 96707 kapoleikeikidental.com (808) 944-1020

2026 BEST DENTISTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 43

Michael J. Pampalon Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Associates Inc. Kapi‘olani Business Plaza, 1580 Makaloa St., Suite 725

(808) 973-3747 98-211 Pali Momi St., Pearlridge Office Center, Suite 618, ‘Aiea

(808) 483-3727

David Russell

Thomas A. Yamamoto

Kimi S. Caswell

Melissa Ferguson

Todd S. Kimura

Satya Nayak

Holliday Orthodontics

Oral Surgery Hawai‘i

Caswell Orthodontics 1210 Ward Ave., Suite 200

151 Hekili St., Suite 250, Kailua

Hawaiian Smiles Orthodontics

(808) 536-2223

(808) 485-1177

4618 Kīlauea Ave., Suite 4

Sean R. Holliday

4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 111

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1720

(808) 207-3048 98-1005 Moanalua Road, Suite 843, ‘Aiea

(808) 210-4619 46-056 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 250, Kāne‘ohe

(808) 536-2223 95-1249 Meheula Parkway, Suite B9, Mililani

(808) 536-2223

Holliday Orthodontics 1060 Young St., Suite 201

(808) 485-1177

1060 Young St., Suite 201

4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 111

Eunsol “Vicky” Lee

Emerald Island Oral Facial Surgery Inc. – David Russell, DMD

(808) 210-4855

Tammy ChangMotooka

Lyle C. Yanagihara

Hawai‘i Orthodontist

151 Hekili St., Suite 250, Kailua

4381 Kukui Grove St., Suite 101, Līhu‘e

Pacific Implant Center: Lyle C. Yanagihara, DDS, MS

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1800

1245 Kuala St., Suite 110, Pearl City

1440 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1233

94-673 Kupuohi St., Suite C-103, Waipahu

(808) 245-9339

Rohit Sahdev Hawai‘i Family Dental

(808) 973-1433

275 W. Ka‘ahumanu Ave., Suite 188, Kahului

(808) 947-3737

Katherine M. Masaki, DDS, MS

(808) 947-3737

(808) 550-4477

Holliday Orthodontics

400 Hualani St., Building 9, Suite 192, Hilo

4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 111

Lili Horton, DMD Moanalua

111 E. Puainako St., Suite 320, Hilo

(808) 443-5214

Morgan K. Strawn Maui Jaw Surgical Institute 122 Ma‘a St., Unit A, Kahului

Orthodontists are dentists who straighten teeth. They can analyze a mouth and surrounding bone structures, determine where teeth should be and create corrective appliances.

(808) 242-0077

Bruce Y. Todoki Bruce Y. Todoki, DDS 1100 Ward Ave., Suite 815

(808) 532-2055

Craig A. Yamamoto Oral Surgery Hawai‘i 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1720

(808) 207-3048 98-1005 Moanalua Road, Suite 843, ‘Aiea

(808) 210-4619

Sujata Bhatia Bhatia Orthodontics + Sleep Wellness 99 S. Market St., Suite 104, Wailuku

(808) 638-3078

1245 Kuala St., Suite 110, Pearl City

Terrence Codington

4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 111

Scott S. Masunaga

151 Hekili St., Suite 250, Kailua

Burt K. Kawamoto Kamisugi and Kawamoto Orthodontics 98-211 Pali Momi St., Suite 500, ‘Aiea

Bonham & Bonham Orthodontics

4473 Pahe‘e St. Unit R, Līhu‘e

140 Ho‘ohana St., Suite 312, Kahului

J. Mickey Damerell

(808) 871-6576

Maui Smile Works

Shelliann Kawamoto

24 Kiopa‘a St., Suite 101, Pukalani

1129 Lower Main St., Suite 107, Wailuku

Hawai‘i Orthodontist

Bonham & Bonham Orthodontics 140 Ho‘ohana St., Suite 312, Kahului

(808) 871-6576 24 Kiopa‘a St., Suite 101, Pukalani

(808) 793-3026

Dung Orthodontics 1600 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 519

(808) 483-3000 95-390 Kuahelani Ave., Suite 1-A, Mililani

(808) 483-3000

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1800

(808) 947-3737 94-673 Kupuohi St., Suite C-103, Waipahu

(808) 947-3737

(808) 941-5241

Gerald W.H. Kim

98-1247 Ka‘ahumanu St. #214, ‘Aiea

Kim Orthodontics

(808) 488-0026 95-1249 Meheula Parkway, Suite 135, Mililani

65-1230 Māmalahoa Highway, Suite A-21, Kamuela

98-1005 Moanalua Road, Suite 845, ‘Aiea

1037 Makawao Ave., Makawao

(808) 210-4855

76-6225 Kuakini Highway, Suite D-101, Kailua-Kona

(808) 485-1177

Aurelia Bonham

David J. Dung

(808) 247-6039

(808) 597-1553

Peter L. Conmy

Paul Bonham

45-939 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 103, Kāne‘ohe

1060 Young St., Suite 201

1245 Kuala St., Suite 110, Pearl City

(808) 244-1499

Hawaiian Smiles Orthodontics

1010 S. King St., Suite 101

Holliday Orthodontics

151 Hekili St., Suite 250, Kailua

(808) 793-3026

Alyssa Shaikh

Sheriann Shimogaki

(808) 329-4425

46-056 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 250, Kāne‘ohe

65-1230 Māmalahoa Highway, Suite A-21, Kamuela

Orthodontic Arts Hawai‘i

4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 111

285 W. Ka‘ahumanu Ave., Suite 220, Kahului

(808) 329-7551

Malia K. Kamisugi

75-1028 Henry St., Suite 203, Kailua-Kona

(808) 961-6662

(808) 596-4840

76-6225 Kuakini Highway, Suite D-101, Kailua-Kona

J. Kika Masunaga

(808) 485-1177

31 E. Lanikaula St., Suite A, Hilo

Eleven50 Building, 1150 S. King St., Suite 1103

(808) 247-6039

4429 Mala‘ai St., Suite 103

Elite Smile Center

Hawai‘i Smile Designs

(808) 445-6165

Dr. Lili Horton, DMD, MS

Brad M. Chun

(808) 443-5204

95-390 Kuahelani Ave., Suite 4B, Mililani

Katherine M. Masaki

677 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 801

(808) 485-1177

Gentle Dental Mililani

Lili K. Horton

(808) 856-4640

Orthodontics

1245 Kuala St., Suite 110, Pearl City

45-939 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 103, Kāne‘ohe

Orthodontic Arts Hawai‘i 1010 S. King St., Suite 101

(808) 597-1553 98-1005 Moanalua Road, Suite 845, ‘Aiea

Scott L. Morita Morita Orthodontics 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1000

(808) 941-3355 98-1247 Ka‘ahumanu St., #325, ‘Aiea

(808) 486-5505

Bryson Nakatani Hawai‘i Orthodontist 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1800

