HM February 2022

2022 BEST DENTISTS

SOUR POI AWARDS: THE BEST OF THE WORST // SIPPING THE $30 COCKTAIL // HONOLULU’S ICONIC SIGNS

The pandemic, labor shortages and shipping delays have taken the brunt of the blame. But what if our recent price surge never goes back down?

LOCALLY OWNED SINCE 1888

34 The Higher Cost of Paradise

Will it end—or end up ruining Hawai‘i?

by don wallace

40 The 2021 Sour Poi Awards

We look at the loathsome, laughable and loopy news you may have missed.

by robbie dingeman

46 Signs of Honolulu

From the dazzling marquee of historic Hawai‘i Theatre and the naughty neon of Club Hubba Hubba, to bustling Leonard’s Bakery and nowclosed Like Like Drive Inn, iconic signs serve as beacons of our community. But they can disappear in a blink.

by robbie dingeman

54 Best Dentists 2022

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.

This uni and potato dish is a highlight at one of Honolulu’s newest bars, which took three years to open. Find out where to get it, page 99.

Two bars debut, delivering some of Honolulu’s most luxurious and creative experiences—but are they worth the price tag?

by martha cheng

We’ll

After

katrina valcourt

HAWAI‘I OF TOMORROW

Page 28

➸ Hawaiian Electric presents a look at what the experts in design, transportation, agriculture and energy see for the Hawai‘i of 2050.

Page 67

Learn more about some of the professionals who earned the title of Hawai‘i’s Best Dentists.

Design: James Nakamura

KAILUA  |  $1,995,000 FS

Spacious 4BR/3BA Manawili Estates home. New vinyl plank flooring, remodeled kitchen & fireplace. Garage converted to separate living space.

Joan Graham (R) 808.228.8444 | RB-18516

Patrick T. Graham (R) 808.387.2942 | RB-21285

HONOLULU  |  $1,500,000 FS

2br/2ba w/breathtaking ocean & city views, floor-to-ceiling windows, central A/C & engineered hardwood flooring come with this Kakaako condo.

John Gephart (R) 808.203.7424 john.gephart@cbrealty.com | RB-23240

HONOLULU  |  $1,322,000 FS

Stunning 3BR/2.5BA Laulima home. Fully fenced. Kitchen & baths w/porcelain tile & quartz counters. Primary suite w/cathedral ceilings & LVP floors.

Kim Bardon (RA) 808.330.1376 kimb@cbpacific.com | RS-79918

KANEOHE  |  $1,148,000 FS

Impeccably maintained single level Pikoiloa 5BR/2BA home. Sizable yards. 30 owned PV panels + 3 solar hot water panels. New flooring, fresh interior paint, new washer. Gorgeous mountain views.

Nancy Nino (RA) 808.347.4747 nancyn@cbpacific.com | RS-78826

AIEA  |  $405,000 FS

Breezy, cool and rarely available! The Park at Pearlridge is the most desired condo in the Pearlridge neighborhood and so is the “A” building.

Maila Gibson-Bandmann (RA) 808.295.4494 maila.gibson@cbrealty.com | RS-68821

HONOLULU  |  $325,000 FS

This gorgeously renovated 1br/1ba condo in Honolulu is in an excellent condition! Ideally located, enjoy being close to bus stops, shopping and more!

Johnson Mukaida (RA) 808.282.7107 | RS-77546

Monalisa Sabo (RA) 808.782.6330 | RS-58453

KAILUA  |  $3,500,000 FS

Enjoy this amazing single level beachside estate with grand pool and large covered lanai with access to world famous Kailua beach.

Lisa Haeringer (R) & Malia Kakos, JD (RA) 927.7177 | 741.8292 lisah@cbpacific.com | maliak@cbpacific.com | RB-20517 | RS-74485

HONOLULU  |  $1,599,000 FS

7br/6ba beautiful, well-maintained home. Main house has 3br/2ba and wet bar. 2-story addition has 4br/4ba w/kitchen & living room.

Gina Rose B. Tamboa (RA) 808.429.5634 ginat@cbrealty.com | RS-72198

KAILUA  |  $2,500,000 FS

4bd/4ba w/2nd story loft, den/home office & bonus rec. room w/wet bar. Outside has a lanai & garden with Mango & Avocado trees.

Blaise Lambert Smith (RA) 808.372.7934 blaise.smith@cbrealty.com | RS-82804

HONOLULU  |  $1,485,000 FS

2br/2ba w/sunset, ocean, harbor & city views from large lanai. Features include Viking appliances & engineered hardwood flooring.

Marisa Tanaka (RA) 808.281.2981 marisa.tanaka@cbrealty.com | RS-79865

KAPOLEI  |  $1,399,000 FS

Beautiful 7BR/5BA tri-level w/multi-generational living opportunity. Living areas, wet bar, kitchen, lanai & rooftop deck.

Eva Robello (R) 808.754.3999 | RB-20995 Kimberly Miller (RA) 808.343.6322 | RS-79451

HONOLULU  |  $1,200,000 FS

Charming 5BR/3BA home nestled at the beginning of lush Pauoa Valley. It features 3,100 sq ft of interior space & 3 parking spots.

Marjorie Huynh (RA) 808.398.1663 | RS-75558 Khai Tran (RA) 808.392.8822 | RS-67959

HONOLULU  |  $1,200,000 FS

Charming 1917 vintage 5BR/2BA home. Huge front porch. Large front & back yards. Great location!

MLS #202125326

Sunny Lee-Oshiro (RA) 808.368.3699 sunny.leeoshiro@cbpacific.com | RS-68661

HONOLULU  |  $969,000 FS

Charming vintage 3BR/1BA single-level home looking for new owner! Cool, quiet neighborhood conveniently located in town-a rare find!

Laurie Chang Murphy (RA) 808.349.8787 lauriem@cbrealty.com | RS-65720

MILILANI  |  $875,000 FS

Move into this wonderful single-story level lot home with new luxury vinyl plank flooring, expanded kitchen & recessed lighting.

John M. Kagimoto (RA) 808.384.7197 john.kagimoto@cbrealty.com | RS-57973

EWA BEACH  |  $975,000 FS

Single-level 3BR/2BA oceanfront home. Enjoy direct access to the beach right from your backdoor! Make this your forever getaway.

Grant Gomes (RA) 808.391.8092 grant.gomes@cbrealty.com | RS-79486

HONOLULU  |  $959,000 FS

3br/1.5ba w/fabulous views & outdoor area for gardening. Close to many schools, shopping centers down the road, restaurants & more.

Sunny Lee-Oshiro (RA) 808.368.3699 sunny.leeoshiro@cbpacific.com | RS-68661

EWA BEACH  |  $795,000 FS

Single-level home w/4BR/2BA + bonus room. Renovated kitchen & bath, fresh paint. New vinyl plank flooring. Covered back patio.

Roselyn T. Galapon (RA) 808.349.8373 roselyng@cbrealty.com | RS-56440

EWA

BEACH  |  $880,000 FS

Welcome to this one-of-a-kind Leeward Estate with a 3br/2.5ba main house and a 2br/1ba two-story addition at the back with ADU!

Gina Rose B. Tamboa (RA) 808.429.5634 | ginat@cbrealty.com

RS-72198

WAIANAE  |  $788,000 FS

8 bedroom, 4 bath beautiful and spacious tri-level home in Pokai Bay Estates with a permitted ADU in the back of the house.

Cora Agliam (RA)

808.780.7226 | coraa@cbrealty.com

RS-71106

EWA BEACH  |  $720,000 FS

Corner home w/3BR/2.5BA 3 PKG in Montecito/Tuscany. Fenced yard. Open concept floorplan. Central A/C, leased PV panels. Pool.

Shaun G. Fergueson (R)

808.397.8361 | shaunf@cbpacific.com

RB-23087

WAIANAE  |  $698,000 FS

Modern 3BR/2.5BA home offering the luxury of newer features with no maintenance fees. Great large yard with tons of space!

Ashley Chandler (RA) 808.306.1515 | ashley.chandler@cbrealty.com

RS-75109

EWA BEACH  |  $689,000 FS

3BR/2.5BA corner end unit at Fairways Edge w/private front yard, 2-car garage, AC, a bonus loft with a built-in desk & more!

Jessica Carmona (RA) 786.371.6623 | jessica.carmona@cbpacific.com

RS-82949

PEARL CITY  |  $648,800 FS

3br/2ba fabulous unit w/2 parking stalls in Waiau Gardens Kai B. Offers kitchen w/dining area, eating nook & appliances.

Veronica Ohana Jakovac (R) 808.258.5008 | veronicaj@cbrealty.com

RB-18618

HONOLULU  |  $595,000 FS

2br/2ba unit in Holomua features window A/Cs, ceiling fans, solar blinds, washer/dryer, a covered parking stall & pet friendly.

Donna J. Fujie (RA)

808.291.5868 | dfujie@cbpacific.com

RS-73239

WAIANAE  |  $589,000 FS

Charming 3 bedroom, 2 bath home on a cul-de-sac with an open floor plan, large fenced yard and views of Waianae Mountains.

Vlad Timoshchik (RA)

808.352.4101 | vladhawaii@gmail.com

RS-79235

PEARL CITY  |  $550,000 FS

Clean & bright 3BR/1.5BA home in a cul de sac. It features new paint, light fixtures, new LVP flooring, new carpet & a lush lanai.

John M. Kagimoto (RA) 808.384.7197 | john.kagimoto@cbrealty.com

RS-57973

WAIANAE  |  $499,000 FS

3br/2ba w/open floor plan & updated including bathrooms, laminate flooring & fresh paint. Close to community park & Maili Beach.

Angela Rezentes (RA) 808.344.4623 | angela.rezentes@cbrealty.com

RS-82543

HONOLULU  |  $485,000 FS

Beautiful marina and ocean views from this corner unit Harbor View Plaza condo. 1 uncovered parking space and a storage room.

Edgar Cervantes (RA) 808.800.1757 | edgar.cervantes@cbrealty.com

RS-82516

EWA BEACH  |  $448,000 FS

2br/1.5ba corner unit with 2 parking stalls. New luxury vinyl flooring, updated kitchen, & fresh paint. *Photo is virtually staged.

Ruby Gagarin (RA) 415.580.0636 | ruby.gagarin@cbrealty.com

RS-74838

HONOLULU  |  $445,000 FS

2BR/2BA unit w/upgraded flooring, kitchen, bath & fresh paint. Great views from lanai. Extra storage, covered parking & pool.

Jason Paulo (RA) 808.384.6959 | jason.paulo@cbrealty.com

RS-79872

HONOLULU  |  Price Upon

Request FS

Spacious 1 bedroom with walk-in closet, large open kitchen, lanai and covered parking. Pool, BBQs and party room. Great location!

Melisa Ampornpun (RA) 808.259.1705 | melisaa@cbrealty.com

RS-75456

HONOLULU  |  $349,000 FS

Pet friendly 1BD 1PKG penthouse on the Ala Wai Canal with spectacular views & convenience to shops, restaurants & beaches!

John Peterson (R)

808.220.5555 | John@ResidenceHawaii.com

RB-12469

EWA BEACH  |  $345,000 FS

1br/1ba townhouse w/courtyard in Sun Rise w/newer flooring, refrigerator, microwave, blinds, freshly painted & pet friendly.

Ken K. Kawamoto (RA) 808.230.7295 | kenk@cbpacific.com

RS-74928

RE FRESH YOUR WORK OUT

Level up your strength, flexibility, and mood at Sweat+Soul.

Guided, head-to-toe conditioning that’s surprisingly challenging and perfectly balanced.

Move well and feel good. You’ll see lasting results. This is the healthy escape you need.

“I’m Too Sexy” by Right Said Fred. If I never hear a karaoke singer belt out this mindlessly repetitive tune again, the world will be a better place.

For inquiries, contact our circulation department:

Phone: (808) 534-7520

Email: circulation@pacificbasin.net

Publisher: Scott Schumaker (808) 534-7541 | scotts@pacificbasin.net

editorial Editorial Director

Christi Young | (808) 534-7105 christiy@honolulumagazine.com

Managing Editor

Katrina Valcourt

Editor at Large

Robbie Dingeman

Food & Dining Editor

Martha Cheng

Digital Dining Managing Editor

Mari Taketa

Digital Dining Editor

Maria Burke

Contributing Dining Editor

Thomas Obungen

Managing Style Editor

Brie Thalmann

Senior Style Editor

WE ASKED OUR STAFF

“What’s the worst song ever? ”

design

Creative Director

James Nakamura | (808) 534-7151 jnakamura@honolulumagazine.com

Senior Art Director

Christine Labrador

Art Director

Kayla Rivera

marketing

Marketing Director Christy Davis | (808) 534-7503 christyd@honolulumagazine.com

Branded Content Creator Marisa Heung | (808) 534-7152 marisah@honolulumagazine.com

web

I’m terrified to say because it will live in your head rent-free, but I know the whole world agrees it’s “Baby Shark.”

Stacey Makiya

Contributing Editor

Don Wallace

Copy Editor

Elroy Garcia

Contributors

Chris Danger

Olivier Koning

Timothy A. Schuler advertising

Associate Publisher/Advertising Director

Donna Kodama-Yee | (808) 534-7501 donnaky@honolulumagazine.com

Strategic Partnerships

Michelle Stofle | (808) 534-7532 michelles@honolulumagazine.com

Advertising Executives

Donnie Ford | (808) 534-7131 donnief@honolulumagazine.com

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Advertising Project Manager Pui-Heng Tang | (808) 534-7147 puiheng@honolulumagazine.com

KAHALA 4618 Kilauea Ave. (808) 773-7600

sweatandsoul.studio/kahala

KAKAAKO 522 Keawe St. (808) 593-8384

sweatandsoul.studio/kakaako

BOOK A CLASS: sweatandsoulstudio.com

“Chandelier” by Sia. “1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3 … I’m gonna swing from the chandelier …” Pretty deep stuff.

Digital Editorial Specialist Katie Kenny | (808) 534-7126 katiek@honolulumagazine.com

advertising representatives

Midwest Annabelle Jacobson

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je @freeagentmedia.com

15 Maiden Lane, Suite 1001 New York, NY 10038

I’ve had this song stuck in my head since 1987. … How does it go again? Wait a minute. I’m cured!

“Blue” by Eiffel 65. We get it, you’re blue. Get your eyes checked and see a therapist.

I love you... You love me...

The song from the purple dinosaur kid show. My kids watched that show when they were little and sang it over and over and over. Barney! Eeeks!!

President Scott Schumaker

Audience Development Director Chuck Tindle

Audience Development Manager Gaylyn Laikona

Circulation Manager Kim Koki

Creative Services Director Wes Funai

Staff Photographer Aaron K. Yoshino

honolulumagazine.com/contact-us

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Duane Kurisu

President and Chief Operating Officer Susan Eichor

Chief Financial Officer Bonny Amemiya

DAILY HAPPY HOUR FOOD & DRINK SPECIALS

3PM–6:30PM

LATE NIGHT HAPPY HOUR

FRIDAY & SATURDAY 10PM–CLOSING

LOCATED IN KAPOLEI COMMONS DBGRILLHI.COM

808-376-0885

@DB_GRILL

Use promo code BrainTrain until May 30, 2022, to receive 20% o of the first two sessions!

“NeurOptimal improved my focus, gave me less anxiety, improved my sense of taste and smell, allowed me to sleep better, increased my tolerance level to stressful situations, and improved my brain fog.”

Sign of Our Times

In February, our work was especially illuminating.

JUST BEFORE SUNSET

ONE EVENING, three HONOLULU co-workers stood on a busy Downtown Honolulu street waiting for a sign. The Hawai‘i Theatre marquee, to be exact. As the daylight faded, the trio—editor at large Robbie Dingeman, senior art director Christine Labrador and sta photographer Aaron K. Yoshino—watched as the oft photographed historic sign lit up with our words (and their names) written on it. Watching a HONOLULU story title come to life in lights—what a wonderful way to start a new year.