(808) 947-3737 94-673 Kupuohi St., Suite C-103, Waipahu

(808) 947-3737

Holliday Orthodontics

1245 Kuala St., Suite 110, Pearl City

Daniel Shin Hawai‘i Family Dental 98-150 Ka‘ōnohi St., Suite C201, ‘Aiea

(808) 748-4970

Carlton A. Shiraki Mililani Orthodontics 95-1249 Meheula Parkway, #135, Mililani

(808) 625-5000

Kendall R. Tada Caswell Orthodontics 1210 Ward Ave., Suite 200

(808) 536-2223 4618 Kīlauea Ave., Suite 4

(808) 536-2223 95-1249 Meheula Parkway, Suite B9, Mililani

(808) 536-2223

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1515

(808) 941-9888

(808) 625-5000 CONTINUED ON PAGE 46 44

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

THE ART OF SURGERY

r. Cameron Y. S. Lee and Dr. Kristin L. Lee are oral and maxillofacial surgeons who specialize in surgery of the jaws with an emphasis on jaw reconstruction with dental implants. Their surgical practice is dedicated to enhancing and restoring natural

beauty, using leading-edge surgical procedures and 3D technology. “Our surgical practice has embraced regenerative medicine with the goal of accelerating jawbone regeneration using

platelet rich fibrin (PRF) with its many growth factors and stem cells obtained from the patient’s own blood,” says Dr. Lee. To better understand how PRF positively affects bone regeneration, polarized light microscopy (see color art above) is used to identify the formation of different

bone cells at the cellular level. “When looking at bone cells under the microscope, it is beautiful to see the human body at work forming different bone cells in color,” marvels Dr. Lee.

DR. CAMERON Y.S. LEE DR. KRISTIN L. LEE

(808) 484-2288 | HAWAIIORALSURGERY.COM

AIEA

98-1247 Kaahumanu St, Ste 314, Aiea, HI 96701 HONOLULU

1060 Young St, Suite 220, Honolulu, HI 96814

2026 BEST DENTISTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 44

Rosemarie C. Tan

Michael J. Wall

Mary M. Chau

Nicole Endo

Juliana Hsu

Tuan M. Pham

O‘ahu Orthodontics – Rosemarie Tan, DDS, MS

Michael J. Wall, DMD, MS

Children’s Dental Associates Inc.

KidShine Dental & Orthodontics

Noa Tongue Tie and Airway Health

T. Yogi Building, 45-1048 Kamehameha Highway, Suite B, Kāne‘ohe

1314 S. King St., Suite 618

850 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 215, Pearl City

725 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 124C

The Queen’s Health Systems – Manamana (Punchbowl)

Imperial Plaza, 725 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite C124

(808) 738-5500

Erik TinHan TinHan Orthodontics – Pearl City 98-1268 Ka‘ahumanu St., Suite 105, Pearl City

(808) 485-2444

(808) 235-6801

94-673 Kupuohi St., Suite C103, Waipahu

Michael B. Wong

(808) 680-0097

Michael B. Wong, DDS, M.S.D.

Fred Y. Chen

46-005 Kawa St., Suite 301, Kāne‘ohe

(808) 234-6244

377 Keāhole St., Suite 211A

Lauren Todoki Dung Orthodontics 1600 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 519

(808) 941-5241 98-1247 Ka‘ahumanu St. #214, ‘Aiea

Mililani Orthodontics 95-1249 Meheula Parkway, #135, Mililani

Kaitlyn Tom Dung Orthodontics 1600 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 519

(808) 941-5241 98-1247 Ka‘ahumanu St. #214, ‘Aiea

(808) 941-5241

Steven Tottori Tottori Orthodontics 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Ala Moana Building, Suite 710

(808) 674-9191 525 Farrington Highway, Kapolei Park Square, Kapolei

Alex Verga

(808) 596-9889

Pearlridge Pediatric Dentistry – Fred Y. Chen, DMD 98-211 Pali Momi St., Suite 615, ‘Aiea

(808) 484-4459

Pediatric Dentistry Pediatric dentists, or pedodontists, treat children from as young as 1 year old to early adulthood.

Cally L. Adams Cally L. Adams, DDS, LLC 1325 S. Kīhei Road, Suite 108, Kīhei

(808) 875-4808

Janel S. AnchetaCarroll Ancheta Pediatric Dental 98-1247 Ka‘ahumanu St., Suite 205, ‘Aiea

(808) 487-1000

Todd K. Asato Children’s Dental Associates Inc. 1314 S. King St., Suite 618

Brent Ching Premier Dental Group HI 4562 Kukui St., Kapa‘a

(808) 822-4906 Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children 1319 Punahou St., Suite 1080

Jason Ching O‘ahu Pediatric Dentistry 850 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 260, Pearl City

(808) 456-4555

Bren M. Chun Kim Pediatric Dentistry Weinberg Medical Plaza, 642 Ulukahiki St., Suite 308, Kailua

(808) 261-5354 46-001 Kamehameha Highway, Castle Professional Center, Suite 418, Kāne‘ohe

J.J. Chun

(808) 638-3313

Radford Goto ToothBuds Dental – Diamond Head 3150 Monsarrat Ave., Suite 201

1301 Punchbowl St.

(808) 909-6363

(808) 691-4292

Lauren Jenni Imai

Honu Smiles Pediatric Dentistry

Pediatric Dental Group 1221 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1048

95-1105 ‘Āinamakua Drive, Suite 202, Mililani

(808) 593-8828

Audrey N. Rawson

(808) 735-5437

4180 Rice St., Suite 105, Līhu‘e

Pediatric Dentistry Kāhala

Tooth Buds Kaua‘i

(808) 245-2131

4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 201

Maile S.C. Kim

(808) 737-0076

3-3359 Kūhiō Highway, Līhu‘e

T. “Matt” Matthew Griffith Kona Pediatric Dentistry – T. Matthew Griffith DDS, MSD 73-5621 Maiau St., Suite A2, Kailua-Kona

(808) 698-0380

Benjamin Hanks Maui Pediatric Dentistry 1280 S. Kīhei Road, Suite 206, Kīhei

(808) 868-5757

Tian He

Kim Pediatric Dentistry Weinberg Medical Plaza, 642 Ulukahiki St., Suite 308, Kailua

(808) 261-5354 46-001 Kamehameha Highway, Castle Professional Center, Suite 418, Kāne‘ohe

Michelle R. Kobayashi Pedodontic Associates 98-1005 Moanalua Road, Suite 847, ‘Aiea

98-1005 Moanalua Road, Suite 847, ‘Aiea

(808) 487-7933 Pedodontic Associates Honolulu 4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 405

Pedodontic Associates Kahului

31 Kamehameha Ave., Kahului

Paul K. Seo

4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 405

Dentistry for Kids

31 Kamehameha Ave., Kahului

4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 201

Supriya Koirala

Allen K. Hirai

Pedodontic Associates

(808) 487-7933

Pediatric Dentistry Kāhala

(808) 737-0076

Alan T. Sato

KidShine Dental & Orthodontics 25 Kāne‘ohe Bay Drive, Suite 109, Kailua

98-1254 Ka‘ahumanu St., Suite 158, Pearl City

(808) 486-8881

Cody Sia O‘ahu Pediatric Dentistry

(808) 465-3215

4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 201

850 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 260, Pearl City

Christopher C. Lee

(808) 456-4555

(808) 737-0076

Children’s Dental Associates Inc.