Of course, the tale behind the image on page 46 goes far beyond that. It includes a few technical snafus, an invitation for Aaron to climb into a truck bed from the friendly stranger who had snagged a well-placed parking space and more encounters. (Robbie tells us about that unusual evening at bit.ly/hn-signs.) It’s a fitting way to open our piece about the stories behind well-known, well-worn and hidden signs across the island.

That glance into the past is a welcome respite from the blaring headlines of the present. We’ve all been stunned by the rising cost of, well, everything. Now that the startling logjam at West Coast ports has cleared and the retail flurry of Christmas is over, will all those prices that went up finally come down? It turns out our sticker shock was a long time coming. We turned to contributing editor Don Wallace to dig into the big picture outlook for 2022, page 34.

The first issue of the year would not be complete without us asking, “Why did the cattle cross the road into Makakilo?” We ponder that and all the outrageous and outlandish news that made 2021 (with barely a mention of COVID-19!) in our annual Sour Poi Awards, starting on page 40.

Welcome to our 134 th year of HONOLULU and thank you for joining us for another journey.

“Lights, Camera, Chee-hoo!”

NOVEMBER 2021 bit.ly/hn-afterthoughts-film

In her Afterthoughts column, managing editor Katrina Valcourt points out how Hawai‘i’s film industry has been progressing.

 Mahalo a nui for your thoughtful as well as obvious knowledge about Hawai‘i’s film industry. I believe we are on the brink of change that can help global audiences discover our remarkable stories yet to be realized on the big screen and major streaming channels. This change will create needed support for local filmmakers to stay in Hawai‘i, allowing them to be part of the revolution that is going on now. This revolution values stories created “from the bottom up”— stories that rewrite the history—particularly from our part of the world. The time is ripe to claim our rightful position as the gateway to stories about Hawai‘i, the Pacific and Asia as much as the continent. This revolution will not only be of great value to us culturally and spiritually, but will ignite our local film industry to become an important economic driver alongside tourism and the military.

JEANNETTE PAULSON HERENIKO | PRESIDENT, HAWAI‘I FILM FOUNDATION AT NU‘UMEALANI

Find out how Hereniko wants to create a center for Hawai‘i’s independent filmmakers on page 22.

“At Bay,” OCTOBER 2021

bit.ly/hn-reservation-fees

As O‘ahu attempts to manage access to popular tourist spots and profit from surging visitor numbers, editorial director Christi Young dives into a few of the proposed changes.

 We paid to get to Hā‘ena on Kaua‘i. Would be happy as regular visitors to pay to see things that need to limit attendees. Think the same should be done on the road to Hāna.

SECONDHALFESCAPADES | ON INSTAGRAM

CHRISTI YOUNG Editorial Director

 It’s a delicate balance for sure. Places like Hanauma Bay and the more environmentally sensitive places should have more restrictive entrance fees for [visitors]. Raising that money could pay for conservation services for those areas and overall high-interest nature areas. For example, educational tourism would greatly benefit the Islands and inform visitors of the land and culture, rather than bombard them with stereotypes and ignorant entertainment pieces.

C RAGZ 808 | ON INSTAGRAM

Bishop Museum

Foster Botanical Garden

Hawaii Theatre Center

Hawai‘i State Art Museum

Iolani Palace

Honolulu Museum of Art

Royal Hawaiian Center

ORGANIZED BY PRESENTED BY

EXHIBITIONOFCONTEMPORARY ART AT

Calabash

➸ ‘IOLANI PALACE IS ABOUT TO BECOME A PIECE OF IMMERSIVE DIGITAL ART. Artist Jennifer Steinkamp, who is known for dynamic botanical-inspired video installations—as with her nod to Nobel Prize-winning scientist and avid gardener Marie Curie (above)—will project a new work on the palace for the Hawai‘i Triennial 2022 this month. Steinkamp created images of about 70 flowers that grew in Uluhaimalama, Queen Lili‘uokalani’s garden, which the provisional government destroyed to diminish the queen’s legacy after her death. The blooms will unfurl across the palace in a moving tribute. Steinkamp is one of 45 artists and collectives participating in the triennial. Read more on page 21.

PHOTO: ROBERT WEDEMEYER, COURTESY OF MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, SAN DIEGO, NEW YORK; LEHMANN MAUPIN, NEW YORK; GREENGRASSI, LONDON

calabash | THINGS TO DO

February Picks

2018 Olympic bobsled gold medalist Justin Kripps was born in Nā‘ālehu. The 2022 Games begin Feb. 4.

BY KATRINA VALCOURT

ENTERTAINMENT CELEBRATE a Local Playwright

Feb. 23–27 / 2 and 7:30 p.m.

$8–$18 / Kennedy Theatre

COMEDY CHUCKLE with Your Buddies

He rose to fame as part of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour almost 20 years ago, but Ron White continues to hold his own as a stand-up performer, actor, New York Times bestselling author and owner of a tequila brand, Number Juan. He returns to the Islands for a show at the Blaisdell Concert Hall on Feb. 4, ticketmaster.com And good news for fans of The Late Late Show: Reggie Watts has been rescheduled to Feb. 12 at Hawai‘i Theatre, hawaiitheatre.com. Watch for the return of the Aloha Comedy Festival (Feb. 24–26) as well, which had us cracking up at venues all over town in 2019. facebook.com/alohacomedyfestival

Edward Sakamoto’s characters are funny, real and a true reflection of the people and stories of Hawai‘i. In February, one of his home stages will pay tribute to the playwright with excerpts from some of his 19 humorous and heartfelt shows, which were all gifted to UH when he died in 2015. Hawai‘i Nō Ka ‘Oi: A Sakamoto Celebration will include scenes from the fantasy Chikamatsu’s Forest; Stew Rice, the story of three grade-school friends at high school graduation then 20 years later; and, as the title implies, the Hawai‘i Nō Ka ‘Oi trilogy—The Taste of Kona Coffee, Mānoa Valley and The Life of the Land—which follows a local Japanese American family over 60 years. manoa.

hawaii.edu/liveonstage/sakamoto

ENTERTAINMENT

Ghost Bus Hawai‘i

Open daily / 4–9 p.m.

$13–$15 / 152 ‘Ōhua Ave.

If you’ve ever felt like screaming on a bus (just me?), here’s your chance with a unique Japanese horror experience that plans to operate yearround. Don’t worry, the bus doesn’t move, but you will be in for a ride.

ghostbushawaii.com

SPORTS

Cheer on the ’Bows

The UH men’s volleyball season is underway! The defending national champions play against Kentucky State (Feb. 4), Queens (Feb. 4) and Stanford (Feb. 5) in Texas before returning home to take on Long Island University Feb. 8, 9 and 11, followed by a three-match series with Lincoln Memorial Feb. 18–20 at Stan Sheriff Center.

hawaiiathletics.com

ENTERTAINMENT

Valentine’s Day with Babyface

Feb. 12 / 8 p.m.

$39–$249 / Blaisdell Arena

Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds has written and produced some of the most romantic songs of the past three decades, earning himself 12 Grammy Awards, including the Trustees Award in 2021. Try not to swoon too hard in front of your date.

tmrevents.net

THEATER

The Tragedy of Carmen

CONCERTS

DANCE to a New Vibe

If there’s anything we can thank the pandemic for, it’s that JVNA’s Honolulu concert was delayed until after her debut album, Hope in Chaos, dropped in November, giving us plenty of time to learn the new songs. See the electro-pop artist Feb. 19 at The Republik. Reggae more your style? Skank with Rebelution at the Waikīkī Shell Feb. 11. For a more laid-back, folksy performance that same night, catch John Craigie at The Republik. bampproject.com

Feb. 18, 7:30 p.m. / Feb. 20, 4 p.m.