Dean Sueda

Pediatric Dentistry Kāhala

Erica Hollander

Honolulu Keiki Dental

Hawai‘i Smile Designs

(808) 596-9889

31 E. Lanikaula St., Suite A, Hilo

94-673 Kupuohi St., Suite C103, Waipahu

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 617

Just Keiki Dental 141 Ma‘a St., Kahului

(808) 596-9889

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 617

(808) 961-6662

(808) 680-0097

(808) 944-1603

(808) 419-7841

285 W. Ka‘ahumanu Ave., Suite 220, Kahului

Emily S. Bordner

Kapolei Keiki Dental

Hans Hsu

94-673 Kupuohi St., Suite C103, Waipahu

Kapolei Keiki Dental

1037 Makawao Ave., Makawao 4473 Pahe‘e St. Unit R, Līhu‘e

First Smiles 2752 Woodlawn Drive, Suite 5-207

4450 Kapolei Parkway, #570, Kapolei

(808) 944-1020

(808) 988-2636

Yongsok Do

JW Chang

Dr. Yongsok Do, DMD

Honu Smiles Pediatric Dentistry 95-1105 ‘Āinamakua Drive, Suite 202, Mililani

(808) 445-6272

Honolulu Keiki Dental

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

91-2139 Fort Weaver Road, Queen’s Medical Center West O‘ahu, Physician’s Office Building, Suite 301, ‘Ewa Beach

(808) 680-9411

1314 S. King St., Suite 618

(808) 944-1603

(808) 680-0097

ToothBuds Dental – Diamond Head

4450 Kapolei Parkway, #570, Kapolei

Peter Lee

(808) 944-1020

3150 Monsarrat Ave., Suite 201

Hawai‘i Pediatric Dentistry

Stacie Sueda

(808) 735-5437

91-3575 Kauluakoko St., Suite 3004, ‘Ewa Beach

Tooth Buds Kaua‘i

3-3359 Kūhiō Highway, Līhu‘e

(808) 645-4780

Honolulu Keiki Dental 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 617

(808) 944-1603 Kapolei Keiki Dental

4450 Kapolei Parkway, #570, Kapolei

(808) 944-1020

2026 BEST DENTISTS

Stephen Sueda

Clyde Y. Uchida

Honolulu Keiki Dental

Clyde Y. Uchida, DDS, MS Inc. 4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 3070

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 617

(808) 944-1603 Kapolei Keiki Dental

4450 Kapolei Parkway, #570, Kapolei

(808) 739-0878

Gavin Uchida

(808) 944-1020

Blue Whale Children’s Dentistry of Hawai‘i

Emilie Guinto Sumida

3660 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 201

Children’s Dentistry of Maui 99 S. Market St., Suite 102, Wailuku

(808) 244-5495

David A. Sumikawa Pediatric Dental Group 1221 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1048

(808) 593-8828

(808) 735-2583 64-5191 Kinohou St., Waimea

(808) 735-2583

Renee C. Uchida-Hashizume Clyde Y. Uchida, DDS, MS Inc. 4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 3070

Nicholas J. Fujii

Allison Tran

Glenn S. Hanada

Periodontics

Nicholas J. Fujii, DDS Inc.

Allison Tran, DDS

Glenn S. Hanada, DMD

Periodontists are dentists who deal with the supporting structures of the teeth, especially the gums.

98-211 Pali Momi St., Suite 710, ‘Aiea

94-1042 Ka Uka Blvd., Suite 202, Waipahu

850 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 112, Pearl City

Dean S. Arashiro Dean S. Arashiro, DDS, MS, LTD 145 Ma‘a St., Kahului

(808) 893-0880

Edmund A. Cassella Periodontal Specialists of Hawai‘i 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1506

(808) 955-1506

(808) 739-0878

Diane Cha-Loo

(808) 245-2131

Cherie C. Uchida-Moribe

Mark Sumikawa

Clyde Y. Uchida, DDS, MS Inc.

Spark M. Matsunaga Veterans Affairs Medical Center

4180 Rice St., Suite 105, Līhu‘e

Pediatric Dental Group 4180 Rice St., Suite 105, Līhu‘e

(808) 245-2131

Bryan S. Tamura Pedodontic Associates 98-1005 Moanalua Road, Suite 847, ‘Aiea

(808) 487-7933 Pedodontic Associates Honolulu 4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 405

Pedodontic Associates Kahului

4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 3070

(808) 739-0878

Nadiene Wu Hawai‘i Family Dental 91-5431 Kapolei Parkway, Suite 1707, Kapolei

4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 405

Pedodontic Associates Kahului

31 Kamehameha Ave., Kahului

Derek Tom

1060 Young St., Suite 216

(808) 941-5561

Ray Liao Honolulu Periodontics + Implants 2226 Liliha St., Suite 408

1847 S. Kīhei Road, Suite 101, Kīhei

(808) 856-4625

2226 Liliha St., Suite 408

(808) 955-1506

Michael R.C. Umaki Periodontal & Implant Associates of Hawai‘i 1833 S. Beretania St.

Gregg T. Uyeda, DDS, MS

(808) 533-7200

Adam Long

Ryan H. Yim

Waimea Smiles

275 W. Ka‘ahumanu Ave., Suite 188, Kahului

(808) 856-4640

Susan N. Mizuno Michael G. Ching and Susan N. Mizuno, DDS M.S. Inc. 1060 Young St., Suite 216

(808) 525-7161

Jeremy Oakley

(808) 329-7246

Braden C. Seamons

Periodontal Specialists of Hawai‘i 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1506

(808) 955-1506

Prosthodontics Prosthodontists are dentists who deal with restorations—crowns, bridges, dentures and implants or mixedimplant and ﬁxedbridge cases.

Periodontics Hawai‘i LLC

Todd A. Stone

(808) 235-0550

6700 Kalaniana‘ole Highway, Suite 216A

(808) 735-5437 Tooth Buds Kaua‘i

3-3359 Kūhiō Highway, Līhu‘e

Lyndon D. Fong Hawai‘i Advanced Periodontic and Implant Associates 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 616

(808) 947-3333

Punahou Dentistry

(808) 947-1323

275 W. Ka‘ahumanu Ave., Suite 188, Kahului

Jmi Lilinoe Bassett Asam

(808) 856-4640

Paciﬁc Dental & Implant Solutions

111 E. Puainako St., Suite 320, Hilo 400 Hualani St., Building 9, Suite 192, Hilo 4473 Pahe‘e St., Suite K, Līhu‘e

65-1230 Māmalahoa Highway, Carter Professional Center, Suite E-21, Kamuela

(808) 887-8801 ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers

PerioCare Hawai‘i

Hawai‘i Family Dental

(808) 521-1896

Kevin Loo

46-005 Kawa St., Suite 301, Kāne‘ohe

3150 Monsarrat Ave., Suite 201

321 N. Kuakini St., Suite 804

Hawai‘i Family Dental

900 Punahou St., Suite 201

94-826 Moloalo St., Waipahu

(808) 691-4292 Ben Kawasaki, DDS MSD

(808) 596-7788

(808) 728-7774

1301 Punchbowl St.

Gregg T. Uyeda

Aaron Colby

ToothBuds Dental – Diamond Head

The Queen’s Health Systems – Manamana (Punchbowl)

Ben Kawasaki

M. Moria Amjadi

Lauren Young

Asia A. Inagaki

(808) 955-2275

615 Pi‘ikoi St., Suite 2011

(808) 593-9400

(808) 485-8558

Gerald Meredith

77-6447 Kuakini Highway, Kailua-Kona

Honolulu Periodontics + Implants

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1506

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 800

Kenneth Y. K. Choy

(808) 748-4970

(808) 744-0288

(808) 593-9400

98-150 Ka‘ōnohi St., Suite C201, ‘Aiea

Luke Y. Teruya

Pedodontic Associates Honolulu

Michael G. Ching and Susan N. Mizuno DDS M.S. Inc.