$30–$135 / Blaisdell Concert Hall

It may have “tragedy” in the name, but the feminist tale of taking charge of your own destiny, no matter the cost, has been an opera favorite for more than a century.

hawaiiopera.org

➸ Looking to get the word out about your upcoming event or activity? Email info@honolulumagazine.com.

photos: courtesy of ron white; chris mariano, @marz26; courtesy of kennedy theatre opposite page: meredith edlow, courtesy of association for public art; lehmann maupin, new york; greengrassi, london

For more things to do visithonolulumagazine.com/ things-to-do

Love is in the air—and so are the sounds of laughter, electro-pop and cheers for the home team.

The Hawai‘i Triennial 2022 is Feb. 18 through May 8. Find the full schedule at hawaiicontemporary.org

Follow Your Art

Upcycled surfboards sprouting up in a garden, an art experiment partially served on a plate, a free store in a shopping center: Hawai‘i Triennial 2022 is here and we’re intrigued.

BY CHRISTI YOUNG

their own nation against the powerful U.S. government. Read more about it at bit.ly/ hn-uluhaimalama

“The research was really aggravating, might be the word, because of what the United States did to steal Hawai‘i,” Steinkamp says. “It’s completely disrespectful and a sad story and I just hope I can bring [Lili‘uokalani] a little bit of honor.

“Often, my artworks are about taking a very negative subject and transforming it, looking for hope and optimism.”

‘Iolani Palace is not simply a backdrop, says its executive director, Paula Akana, which was a key point when her team was considering being a site for the event. “The Palace is a living component of culture and art in Hawai‘i,” Akana says in an email. The decision to highlight the queen’s garden was another big factor in the palace’s participation. “The flowers carefully wrapped in newspaper that she received while she was imprisoned at the Palace came from that garden. Because of Jennifer’s choice, culture and art come together as one.”

For

FROM ITS LAUNCH IN 2017, THE HAWAI‘I BIENNIAL became one of our most unexpected art events. Pieces popped up everywhere, from serene Downtown Honolulu botanical gardens to Waikīkī hotel lobbies. An old Sports Authority site was transformed into a hub of immersive and introspective works. In its second year, local and international creatives took over sidewalks in Chinatown, the entryway of Ali‘iolani Hale and more than 10 other venues. So when we say this year’s event, now a triennial, will surprise us on a new scale, that’s no small statement.

Consider the opening installation: Artist Jennifer Steinkamp will send crystal-sharp images tumbling across the entire 80-foot-tall façade of ‘Iolani Palace. The Los Angeles-based artist created 3D renderings of blossoms, pulled from Queen Lili‘uokalani’s handwritten inventory of Uluhaimalama, in 40 separate small movies—her studio walls are only 8 feet high—and will piece them together in Honolulu just four days before the showings Feb. 18, 19 and 20. Local historians provided Steinkamp context as to how the queen’s garden became a symbol for Native Hawaiian people struggling to maintain

Some of the other 45 artists and collectives in the triennial will also have limited runs at seven sites across the island. Australian artist Richard Bell will create a space for indigenous discussions and work, called Embassy, on the grounds of the palace on opening day, Feb. 18, then again at the Hawai‘i State Art Museum in early May. In the café space on the first floor of HiSAM, local artist and vegan chef Marika Emi will invite people into three separate experiences or “social-practice experiments.” Plant-based food, served in what Emi is calling small “editions,” will tie in with art, service and publications to engage visitors in discovering alternate forms of nourishment. Those seatings are scheduled for three consecutive weekends beginning in late February. Other pieces, including Manila artist Leeroy New’s walk-through sculpture crafted partially from upcycled surfboards at Foster Botanical Garden, will remain open until the triennial closes May 8.

Winter Fountains, 2017, Jennifer Steinkamp projected videos on three large fiberglass domes installed along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia.

Farsighted

After more than a year on the market, Spalding House could become the new home for independent Hawai‘i film.

BY TIMOTHY A. SCHULER

SINCE IT WAS BUILT IN 1925, Spalding House has had an intimate connection to the arts. Anna Rice Cooke built the home in Makiki Heights after donating her Beretania Street property for construction of what is now the Honolulu Museum of Art. The large but unimposing house later became The Contemporary Museum, then the satellite gallery for HoMA. When the latter announced in 2019 that it planned to sell Spalding House, also known as Nu‘umealani, or Heavenly Terrace, it appeared that its connection to the arts w ould be lost.

Now the newly established Hawai‘i Film Foundation at Nu‘umealani is hoping to transform it into a center for Hawai‘i’s independent filmmakers. The former gallery spaces and detached Milton Cades Pavilion would be converted into intimate screening theaters and meeting rooms, while much of the rest of the 13,000-square-foot facility would serve as a joint headquarters and permanent home for as many as 10 Hawai‘i-based film organizations, including the Hawai‘i International Film Festival, Pacific Islanders in Communication and ‘Ohina.

The idea was sparked by a meeting between Jeannette Paulson Hereniko, best known as the founder of HIFF, and Sarah Bakewell, a Realtor who wants to preserve Spalding House as a community asset. Hereniko, who had been searching for a home for the festival, says she knew of at least 10 nonprofit film organizations that needed a place to stay and considered Spalding House as a possible solution. When she called each organization’s executive director, “All 10 of them said, ‘Oh my God, wouldn’t that just be fantastic.’”

Ciara Lacy, a Native Hawaiian filmmaker whose short film, This Is the Way We Rise, was accepted into the Sundance International Film Festival in 2021, says: “What a gift for somebody to be thinking forward for others. But that’s part of what Jeannette’s gift has always been. She’s been a visionary.”

Still, Spalding House presents significant challenges. Besides the $15 million price tag,

the 3.5-acre property is expected to cost as much as half a million dollars annually to operate and maintain. Then there’s an estimated $2 million for renovations, which, depending on the condition of the house and the amount of audiovisual equipment being installed, could end up costing twice that much, according to an architect familiar with the plans. As of December the nonprofit has raised close to $1 million based on word-ofmouth alone, and several businesses and foundations have pledged funds to help maintain the space once it is acquired, Hereniko says.

Potentially more challenging is the property’s conditional use permit, which limits the number of

nighttime events to just six per year, with no more than 200 people—restrictions that HoMA cited in its decision to sell the property. Hereniko maintains that the foundation’s programs would be compatible with the current permit, with events—including film screenings for students and selection committee work for festivals like HIFF—taking place largely during the day. “To me, that’s not a restriction,” she says. “That’s a reality and it needs to be followed.”

Says Hereniko: “It’s a place that’s collected stories for generations. The unseen elements of the home and the gardens are the generations of people that are connected to the ‘āina and to the house itself.

Spalding House was named after Anna Rice Cooke’s daughter, Alice Spalding, who enlarged the estate with the help of architect Vladimir Ossipoff in the 1950s.

$35 for dine-in at Upstairs Waikīkī, 280 Beachwalk, (808) 922-1500, upstairshawaii.com, @upstairshawaii; $30 for takeout at Sushi Sho, 383 Kalaimoku St., exploretock.com/ sushisho, @sushishowaikiki

Gauging what’s hot and what’s not in Honolulu.

CHEE HOO!

We’re stoked

Born and raised in Wahiawā, retired Army Maj. Gen. Suzanne Vares-Lum becomes the first woman and first Native Hawaiian selected to lead the East-West Center. Blazing trails.

Exquisite Sho Case

At $35, Sushi Sho’s bara chirashi is an affordable tasting of the rich mix of seafood that sushi master Keiji Nakazawa features in his $300 omakase. But a closer look reveals an even deeper value.

BY MARI TAKETA

NESTLED IN A SIMPLE BLACK DISH is a showcase of Edomae sushi, made using techniques that predate today’s practice of serving fresh seafood atop sushi rice. In the world of Edomae, chefs deploy traditional techniques—including fermentation, pickling, curing—to coax optimal flavors from each item. In this realm, Sushi Sho’s Keiji Nakazawa is king. Here’s a closer look at some of his techniques.