1600 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 507

Kona Periodontics and Implants

Kāne‘ohe Kids Dental

(808) 487-7933

Michael G. Ching

Darin K. Iha, DDS, M.S.

(808) 525-7161

Chris Yim

98-1005 Moanalua Road, Suite 847, ‘Aiea

(800) 214-1306

Darin K. Iha

(808) 460-7945

31 Kamehameha Ave., Kahului

Pedodontic Associates

459 Patterson Road

(808) 427-9989

4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 102

(808) 737-6150

1585 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 888

(808) 524-1102

Richard H. Miyamoto Richard H. Miyamoto, DDS 615 Pi‘ikoi St., Suite 1101

(808) 596-2622

Alexander Tarasov Kōkua Smiles – Dental Care of Pearlridge 98-1005 Moanalua Road, Suite 2000, ‘Aiea

(808) 489-9530

Erik K. Wong Maui Prosthodontics – Erik K. Wong, DMD 140 Ho‘ohana St., Suite 300, Kahului

(808) 871-6283

Duane Fujii Paciﬁc Dental Studio 1100 Ward Ave., Suite 820

(808) 531-3003

‘Aiea Pediatric Dental Center 98-150 Ka‘ōnohi St., Suite C207, ‘Aiea

(808) 488-0100

F E B RUA RY 2 0 2 6

SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION

Best Dentists 2026 PROFILES in Hawaiʻi

Looking for a dentist? We’re here to help. In this special section, you’ll learn more about the best dentists in Hawai‘i and what sets them apart, so you can find that someone to help you achieve the beautiful, confident smile you deserve. In the following pages, we’ll share dentists and specialists whose respect and admiration by their peers got them placed onto this prestigious annual list.

48 48

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

F E B RUA RY 2 0 24

SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION

in Hawaiʻi

GENERAL DENTISTRY

Rohinton J. Patel, D.M.D., P.F.A. Fellowship “I am thankful and humbled to be selected for this honor by my peers and colleagues,” says Dr. Patel, who was the first in Hawai‘i to have a Galileos Cone Beam CT scan and amongst the nation’s first to perform guided dental implant minimally invasive surgery. As part of the select Cerec Mentors Group of Scottsdale Center for Dentistry, he is at the forefront of the newest released technology for Cerec Primescan, Cerec single-visit digital dentistry and 3-D imaging. Dr. Patel has been voted a Best Dentist in America since 2009. A Preferred Provider for SureSmile Orthodontics and Invisalign®, he also provides sedation dentistry for apprehensive and special needs patients, pediatric and geriatric dental care, Zoom Teeth Whitening, TMJ therapy, emergency dentistry and routine dental cleanings. “We offer comprehensive treatment plans that provide minimally invasive, conservative options that maintain patients’ optimal oral health,” says the Boston University School of Dental Medicine graduate, who completed his internship at Harvard University Vanguard Medical Associates. Over 20 years of experience enables Dr. Patel to offer a painless injection technique. For apprehensive patients, with his anesthesiologist, Dr. Ed Campbell, he offers “Full Sedation Dentistry”—customized dental treatments in a monitored surgical suite that exceeds government safety standards. Dr. Patel has been an adjunct clinical professor of Boston University School of Dental Medicine since 2009, as well as visiting professor/faculty for the University of Hawai‘i John A. Burns School of Medicine, lecturing first-year medical students on oral anatomy, physiology and disease. Dr. Patel has been an active volunteer with the Special Olympics Special Smiles Program for over 25 years and was recently inducted as a Fellow in the Pierre Fauchard Academy of Dentistry. As a lifelong student of advanced cosmetic dentistry and implantology, oral cancer and genetic dental research, he concentrates a portion of his practice on smile makeovers and cosmetic rejuvenations, and on patients with special needs, often under full sedation.

HAWAI‘I KAI TOWNE CENTER’S EXECUTIVE PLAZA BUILDING 6700 KALANIANA‘OLE HWY, SUITE 216, HONOLULU, HI 96825 (808) 955-0008 | HAWAIIPACIFICDENTAL.COM

F E B RUA RY 2 0 2 6

SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION

in Hawaiʻi

GENERAL DENTISTRY

Cecile Sebastian, D.D.S. Dr. Cecile Sebastian and her loyal team have offered comprehensive dental care for the past 30 years in the same convenient downtown Honolulu location. Dr. Sebastian and her team continue to advance their learning. She has taken them to the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Education for cosmetic and full mouth rehabilitation cases, completed a miniresidency on dental implants at Loma Linda University, and advances their training in Dental Sleep Medicine at the Vivos Institute. This allows them to deliver the most up-to-date procedures and techniques which are constantly changing. They offer everything from cosmetic dentistry to procedures that help patients re-establish proper facial structure, jaw function, optimal bite and occlusion, TMJ health and Sleep and Airway Dentistry. Dr. Sebastian helps patients who show dental signs of sleep-disordered breathing. Partnering with physicians, she utilizes oral appliances to help patients breathe and sleep better. All these many different services have earned Dr. Sebastian various awards and accolades. In addition to being named a Best Dentist in HONOLULU Magazine for the past 20 years, she has been voted the past 15 years as the first place cosmetic dentist by Honolulu Star-Advertiser readers, was chosen as the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award individual winner for Business Ethics, was named a technology leader by Pacific News Network, and was recognized at the YWCA Leader Luncheon, which honors women for the contributions they have made to their professions and their community. “Our mission is to heal our patients through individualized patient-centered care. Much time is spent creating treatment options for our patients and discussing these at consultation visits to allow them to make their best informed decisions on how we can help them,” Dr. Sebastian explains. She was recently inducted into the Pierre Fauchard Academy, an international honorary dental organization dedicated to service and leadership in dentistry and achieved Diplomate status in the American Sleep and Breathing Academy; this exemplifies professional excellence.

“Our mission is to heal our patients through individualized patient-centered care. Much time is spent creating treatment options for our patients and discussing these at consultation visits to allow them to make their best informed decisions on how we can help them.”

Staying up to date on the industry’s technological advances and keeping up with continued education has been paramount to Dr. Sebastian’s success, and she plans to keep Hawai‘i smiling for many more years to come.