1

The lean part of the tuna is aged in ice for five days, heightening its acidity and umami, then marinated in soy sauce. Drawing out the acidity, or sanmi, of bluefin akami makes it a harmonious complement to vinegared sushi rice.

2 u UNI

“Uni tastes different depending on season, weather, place and type. We choose the best and then decide which Edomae technique to use,” Nakazawa says. “For example, Murasaki uni from Santa Barbara in the cold season—its sweetness is brought out best when it is steamed with kombu.”

3 u KOHADA (GIZZARD FISH)

The silver-skinned fish is cured with salt for one hour to extract moisture, then marinated in vinegar and aged for a week. “Kohada does not taste good when it’s raw, boiled or grilled, but its umami fully emerges when we treat it properly with salt and vinegar, adjusting the amounts for the fish’s size and fat content,” Nakazawa says. “Kohada transforms into an exquisite ingredient only by using Edomae techniques.”

4 u KONA ABALONE

Steamed for three hours in cherrystone clam stock, “Kona abalone becomes very tender and matches better with shari (vinegar rice) when it’s steamed,” Nakazawa says. “By steaming with a clam stock, we add umami.”

5 u LOCAL SHRIMP

It’s boiled then marinated in su-oboro, made when ground shrimp, egg yolks and vinegar are cooked slowly over low heat for well over an hour until all that’s left is a tangy, savory powder. This laborintensive technique is increasingly rare, even in Edomae circles.

Electric vehicles with EV license plates can once again use the high occupancy vehicle lanes regardless of how many people are in the vehicle. Charge!

After seeing sharp increases in both traffic fatalities and speeding, Maui police post attention-getting local messages on electronic roadside signs: “Eh, slow down. No drive like one clown.”

The Hawai‘i Health Department orders Embry Health to stop conducting unauthorized COVID-19 testing on two islands and issues a $207,000 penalty Test fail.

A new study by the American Lung Association ranks Hawai‘i worst in the nation for early diagnosis of lung cancer although our incidence rate is low. Checkups matter.

Veteran journalist Bob Jones dies peacefully at home at 85. Jones dedicated his professional life to fair and accurate reporting in newspapers and television, as a war correspondent, anchor and mentor. Truth teller.

Sad, yeah?

u BLUEFIN TUNA AKAMI ZUKE

calabash | FROM OUR FILES

David Kalākaua began his reign as king on Feb. 12, 1874, at age 37.

HONOLULU Magazine emerged from predecessor Paradise of the Pacific, which began in 1888, fulfilling a commission by King Kalākaua. That makes this the oldest continually publishing magazine west of the Mississippi with an enviable archive worth diving into each month.

BY KATRINA VALCOURT

Much of February’s issue of Paradise is dedicated to the funeral of Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana‘ole, who died early in the morning on Jan. 7. “The obsequies for Prince Kalanianaole exceeded in splendor anything of the kind in the annals of Hawaii past or present,” the magazine writes, including Queen Lili‘uokalani’s grand funeral five years ago.

Exquisite helmets, cloaks, spears and more “were brought forth to be used for the last time, except, perhaps, as an historical exhibit.” Indeed, a pair of kāhili used at Kūhiō’s funeral, known as Kaolahaka, are currently on display in the Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kāhili Room at Bishop Museum.

Hundreds of people walked from Kūhiō’s home in Waikīkī to Kawaiaha‘o Church, where his body lay for a week, watched over by crowds that reportedly chanted 24 hours a day. At midnight on Jan. 14, the procession moved to ‘Iolani Palace, and the next day, the prince was placed within the crypt of the Kalākaua dynasty at Mauna ‘Ala after eulogies in English and Hawaiian.

The Royal Mausoleum holds six of the Islands’ eight monarchs, including King Kamehameha II, the first to be interred, and Queen Lili‘uokalani, as well as princes, princesses, ancient chiefs and others. The state monument is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is open to the public weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Bradford Smith, the former director of the U.S. Office of War Information’s Central Pacific Operations, writes of how he and his team worked with translators and an artist who was familiar with Japan to design and prepare war propaganda leaflets during World War II. More than 100 million leaflets were printed in Hawai‘i for B-29 bombers to drop on Japan.

“Leaflets which pointed to the lies of the militarists and capitalized on a loss of faith in Japan’s military power were among the most effective,” he says. “Those advising workers to stay away from war factories and to evacuate cities also struck home, as did those capitalizing on the fear of air raids.”

You can see samples of the leaflets in the Hawai‘i War Records Depository at UH, which was established in 1943. There are English translations of them as well as Smith’s article, “Our Paper War Against Japan.” If you’re interested in seeing the items, email archives@hawaii.edu to make an appointment and be prepared to show proof of vaccination.

2012

HONOLULU publishes “The First Hawaiians,” with images by Olivier Koning and text by Lavonne Leong, depicting 15 plants that were established in the Islands before Western contact.

Each portrait shows the plants in great detail against a stark white background, with captions explaining what they’re used for in Hawaiian culture. ‘Ōhai, for instance, enriches the soil for other plants, and koki‘o bark was used to dye nets and lines, making it hard for fish to see them in the water. See the feature online at bit.ly/hn-the-first-hawaiians

Ten years after the project was conceived for HONOLULU, Koning continues to shoot for it. These days he brings a white backdrop and batterypowered strobe to the plants’ natural habitats and photographs them on location, which he says is a lot of work but worth the effort. You can find prints from the series at Nā Mea at Ward Village, thanks to a partnership with owner Maile Meyer. Find more info at olivierkoning.com, or call Nā Mea at (808) 596-8885.

We’re also happy to continue featuring Koning’s work in our pages: See his photos in this issue on page 99.

Learn more about the evolution of covers in HONOLULU Magazine and Paradise of the Pacific: 125 Years of Covers, available at shop.honolulumagazine.com.

Find more photos from Honolulu’s past every Thursday on Instagram @honolulumag

AWL HANDS ON DECK P.26 // 5 FRESH FINDS P.27

BY STACEY MAKIYA AND BRIE THALMANN

PHOTO BY AARON K. YOSHINO

Walking On Eggshells

Funky. Fresh. Fun(ny). Loewe’s eye-catching stilettos created big buzz during Spring 2022 Fashion Week. Models put their best feet forward in pumps that swapped normal heels for random household items. Roses, candles and nail polish bottles are playful options, but this is the one that cracked us up the most. –SM

Loewe, $1,600, Ala Moana Center, (808) 953-6554, loewe.com

Hide and Sea

A leather goods shop in Chinatown has become a reliable anchor of men’s accessories.

WHILE STATIONED IN EL SALVADOR, Michael Bluth, then a foreign language analyst for the Navy, repeatedly wore out his leather shoes on the cobblestone streets. “I would take the shoes to the local cobbler to have them resoled,” he says. Things were lean fi nancially, so “after watching the process a few times, I fi gured I could probably learn and do it myself. I bought an awl and some waxed thread, and the rest is history.”

He applied what he learned working with footwear to create another essential accessory for men that refl ects his life. “In 2015, I started making wallets that maintain an interesting aesthetic and utility. In most of the designs, there are asymmetric angles that represent the peaks of the Wasatch Mountains in Salt Lake City,” Bluth says (he’s originally from Utah). The leather, however, comes from the Conceria Walpier tannery in Italy. “Our process is simple: cut, fold, punch stitch holes and stitch. We eliminate seams and use folds whenever possible.”

And when Bluth says “we,” he means it. We popped by his Chinatown shop,

Open Sea Leather, and saw a woman at the checkout counter pounding holes into a piece of leather with a hefty mallet. Her petite frame (compared to Bluth’s hefty He-Man stature) made it impressive to watch. “Most of my sta is trained to make wallets,” Bluth says. “Shoppers are shocked that they can pick their own colors and have a custom wallet made in less than 10 minutes.”

Ready-to-be-fashioned hides peek out from a wall of cubbyholes alongside a brilliant spectrum of stitching threads. It’s a thrill to see the colorful options that can fl ow together. Scattered around the sunlit space are leather pieces from the retired sailor, including his wornin, classic messenger totes displayed in the front window.