1003 BISHOP ST., PAUAHI TOWER, SUITE 340, HONOLULU, HI 96813 (808) 537-2880 | SMILEINNOVATIONSHAWAII.COM SMILEINNOVATIONSHAWAII |

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

SMILEINNOVATIONSHAWAII

SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION

in Hawaiʻi

O R A L & M A X I L L O FA C I A L S U R G E R Y

David K. Hiranaka, M.D., D.M.D. Safety and customer service are the mantra at Dr. David Hiranaka’s maxillofacial, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery practice. The Harvard-trained dentist, physician, and surgeon has been serving the Hawai‘i Island community for more than 30 years, providing services to those suffering from dental and facial pathology or an aesthetic flaw. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard School of Dental Medicine and obtained his M.D. from Harvard Medical School, followed by a five-year internship residency in General Surgery and Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital and concluding with a fellowship in aesthetic facial plastic surgery at the Institute of Facial Surgery in Salt Lake City. “Helping our patients improve their lives by maximizing their facial or jaw needs is the most rewarding part of what we do,” says Dr. Hiranaka, who says oral and maxillofacial surgery can lead to life-changing improvements in patients’ lives by restoring form and function to the face and jaw areas. He stays up to date with technologic advances and incorporates minimally invasive techniques in implant dentistry and associated jaw reconstruction to create a patient experience that goes above and beyond their expectations. Certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, Dr. Hiranaka offers oral and maxillofacial services, full-scope facial cosmetic surgery and skin care procedures, using advanced technologies such as Cone Beam CT navigated dental implant surgery, endoscopic facial surgery and various treatments for facial rejuvenation. Dr. Hiranaka’s practice has maintained Joint Commission Accreditation for the past 15 years and earned recognition as a Center of Excellence for all-on-4 dental implants. He serves on the Board of Directors at Kona Community Hospital and is chair of their Quality Committee. Dr. Hiranaka is currently the director of a locally based Seattle Study Club, a nationally recognized continuing education club for dentists on the Big Island of Hawai‘i.

Serving Hawai‘i since 1994.

KONA | 76-6225 KUAKINI HIGHWAY, SUITE A102, KAILUA-KONA, HI 96740 (808) 326-2040 | DRDAVIDHIRANAKA.COM

F E B RUA RY 2 0 2 6

SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION

in Hawaiʻi

O R A L & M A X I L L O FA C I A L S U R G E R Y

Jeremy Hannon, D.M.D. Oahu Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, led by Dr. Jeremy Hannon, is proud to continue providing exceptional, compassionate surgical care to Hawai‘i’s community for more than a decade. In 2025, Dr. Hannon was honored once again as one of HONOLULU Magazine’s Best Dentists, marking his 12th consecutive year receiving this peer-selected award from the dentists of O‘ahu. Recognized by top dental and medical professionals across the state, Dr. Hannon is sought after for expertise in full-scope Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, with specialty focus on wisdom teeth, dental implants, same-day implant procedures, bone grafting, and complex dentoalveolar surgery. His philosophy blends clinical excellence with a commitment to making every patient feel informed, safe, and supported throughout the entire surgical experience. Understanding that surgery can be overwhelming, Dr. Hannon and his experienced team guide patients through every step—from diagnosis and treatment planning to recovery—with clear communication and compassionate care. Their mission is simple: provide outstanding surgical outcomes while treating every patient like ‘ohana. The practice’s investment in state-of-the-art technology enhances comfort and precision, including Carestream 3D CBCT imaging, X-GUIDE dynamic navigation by X-Nav, the 3Shape TRIOS scanner, and SprintRay 3D printing, creating a fully modern, digitally optimized workflow to ensure predictable, efficient results. At Oahu Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, excellence is not just a standard—it’s a promise to the people of Hawai‘i.

“Dr. Hannon, having never met him but heard only positive feedback, has wiped away all anxiety I had of oral surgeons. I was very impressed by his ability to reassure me. Communication was excellent before, during and after procedure. I even received a follow-up call from Dr. Hannon himself to make sure I was OK.” - PATIENT REVIEW POSTED ON

45-1144 KAMEHAMEHA HWY., SUITE 301, KᾹNE‘OHE, HI 96744 | (808) 230-8000 1441 KAPI‘OLANI BLVD., SUITE 920, HONOLULU, HI 96814 | (808) 973-3700 OAHUORALSURGERY.COM

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SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION

in Hawaiʻi

O R A L & M A X I L L O FA C I A L S U R G E R Y

Todd Haruki, D.D.S., M.D.

Neil Oishi, D.D.S., M.D.

Since establishing Pacific Maxillofacial Center in 1999, Dr. Haruki has collaborated with Hawaii’s top dentists and physicians to enhance patients’ oral health and overall wellness. A Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Fellow of the American Dental Society of Anesthesiologists, Dr. Haruki specializes in dental implants, wisdom teeth extractions, and procedures under IV anesthesia. Renowned for excellence in dental implant surgery, Pacific Maxillofacial Center is recognized by X-Nav Technologies as one of Hawai‘i’s few Centers of Excellence for guided implant surgery. Dr. Haruki attributes this success to his exceptional team, whose shared passion and commitment ensure the delivery of outstanding specialty care.

Dr. Oishi is a board-certified, dual-degree oral and maxillofacial surgeon. After graduating from Punahou School, he earned his dental degree from the University of Southern California, where he graduated in the top 10% of his class. He went on to obtain his medical degree and complete his oral and maxillofacial surgery residency at the University of Florida. As a partner of Pacific Maxillofacial Center, Dr. Oishi focuses on wisdom teeth removal, dental implant placement and bone grafting procedures. His clinics, honored by X-Nav Technologies as Centers of Excellence, continue to incorporate the latest techniques and technologies to provide better outcomes and a more comfortable patient experience.

MAIN OFFICE | 1060 YOUNG STREET, SUITE 312 HONOLULU, HI 96814 | (808) 585-8455

WAIPIO OFFICE | 94-1221 K A UK A BOULEVARD, SUITE B204 WAIPAHU, HI 96797 | (808) 676-9560

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SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION

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PERIODONTICS

GENERAL DENTISTRY

Gregg T. Uyeda, D.D.S., M.S.

Kevin K. L. Ching, D.D.S.

Dr. Uyeda has practiced Periodontics & Implants in Hawai‘i for over 34 years and has enjoyed every moment of it. “My colleagues and their staff have become like family to my staff and me. We really enjoy hearing from them, whether the call is regarding their patients or just to talk story. Their patient referrals remind us to be thankful for the confidence they have in us as we strive to establish a good relationship with all patients and improve their periodontal and implant health and confidence.” With three years of practice at the Ala Moana Building in our rear view mirror, we thank you for taking that ride with us. Together, let’s move forward with the exciting journey of Dentistry and life. “Congratulations to all 2026 Best Dentists and MAHALO to my colleagues for the honor and privilege of being selected again this year.”

I am honored to be recognized this year in the HONOLULU Magazine’s Best Dentist edition. Our office has had the pleasure of taking care of our patients since 1981 and it is very humbling to have them trust our office for their needs. All of our patients are considered our honored friends and we treat them like that, it’s the ‘ohana spirit that is an integral part of our philosophy, treat everyone like we would want to be treated ourselves. We believe that a beautiful smile begins with healthy teeth and gums. Science has shown that a healthy mouth is a vital part of your overall health, so we take your dental care seriously. It is never too late to start taking better care of yourself. We welcome our great friends back to our office and look forward to seeing new friends in the future.

GREGG T. UYEDA, D.D.S., M.S. | PERIODONTICS & IMPLANTS 1441 K API‘OLANI BOULEVARD, SUITE 800 HONOLULU, HI 96814 | (808) 533-7200

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HAWAII GENERAL DENTIST

ALA MOANA BUILDING 1441 K API‘OLANI BLVD., #408 HONOLULU, HI 96814 | (808) 946-0442 HAWAIIGENERALDENTIST.COM

SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION

in Hawaiʻi

PERIODONTICS

Lyndon D. Fong, D.D.S., M.S.

Nicholas J. Fujii, D.D.S.

I am deeply grateful to my colleagues and long-standing staff for their support in providing personalized, exceptional patient care. I personally guide patients through their diagnoses and treatment options, ensuring their referring dentists are always informed. Our practice stays at the forefront of innovation with advanced technology, including Cone Beam (3D) imaging, digital scanning, 3D printing, laser-assisted surgeries, Piezo-electric surgical procedures, and tools for cancer diagnostics, tissue regeneration, and esthetic surgeries. As an international lecturer and Associate Professor at the University of Hawai‘i Dental Hygiene Program, I am honored to share knowledge and contribute to advancing dental education.

Born and raised on O‘ahu, I graduated from Hawai‘i Baptist Academy in 2004, followed by the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa in 2009. I received my dental degree from the University of Missouri–Kansas City in 2013 and was given the opportunity to further my studies there in Periodontics through 2015. Deciding to establish ‘Aiea as my sole location was challenging but will allow me to continue to work with colleagues in providing the best dental care possible for this community. I greatly appreciate the team at the ‘Aiea location and their efforts in helping me provide periodontal and implant care for the community. I am thankful for the continued support and referrals from colleagues who put their trust in me to provide periodontal care for their patients. By working together, we can offer the best dental care possible for this community. We are grateful that the healthy smiles our knowledge and skill have created instill self-confidence in our patients’ lives.

NICHOLAS J. FUJII, D.D.S., INC. THE MEDICAL ARTS BUILDING, 1010 SOUTH KING ST. SUITE 503 HONOLULU, HI 96814 | (808) 947-3333 | HAWPIA.COM

PERIODONTICS & DENTAL IMPLANTS 98-211 PALI MOMI ST., SUITE 710, ‘AIEA (808) 427-9989

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eleven17creative.com | @eleven17creative

C ON TE N T B R AN D IN G STR ATEGY E X PE RIE N TIAL

STORIES of HAWAI‘I by HAWAI‘I

‘Ono FOOD AND DRINK

Will Restaurants Ever Be the Same? Reduced hours, higher prices, QR codes and a shift toward small, casual concepts: Our dining scene is in flux. Ten longtime restaurateurs tell us what’s happening. BY M A R I TA K E TA PHOTOS BY A ARON K. YOSHINO ILLU STR ATI O N S BY CHR I STIN E L A B R A D O R

 Roy Yamaguchi at his flagship restaurant in Hawai‘i Kai

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‘ONO

ASON PEEL OPENED HIS MODERN IZAK AYA after 25 years of working for and opening other chefs’

restaurants. In three years, Nami Kaze garnered two James Beard Award nominations and a Hale ‘Aina award for best new restaurant of 2023. Last fall, after an okazuya spinoff failed and lease renegotiations fell through, Peel closed it for good. But there were other issues at play. “I know how tough the industry is. People just don’t want to work for it anymore,” he told us at the time. “There’s a lot of good ones, don’t get me wrong, but there’s a lack of passion and loyalty and accountability.” Peel’s candor caught the industry’s attention. He voiced just one aspect of a dining scene in turmoil. Not that other industries are immune. But we all eat, and whether we gather at restaurants for celebrations, club meetings, pau hana with coworkers or just because we’re hungry, fundamental shifts have touched virtually all. Are restaurants at an inflection point? Will they ever be the same? We talked to veteran restaurateurs from Zippy’s to Roy’s, Moké’s Bread and Breakfast to a high-end pop-up—here’s what they told us, edited only for brevity.

“Who’s Gonna Take Over?” JASON PEEL

Diamond Head Market & Grill, Kapahulu (formerly Nami Kaze, Iwilei) Chef Jason Peel closed his 100-seat restaurant in October. He resurfaced in the kitchen of Diamond Head Market & Grill, where he launched an okazuya pop-up in December and planned to start a supper club.

The biggest thing I’ve been talking to people about is who’s gonna take over? As our generation gets older, who’s gonna sustain the industry? We’ve kind of lost that—I don’t know if it’s the passion or what, but we’ve lost the accountability. I say that a lot, but do your job. If you get scolded, it’s sad when you don’t try to get better. If you don’t know a wine on the menu, maybe you should learn it. If you don’t know a word on the menu, maybe you should look it up. I still want to support local, but maybe it’s in a different way, and that’s what I’m transitioning to. I’m not sure I have the right answer now. Hopefully a lot of people can chime in and help Hawai‘i change, to help small businesses stay alive and keep Hawai‘i Hawai‘i. I’m ready for another journey. I love the industry. I love Hawai‘i. I’m gonna push. Gotta make sure I’m doing it for the right reasons and the right people. 58

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DANNY KA‘AIALI‘I

The Daley Burger and Pizza Mamo, Chinatown; Onda Pasta & Provisions, Kaimukī

“Everyone Wants the Uber Driver Schedule” Danny Ka‘aiali‘i and business partner Jonny Vasquez won the Hale ‘Aina Restaurateurs of the Year distinction in 2021 for their successes with tightly focused craft concepts.

The workforce now is completely different. Everyone wants the Uber driver schedule. They want to work when they want to work. You roll out of bed at 2 p.m. on a Saturday, and you were supposed to hang out with somebody, they canceled, so you go drive Uber. There is deﬁnitely a portion of the workforce that that’s how they think, and they take that attitude into more traditional jobs. It’s really crazy. I think you’re gonna see more focus and specialization. The model that really works well for us is the Daley Burger because it’s so focused. We do one or two things really well. I think you’re gonna see a lot of concepts really trim back their menu. The service model is going to be changing in a lot of places. At Pizza Mamo, we’re contemplating having QR codes on the tables. You’re gonna see a lot more fast casual models, kiosks, even robots in place of a server.

‘ONO

Old-school in a changing world: Ross Shigeoka at the machine where he makes fresh saimin noodles daily

“Give Them the Respect” ROSS SHIGEOKA

Shige’s Saimin Stand, Wahiawā Ross Shigeoka opened his modest restaurant in homage to his grandparents’ saimin stand. Still old-school 36 years later, Shige’s is one of Wahiawā’s longest-running eateries.