Shelves and tables display a gold mine of artwork—ceramics, wall art and leather goods—from local creatives invited by Bluth. “O‘ahu has an amazing art community,” Bluth says. “All the artists we feature keep everything they make from their sales. I’m an outsider here, so giving back locally, in this small way, is my contribution.”

—SM

Wallet prices range from $49–$89, 15 N. Pauahi St., (808) 859-2204, opensealeather.com, @opensealeather

At Open Sea Studio, Bluth is contributing to the local arts community by creating a member-based ceramics workplace, complete with prep stations and leading-edge kilns. “After getting to know some of the local ceramicists personally, it became apparent that most of them had nowhere to work,” says Bluth. Members who have joined love the studio’s 24-hour accessibility and that clay and tools are readily available. Bluth also partners with Fishcake’s “fi shschool” art classes and plans to host a variety of other ceramic workshops and private lessons. Classes fi ll up fast so keep a (tako) eye out for updates.

1192 Smith St., (808) 859-2203, openseastudio.com, @openseastudio

The first Gun Deck wallet Bluth made.

FACE TIME

A glow-up in a bottle is exactly how we’d describe either of Maui beauty brand Kūlia’s luxurious elixirs. Crafted from nutrient-rich wild plants and organic ingredients— think sandalwood endemic to Hawai‘i Island and melon seed oil from the Kalahari Desert—the nourishing face and eye serums boast mood-boosting scents and even come with amethyst and rose quartz crystals in each bottle to amplify energetic properties.

Revitalizing Eye Serum, $108 for 15 ml, kuliaskincare.com, @kuliaskincare

MEET YOUR MATCHA

Inside fashion label Ten Tomorrow’s storefront is where you’ll find Kaimukī’s buzziest new caff eine spot, Daily Whisk Matcha , brainchild of Ten Tomorrow designer Summer Shiigi, Noa Laporga and Angelina Khan (Skull & Crown Trading Co.), and Norm Morya (Kula Threads). Expect classic matcha lattes, made with Uji matcha from Japan, and nutty hojicha lattes, plus fresh twists such as matcha lemonade, matcha liliko‘i soda and matcha lavender lattes, all hand-whisked. The shop also sells custom cups and spouted matcha bowls made by Kaimukī potter Tamiko Claire.

1114 11th Ave., dailywhiskmatcha.com, @dailywhiskmatcha

A FINE LINE

We can’t get enough of the statement earrings O‘ahu-born Analise Austin has been whipping up for her line Mind’s Eye Collective Drawing inspiration from nature and the female form, Austin uses an unbroken-wire technique to create captivating silhouettes in glimmering sterling silver and gold.

Venus gold-fill earrings, $35, Mori by Art + Flea, South Shore Market, (808) 593-8958, minds-eye-collective.com, @minds.eye.collective

Fresh Finds

What’s on our style radar for February.

CHECKS MATES

Kapa‘a boutique Shipwrecked

Kaua‘i and Canada label Mai recently teamed up on a swimwear collab that proves it’s hip to be square, with one-pieces and separates featuring a chic checkerboard pattern in subtle sage, mustard and mocha.

Shipwrecked x Mai Mod top, $60, bottom, $50, shipwreckedkauai.com, @shipwreckedkauai

THE WALL FLOWERS

It’s a wonder how well local illustrator JT Ojerio captures the essence of our favorite Island flowers. Case in point, the gorgeous new Shell Ginger piece she created for her Aloha de Mele label, noting everything from the plant’s graceful arc and waxy pink-tipped buds to its lava-hued blooms.

Giclée 8-by-10-inch print in 11-by-14inch mat, $42, Magnolia, Kāhala Mall, (808) 734-2200, alohademele.com, @alohademele —BT

Select coff ee items, made with fresh-roasted ChadLou’s espresso beans, and savory bites are also on the menu.

HAWAI ‘ I OF TOMORROW

IN 1947, HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC COMMISSIONED A SERIES of advertisements that imagined how Honolulu would emerge from the war years as a thriving, modern city. These penand-ink drawings were infused with idealism and creativity, with the artist and author using what today we would call design thinking to sketch a gleaming Honolulu that was just over the horizon.

Seventy-five years later, Hawaiian Electric commissioned Hawaii Business to create a successor that reflects the same kind of optimism and confidence in Hawai‘i’s future as we recover from one of the most disruptive experiences of our lifetime.

Honolulu of Tomorrow described a place where the built environment worked in harmony with Hawai‘i’s natural beauty. We wanted a fresh take on this, a Hawai‘i of Tomorrow that envisions resourceful, sustainable islands that adapt to the challenges of the coming decades, especially climate change.

We’re talking to people about what they see for the Hawai‘i of 2050, including experts in design, transportation, agriculture and energy, and receiving ideas from groups like the Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders and the Office of Indigenous Innovation at University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. While technology is an important element of the future they describe, so is the responsible stewardship of our islands’ natural resources.

As you will see in the feature on future agriculture, the artists Matthew Kawika Ortiz and Roxanne Ortiz drew inspiration from the ingenuity of Native Hawaiians whose ahupua‘a enabled self-reliance and adaptability to natural events.

I hope you enjoy this project and that it inspires discussion, as it has at Hawaiian Electric. You can send your comments and ideas to future@hawaiianelectric.com . Our Climate Change Action Plan sees us eliminating carbon emissions from power generation well before 2050 and working closely with our communities to make sure that the clean energy transformation benefits everyone.

With aloha,

SHELEE KIMURA President and CEO

HAWAI ‘

I

OF TOMORROW

PUBLISHER Cheryl Oncea

cherylo@hawaiibusiness.com

(808) 534−7575

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Kelsey Ige

kelseyi@hawaiibusiness.com

(808) 534−7179

WRITER M. Kaulana Ing

ENVISIONING A HAWAI ‘ I OF TOMORROW THROUGH CREATIVE COLLABORATION

Hawaii Business Magazine, in partnership with Hawaiian Electric, summons the optimistic spirit of practical imagination to think about what Hawai‘i would look like in 2050, with special consideration on the challenges of the coming decades. Who better to envision this future than homegrown Hawai‘i artists who create beautiful worlds and futures through imagery. The artists featured in “Hawai‘i of Tomorrow” envision Hawai‘i as a place where people, technology, infrastructure and ‘āina somehow function harmoniously together. Let their visions of the future serve as inspirational and aspirational.

hawaiianelectric.com/HonoluluTomorrow

©2022 Hawaii Business Magazine, 1088 Bishop St., Suite LL2, Honolulu, HI 96813. hawaiibusiness.com.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Kimberlie Clinthorne-Wong

Artist of “The Tranquility of Transportation,” Pg.3

Hawai‘i of Tomorrow is published as a supplement to HONOLULU Magazine, February 2022.

Presented by Hawaiian Electric.

Kimberlie Clinthorne-Wong is an illustrator, designer and ceramicist from Hawai‘i. She received a B.F.A. in Drawing from UH Mānoa and a B.F.A. in Illustration from Art Center of Design. Her diverse range of work includes conceptual editorials to whimsically, surreal and playfully imagined worlds for children’s illustrations. Select clients include 7−Eleven Hawai‘i, Starbucks, The Washington Post and World Vision. She is a co-founder and one of the principal artists of Two Hold Studios, a collaborative ceramic design studio.

Wooden Wave

Artist of “Food Powered by ‘Āina,” Pg.5

Matthew Kawika Ortiz and Roxanne Ortiz are a husband-and-wife creative duo who paint under the name Wooden Wave. They draw upon Hawaiian values and concepts to present them in a contemporary context. With conscious attention to detail, their work invites viewers to imagine alternative realities to our current society and environment. They meld elements of the natural world with technology (both, modern and ancestral) to create narratives around mālama ‘āina values. Best known for their large-scale murals depicting sustainable treehouses, Wooden Wave presents a playful perspective that brings hope and joy to those who view their art.