The cost of employment, ours doubled. How you going retain your old-timers? When you look at this kind of small mom-and-pop, how you gonna survive? We doing it because we got cheaper rent, our food products is not as expensive, and I make my own noodles every morning. We really didn’t get slammed by ups and downs. It’s been steady, even during COVID. Regulars would come, open the back of their truck, put up their umbrella and beach chair and sit there eating their regular—saimin and one burger or one plate. I tell you, success of any business is personality. You don’t have that personality, you going fail. You know everybody’s faults, everybody puts up with it. So you coach it, not come down on it. Anybody can get fed up. It’s a different way how you speak to people. Give them the respect and hopefully it will come back. No matter how hard it is with each individual, stay positive. Look at their high points. Always on time or something. Praise them on their hair. Nah.

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‘ONO

Cheryl DeAngelo in the dining room of Side Street Inn’s ‘Ewa Beach location, opened just last summer

“We’re Gonna Figure It Out” CHERYL DEANGELO

Side Street Inn, Ala Moana and Kapahulu; Hali‘a by Side Street Inn, ‘Ewa Beach Cheryl DeAngelo started out as a bartender at Colin Nishida’s Side Street Inn 32 years ago. After Nishida’s death in 2018, she and business partner Lisa Meyer took over; they expanded to ‘Ewa Beach in 2025. DeAngelo hopes to open more locations— in Japan.

I wouldn’t open up another restaurant now; it really is difficult. If Side Street didn’t have its name for over 30 years, we wouldn’t have opened Hali‘a. We feel blessed to be out here with really good people. At the same time, it’s getting harder and harder to get people in the seats Monday, Tuesday. We have to be more creative. What special event, what special dinner? I don’t know what it is, but I ﬁnd myself thinking what else can we do? It’s starting to feel like it’s a permanent shift. I don’t know if it’s because of the government shutdown. It feels different. You just have to know when to pivot. We just have to survive. This is all we do. We do restaurants. So we’re gonna ﬁgure it out.

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

COLIN HAZAMA C4 Table

“There’s No Turning Back” Colin Hazama left his job as executive chef at The Royal Hawaiian hotel during the pandemic. He now caters upscale private events and has weekly pop-ups at Fishcake. He plans to open a modern okazuya this summer.

People always ask how come I never went back to the hotel. I had ﬁve different venues, the restaurants and catering and banquets. It would be easy and comfortable, going back to the hotel, but it was time to step out of the box, and there’s no turning back. I love being able to do the kind of things I want to do. I talk to other chefs, and they tell me you have to always be true to your style and niche and keep that consistency for the legacy to keep going. It’s about having that passion for the industry—being smart about it, keeping up with what’s going on, knowing how to deal with social media, understanding the trends.

‘ONO

Yeah it’s always going to be challenging to get staff, but we all have to eat, and all these chains from the mainland and Asia have been taking away our traditional cuisine. I think our ﬂavors and our cultural style of cuisine will maintain its integrity. But moving on, things will change.

“I Have a Lot of Hope” MICHAEL MILLER Tiki’s Grill & Bar, Waikīkī

“How Do You Get People to Care More?” KEOLA WARREN

Moké’s Bread and Breakfast, Kailua and Kaimukī Keola Warren worked at his parents’ brunch restaurants for decades and took over last year when they retired. He plans to open a beer bar next to Moké’s Kaimukī this spring.

A lot’s changed from COVID, and I don’t think our industry can or will rebound for quite a while. The mentality of an employee has significantly changed in the last five to 10 years. There’s a shift generationally as far as work ethic, work-life balance, what a business should provide to an employee, and what an employee has an obligation to provide to a business. Finding people who are as passionate and dedicated as we need them to be is quite challenging. Can we work with and harness the younger generation and maintain the standards that we’ve always held ourselves to? How do you get people to care more? Most of my friends in the business are front-of-house guys who came up serving, bartending, things like that. We’ve all had to train and become skilled in back-of-the-house just to keep the doors open. Somebody calls out, line cook calls out. We can’t operate one person down. So in order to keep our two restaurants operating, I’ve pretty much removed myself from the schedule and keep myself as an on-call manager that can fill in any gap. Being flexible and able to do multiple jobs seems like the only way to make sure everything is getting done. And in Kaimukī, some businesses that do very well have strong social media presences. That’s a tool they harness to keep eyes on their business and keep people remembering to come in and visit. We need to improve ours, to be honest.

Michael Miller has worked at Tiki’s for more than two decades and co-owned it since 2018. Last April, the restaurant expanded into Japan with the opening of Tiki’s Tokyo.

It’s easy to have a franchise restaurant or mainland-based restaurant—Hawai‘i people love them. But what ends up happening is all the money and the high-paying jobs—head of ﬁnance, head of marketing, head of operations—leave the state, and maybe the highest paid job is the GM or exec chef, if even that. If people really knew who the true local operators are, whose kids are going to the same schools and playing sports with them, that’s the amazing thing to understand. Supporting local restaurants means that. Jason [Peel] is a clear example. He shows up at charity events and cooks, just like we do at Tiki’s and so many other restaurants, 10 to 20 charity events a year to help out. Those support the community. In turn, the hope is that people go and support the restaurant. I have a lot of hope. What we do well in Hawai‘i is community. But I think the opportunity for our elected officials to help our restaurant industry is really to get out of the way. Don’t create new legislation. What legislation can you get rid of that can make it easier for someone in business to succeed? We see people at the best times of their lives. We see them for birthdays, graduations. After 22 years at Tiki’s I see people that got married here and now their kids are graduating from high school or even college. It’s a fun, fun thing. Even at celebrations of life, people are still getting together and enjoying each other’s company, and that’s what’s neat about the industry.

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‘ONO

JASON HIGA Zippy’s

“Be Open to Changes” CEO Jason Higa’s father and uncle opened Zippy’s in 1966 and quickly expanded, a strategy that helped the chain survive and retain employees—until the pandemic, when many in that core older group retired. Today, Zippy’s has 22 restaurants in Hawai‘i, four in Las Vegas and one more opening there. It’s operating with a shrunken workforce and a diminishing local population at home.

At this point we’ve come to near-saturation in Hawai‘i, so if we wanted to double the size of our company, we could only do it by expanding to the continent. The exodus of residents has created a customer base for us there. That’s the reality, that people can’t afford to live in Hawai‘i anymore. The Hawaiian Council is holding their conventions in Las Vegas, and they just had one in Seattle. The whole concept of Hawai‘i being broader than our shorelines is something that many within the community are embracing. We decided to reduce hours, reduce our labor force and reduce our menu items by 20%. We’ve also brought in food lockers. We’re gonna have ordering kiosks. For dine-in, a server will have a tablet and can take your order and process your payment at the table. We hired in-house technology and marketing teams, and we are now taking greater control over our technology platforms. We worked with a third party to develop an ordering app that we control. In the near future you can go on your phone, bring up Siri or Alexa, just say, “Hey, I want to place an order for two Zip Pacs and two apple Napples at Zippy’s Makiki, and I would like to pick it up at 6 p.m., and you can use my Hawaiian Airlines credit card.” And just like that, your order will be waiting for you. That’s all AI. AI is pretty much already here—that’s gonna have another signiﬁcant impact. McDonald’s and the larger national brands, they’re going all in with technology. We understand that we need to keep up. When you talk about a mom-and-pop, that’s probably impossible in terms of expense. You really have to be open to changes. That’s the one thing that I think my father and uncle instilled—don’t do things the same way.

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

“That’s Their Passion” SHERYL MATSUOKA Hawai‘i Restaurant Association

Sheryl Matsuoka, HRA’s longtime executive director and co-owner of Rainbow Drive-In Kalihi, comes from a restaurant family. Different relatives owned Little George’s, Pearl City Tavern, Club Hubba Hubba and Ginza restaurant in Downtown Honolulu.

Times have changed. They’re not changing, they have changed. With that, you have to be agile and you have to adapt. Technology is gonna help restaurants. The mom-and-pops, I get it, some of them are not comfortable using computers. I tell them, “Please ask your nephew or someone you trust. Technology is gonna make your business more efficient— whether it’s inventory so there’s not wastage or seeing what your top sellers are. The days of pencil and paper are gone. It’s gonna be worth it to make that person part of your team so you can be more efficient.” We still have restaurants opening, because for restaurateurs, that’s their passion—the hospitality, seeing people come in and have their celebrations in their restaurants. But now they’re gonna open with eyes wide open because they know it’s tougher to get that workforce in there. But they will continue, guaranteed.

ROY YAMAGUCHI Roy’s Restaurants Hawai‘i

“Navigate for 10 Years Down the Line” A visionary behind Hawai‘i Regional Cuisine, chef-founder of Roy’s Restaurants, founding cochair of the Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival and pro bono executive director of the Culinary Institute of the Pacific at Diamond Head, Roy Yamaguchi is one of the most recognized culinary leaders in the country. He opened his first Roy’s in Hawai‘i Kai in 1988.

‘ONO

Roy Yamaguchi at Roy’s Hawai‘i Kai: After 38 years, “We fight for our business to be successful on a day-to-day basis.”

Our industry, especially, is made out of things like communication, leadership, followers, teamwork, problem solving, critical thinking. Especially if you’re a leader, you have to be a listener, people have to follow you, you need to have answers, and you need to be able to communicate. That part of what we do as humans, how we bond with each other in a restaurant, those things may have diminished over the years. It’s a generational change and that’s a big part of it. But we all have to own it and try and figure out how we can make the best of it. At the end of the day, we can’t just say that’s just the way it is. If that’s it, then we’re all sunk. Will restaurants ever be the same? Probably not. But to me it’s probably a good thing. When we went through COVID, we couldn’t be status quo because if we were, we wouldn’t survive. Do we want to be in that position? No, but it makes you think about what you’re doing day to day and focus on the future. You have to navigate for 10 years down the line.

Sometimes we have to be less emotional and really think about what we need to do individually and as a team for the future. That’s when problem solving, critical thinking, communication, teamwork all come into play. People’s mindset has to change and adapt to what’s happening at the moment and how you’re gonna maneuver for the future. We’ve been here [in Hawai‘i Kai] 38 years, and it’s not a slam dunk. We fight for our business to be successful on a day-to-day basis, based on every customer that walks through the door. We do our best to gain their trust so they’ll come back. You would think after 38 years it would be easy, but it’s not easy. The original Roy’s, it was unbelievable how much support we got from our local community. They wanted to make sure we survived, and we’re very appreciative. Think about a community. When things go wrong, who do people call? They call a restaurant and say, “Hey, can you help with a fundraiser?” Hopefully people will look at restaurants differently after this article and see we’re here to take care of our guests and take care of our community. That’s our passion— create memories for people and make our communities stronger.

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AFTERTHOUGHTS

BY D ON WALL ACE

Kouign of Hearts I only indulged in the kouign amann while in Brittany, France, where it originated—until I tasted a local version that kicked it to the curb.

learned to delay gratification. (Don’t ask her about that.) For instance, I know a mediocre pastry eaten impulsively diminishes my appreciation for its kin. So I can deny myself Krispy Kreme forever and hold out for Liliha Bakery poi doughnuts. This is adulthood as practiced in Honolulu. You can extrap‑ olate an entire code from it, too, so no, we will never order poke in Chicago or Paris. And not from half the places in Honolulu, either. It’s a moral stance. But now I have to say I just met my moral pastry match. Every other year or so we go to Brittany, France’s Big Sur-like fairy‑ land of cliffs, beaches, lush green meadows, cows and goats. There I met my pastry queen—the kouign amann—after bicycling 40 minutes on a three-speed steed to town for provisions. In that grim winter of 1981 it was the only sweet available, a golden extrusion of sugar-crusted dough that resembled the Breton triskell symbol, which can be a knot, a pattern on a fisherman’s sweater, a tattoo or a metal band’s logo. It symbolizes family. Like Hawai‘i, Brittany has its own language, a separatist culture, and in kouign amann, created in the 1860s in Douarnenez, its own malasada. That’s why I was astounded in 2013 when I saw what looked like a kouign amann at the La Tour Bakehouse stand at the KCC Farmers Market. And, I have to admit, I was offended—between bites. It was just OK, so I stopped. But within months kouign amann went global. Every bakery had one, or dozens, in multiple flavors, colors, permutations. This honest peasant delight had become just another fad. I never gave in. I stood by my kouign, only having it on Belle‑Île, the island where we stay. But in the past decade the local kouign lost her luster, became a bit slack around the middle, a bit bready. This year I didn’t have any, deciding Le Trend had diluted her DNA. And then, on my return from Brittany, I again 64

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saw one at KCC, took it home, microwaved it for 25 seconds, then another 10, cut it open and—My god, this thing is drooling! Eat it quickly! It was incredible. And, truth be told, it kicked my Belle‑Île kouign to the curb. It seemed that while she was yielding to creeping complacency, La Tour’s had unlocked the code. So I called Rodney Weddle, La Tour’s executive pastry chef. He started by crediting an ex-pat Breton, pastry chef Michel Suas. “I go to his San Francisco Baking Institute every year, take a bread course,” Weddle said. “In February of 2013 I had my first kouign amann at Michel’s B. Patisserie. My wife and I looked at each other and said, ‘My gosh, what is this thing?’ Soon as I got back to Hawai‘i I started testing and researching. So we were definitely the first to bring it in, but Michel’s was the inspiration for me.” Weddle’s is the result of nonstop tinkering while never deviating from the base elements. “I use a different ratio of bread flour and pastry flour, an 80/20 blend,” he said. “It gives a nice texture, not too chewy but still crispy and flaky. For butter I use Plugra 82% butterfat. It’s basically a croissant dough, then you laminate sugar in between at a ratio of 45% butter to 45% sugar.” And the drooling I saw? “That’s a gel where the butter and sugar meet,” he confirmed. “That’s what I’m looking for, that’s the best part. It’s almost a haupia gel. That’s what I love.” How does it compare to ones in Brittany? “I’ve never been to France,” he laughed. This gave me pause, because if haupia gel can improve kouign amann, we’re all on notice not to take our cultural inheritances for granted. Though I’ll still never have poke in Paris. AARON K. YOSHINO

LIKE PASTRIES. A lot. My wife says too much, but I’ve

Don Wallace is HONOLULU’s contributing editor and the author of The French House: An American Family, a Ruined Maison, and the Village that Restored Them All.

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