ARTISTS FEATURED IN HAWAI‘I OF TOMORROW

Excerpts from Hawaiian Electric’s 1947 publication “Honolulu of Tomorrow”

Kate Wadsworth Lauren Trangmar Xochitl Cornejo Solomon Enos

THE TRANQUILITY OF TRANSPORTATION

SLEEK ELECTRIC VEHICLES ZOOM NOISELESSLY ATOP ALA MOANA BOULEVARD, barely one meter apart. Public, app-summoned carpods glide alongside private vehicles and delivery drones. All are piloted autonomously, orchestrated by the DriveGrid to merge, pass, and re-route with optimized synchronicity. Commute times are shorter with each system upgrade, and it’s been years since the city’s latest traffic fatality.

A thin solar substrate coats each vehicle’s tempered glass facade, drinking in sunlight to keep wheels spinning longer. Without bulky engine blocks and steering gears, interiors are roomy and oriented for pau hana conversations and sharing snacks with family on the way home. Smart vehicles valet them-

selves with inhuman precision into ultra-compact, fast-charging stalls; blocks once used for parking lots have been transformed into neighborhood gardens and agroforests.

By 2050, the melodic trill of ‘elepaio birds have replaced the roar of combustion engines in Downtown Honolulu. The rail’s Alakea Station has evolved into an urban kīpuka, host to native trees and their natural ecosystems. These days, a rail rider exiting the station can just as easily grab an e-bike from under an ‘ulu tree and freewheel to their front yard or hop onto an autonomous electric bus without having to wave a single transit pass.

In the silence of electric streets, most nights are filled only with the sounds of leaves rustled by tradewinds. Even those living near busy roadways sleep soundly and breathe deeply.

“If you ever stand at a corner and listen to what’s going on… the sound of transportation can be really loud. It’s not natural. Just that sound can be grating to people’s psychology. But with clean transportation — whether it’s electric vehicles, bicycles, or walking — it’s all very quiet. So, instead of having that white noise of buses and cars, hopefully we’ll have people laughing, people talking, those types of noises that are more human.”

– AKI MARCEAU, DIRECTOR OF ELECTRIFICATION OF TRANSPORTATION, HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC

FOOD POWERED BY ‘ ĀINA

AS THE DESIGNATED KONOHIKI WALKS UPSTREAM FROM FISHPOND TO FARM, his field tablet pings at regular intervals. ‘O‘opu populations in Zone 6, it tells him, have officially tripled since the return of the ahupua‘a’s natural water flows.

Community scientists from seven countries, participating in the university’s prestigious climate resilience fellowship, follow along with mud under their fi ngernails, eager to learn more from the ecosystem manager.

He tells them how the sluice gates separating the ‘auwai, arterial valves in the vast circulatory system of agricultural waterways, revolutionized Hawai‘i in the 13th century, an innovation by the chief Mā‘ilikūkahi to cordon waterborne plant diseases and even grow fi sh within the irrigation system. In 2050, these mākāhā are now solar-automated, he says, and regulate water usage to exactly what each plant needs, no more.

The valley, in turn, bursts with food. Patches of kabocha, sweet potatoes, carrots and lettuce radiate from the banks of the lo‘i kalo. A multicolored canopy of fruit crowns the agroforest, pulling clouds towards the hillside with their leaves and healing abused soil with their nitrogen-fi xing roots.

Smart solar panels dotting the variegated fields adjust their opacity along the sun’s path, optimizing shade to what the plants beneath them liked best. Any excess power is sold to the island’s power grid. The extra income is reinvested into crop innovation and productivity.

The same technology panels the facades of the farm’s kauhale — greenhouses that nurture vast solar-powered aquaponic systems of delicate plants and seedlings. Inside, the konohiki observes the farmed fi sh that enrich the closed water loop within. He nets a 4-pound adult to cook for his visitors, plucks enough green onions and fern shoots for lunch, and gives thanks to his kūpuna.

Lupe: Solar kites collect and correlate wind, rain, solar, and lunar crop data to inform when and where to plant.

Kāhili: Vertical axis wind turbines catch the valley breeze without harming birds and pollinators.

‘Umeke: Photosynthetic algaes light night paths.

The Higher Cost of Paradise

WILL IT END— OR END UP RUINING HAWAI‘I?

OhWHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING, especially in Hawai‘i, where you can start every single day in sunshine instead of having to turn up the thermostat. Nothing like saving money without having to raise a finger!

Unfortunately, that is almost the extent of your savings. OK, you don’t have to pay Kelly Slater $450 for each artificial wave at his California Surf Ranch. And that famously expensive (and stinky) fruit, durian, is relatively cheap here—you might pay $90 for one in Chinatown that would go for $135 on the mainland. But we have historically paid a price for paradise and until the pandemic lowered the boom in March 2020, we tried to remain morbidly cheerful, almost proud of the sacrifices we made to cough up $3 per gallon at the pump or watch from the sidelines as the price of a single-family house in Hawai‘i hit a median of $599,000—a cool $700,000 on O‘ahu. It even made us feel kind of rich. Well, kinda sorta.

While those housing numbers (from 2015) would rise at a steady 4% or so every year, gas would actually stay lower than the all-time Honolulu high of $4.87 in April 2012. We all knew we paid more for milk, eggs and utilities. But things sort of balanced out; maybe not really, but psychologically, especially after you scored a sack of lychee for $4 or polished off a loco moco for the same price. Who could ask for more? Hawai‘i people had a sense of equilibrium.

And now it’s gone. The question on everyone’s mind: Why does it feel different this time? This can’t be forever inflation, can it? It will go down, right?

THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO. BUT THAT SHOULDN’T SURPRISE. “‘You have to live in a cave not to know there is an inflation target,’” says Paul Brewbaker of TZ Economics, quoting a statement from the late Edward Gramlich, a Federal Reserve governor, in a call with Hawai‘i banks in the 2000s. “We expect it to maintain a 2% average a year. There’s been a period when it’s been at or below that for some time, so now you should expect it to be at 2% or above.” Since core inflation numbers exclude the food and energy sectors, the actual pain we feel at the register or pump is usually much higher.

In a best-case scenario, the institution that controls the flow of money in the U.S., the Federal Reserve, would have eased us from years of artificially low inflation that began in 2009. But politics and a wifty economic recovery got in the way. Then the pandemic struck and the economy slipped its leash. Now a desperate Fed is planning to raise interest rates two or even three times in 2022.

Hawai‘i was already among the top three most expensive places to live in the country because of its isolation and distance from manufacturing, distribution and refining centers. Our inflation rate typically exceeds that of the mainland by under half a percentage point, while our economic growth lags a point behind. Our main industry is mature; no matter how many tourists arrive, their rate of spending keeps falling and our boats float a little lower. Laborwise, the state was saddled with a monolithic employment structure based on the plantation society, which allowed employers dictatorial powers to keep wages and salaries low and politicians in their pockets. Subsequent generations pleaded the high cost of doing business to maintain the same kind of captive pool, who, pre-pandemic, worked two and three jobs to barely get by.

But even college-educated workers make far less here than on the mainland, hence the cries of pain when the current inflationary spike of 5% and 6% (in 4Q 2021) roared out of a perfect storm of factors, juiced by a government gusher of cash.

But guess what? To Brewbaker it’s all a blip. “People got concerned about inflation because we haven’t had it for a while,” he says. Still, the effects of this particular high-inflation blip over the past two years have shown us a different side of the Hawai‘i we are all used to. This pandemic was a game-changer, a broom in the system, a hurricane-force shredder of private sector jobs that left the newly jobless to fend for themselves. High inflation is the straw that breaks locals’ rice bowls.

Hawai‘i housing is the new order’s perfect poster child. “There’s very little building going on here,” says Shannon M. Heaven, president of the Honolulu Board of Realtors. As remote workers and lockdown claustrophobics on the mainland alike saw Hawai‘i’s low COVID-19 counts and warm climate as reason enough to dive into the market, often sight-unseen, locals were priced out. Rentals were sold out from under the struggling working poor who hadn’t

PHOTO: JAMES NAKAMURA

already been displaced by vacation rentals. “The number of home sales during the first nine months of 2021 (19,240) was already higher than the average annual home sales during the past 13 years (18,751),” says chief state economist Eugene Tian. “I know mortgage lenders who have left Hawai‘i for San Antonio” for lack of business, confirms Heaven. “A lot of places can build their way out of a shortage, but we don’t have that luxury. We’re confined to an island.”

Says economist Brewbaker: “There’s a weird housing situation here, a single-family home bubble in which condos did not participate, a bubble very specific to detached dwellings, which is understandable in a public health context and given the remote work phenomenon.”

So if it’s a bubble, that means it will burst, right? Like in 2008? Isn’t this good news? “I’m not saying single-family home prices will collapse,” he replies. “I’m saying we got to a million a little early. We were going to get to $1 million for a single-family home in 2025 anyway.”

The median price of a single-family home in Honolulu hit $1.05 million in August 2021.

“He predicted that a long time ago, Paul Brewbaker,” says Heaven. “The thing about Hawai‘i is we maintain our value. If we see it dip, it comes back.” Even nationally, she says, “this is not a bubble, according to our national board economist, Lawrence Yun. But it’s been a pretty intense two years.” Her recent sales have come from military-owned homes whose owners were transferred to other postings, but none from established neighborhoods such as Moanalua. “People who grew up there want to move back and there’s nothing.”

And in 10 years? “I think we’re still going to have a really strong economy,” she says. “The market may plateau, but if you put your money in Hawai‘i it will always add value. Put it in the stock market and it may go to zero.

“Once you’re in it, it’s a good investment to have,” Heaven adds, leaving unspoken the rest: If you’re not in, you just

might be too late. The upshot? We’re moving to a condo society like Singapore and Hong Kong. (Late-breaking data on condos showed 2021 sales surging and the average price up 21% or $75,000.)

All this presupposes that no Black Swan event takes place, such as a different pandemic, a Category 5 hurricane (2018) or the contamination of 80% of O‘ahu’s water by, yes, jet fuel.

TOILET PAPER, MASKS, HAND SANITIZER. … Eggs, milk, meat. … Inflation affects everything. For September 2021, inflation was 5%. State economist Tian says they projected 4.1% for 2021 and 2.9% for 2022. Now you know why Starbucks raised its prices twice in the first 18 months of the pandemic—variously from 5 cents to 20 cents a cup—and weighed switching from Arabica to cheaper robusta coffee; and why Folgers, Hills Bros. and Maxwell House cost more than $7 a can, two and three dollars more than on the mainland. It’s why gas at the pump went from $3 to $4-plus (and $6 on Lāna‘i and Moloka‘i). Why Keith’s Cookies cost 75 cents more per pouch at the KCC farmers market.

Our inflation starts with oil. “When the price of oil increases, everything increases,” Tian says. “We use oil for energy and to transport our commodities, since the things we purchase here are mostly imported—85% to 90% imported.”

The cost bit family-owned local beef producer Kuahiwi Ranch on Hawai‘i Island. Though well-known for its grass-fed beef, Kuahiwi usually hedges its market risk by sending half its herd to the mainland, where it subsists on commercial feed. This time the hedge hit back when mainland processing plants locked down and Kuahiwi’s stranded cattle had to be fed for weeks longer than expected. At the same time the price of feed went up, beef price per pound per hundredweight fell from $1.30 to “the $1 mark, which is the point where you’re just breaking even” for the mainland cattle, says Kuahiwi’s Michelle Galimba.

The higher home prices go, the more locals are left behind. As a result, we are moving toward a condo society like Hong Kong or Singapore.

Oil inflated the price of tires at Lex Brodie’s Tire, Brake and Service Co., but at least the company had plenty in stock. “We actually saw something coming at the end of January and the beginning of February (2020), as the virus was being identified,” says CEO David Sands. “And we said, ‘Well, we better double up on our orders now.’ We did order a lot of tires and we had inventory that showed up at the end of March. You really couldn’t order tires after that.”

Galimba and Kuahiwi also caught a break on the other end of the oil spike and shipping disruption. “Mainland beef prices have gone a little bit crazy in the last couple of months,” she says. “I haven’t raised my prices at Foodland, so my prices are actually lower. Now it’s actually cheaper to buy local grass-fed. I was thinking about raising the price

and went to stores in October to meet managers, which I hadn’t done in a long time, and one said, ‘You aren’t going to raise your prices, are you? Because it’s flying off the shelves!’”

Like local beef, used cars have become one of the new currencies of the realm, says Sands. “There’s virtually no new cars available on O‘ahu. People are keeping cars longer and maintaining them better, which obviously is good for us. Anybody that wanted to buy a new car last year or this year probably didn’t. Who knows when they’ll be available.” In Arizona recently, he visited a Lexus dealership that had only six cars on a lot, with back orders for hundreds. “I don’t see this changing for a long time.”

PHOTO: AARON K. YOSHINO

The pandemic started with a container shortage but soon there were too many for dockworkers and truck drivers to offload, thanks to a 40% increase in online ordering in the U.S. The ripple effects are felt everywhere.

SO IF HOMES ARE NOW PIE IN THE SKY and inflation is here to stay, what are we left with besides more expensive omelets and smaller loco mocos? A volatile labor market, says state economist Tian. “It’s behaving very strangely. For the first time, to my surprise, we have more openings than people to fill them. In August (2021) we had high Delta COVID numbers and after the governor announced that people should not feel encouraged to come here tourism decreased 27%. In September we had fewer job openings and more people quitting their jobs: 58,000. That’s very high. In the past, we’ve only had 20,000 separations in a month.”

The Great September Dropout “is a very special situation,” Tian says. Now, “workers are one of the factors limiting economic growth. More people are leaving the labor force, or retiring, or moving out of the state, or just don’t want to work. That will impact the next year (2022). The cause may be because household income is up due to government payments. Fear of the virus is a reason, health care is another.”

This, too, might turn out to be a blip.

But lend an ear to Nico Chaize, an actual boss, owner and job creator, whose Nico’s Pier 38 restaurant survived by selling sushi grade ‘ahi in its parking lot for $3 and $4 a pound. Here’s what he says happened when lockdown was lifted: “We’d had to lay off 150 people in March 2020. That was rough. When we reopened slowly with table service, we had to bring back the team. We had a lot of people quit, it was an in-and-out situation, many people decided they just didn’t want to work in the restaurant industry anymore. We had to retrain new people, over and over again.

“Then summer of 2021 arrived and we’re fully reopened. And Hawai‘i is pretty much a shit-show for restaurants. It was too much too fast.” Indeed, more visitors came in August 2021 than in August 2019. “They were a very, very different clientele, less Asian tourists, more mainland people—what you call the cheap tourist, maybe more rude, coming from a state with no regulations on masks and social distancing. As a friend said to me, these are all the people who go to Cancun.

“I didn’t have enough workers at the time to do the volume. We were trying to make some money back from all the craziness. We pushed ourselves, myself included; I’d work nights, cutting fish, just buried in work. People quit. I could’ve. We made it through. Finally things slowed up in September. Today we are still looking for labor. There is a big labor issue. I talk to restaurant people around the world, in Chile, in France, everywhere. People don’t want to go back to work, to do service industry work. Doesn’t matter if there’s government money or not. And that’s the situation.”

Chaize has both the Pier 38 and Kailua Nico’s back to normal, doing 2019 business, but as of December couldn’t find a team to staff his fine-dining branch, Nico’s Upstairs.

Honolulu’s largest bread producer, La Tour Bakehouse, went through a similar 0 to 60 restart, only worse, because in addition to its well-known Ba-Le bakeries and La Tour Cafés, the company supplies nearly every ma-

jor airline that flies to Hawai‘i, says Rodney Weddle, vice president of culinary innovation and executive pastry chef. “Our daily output of all our bread is about 30,000 to 40,000 pounds a day, the majority of that pan bread. First we cut it in half in March 2020. Then we had to bring it back, no warning,” when the airlines started flying again.

“The main thing was finding staff,” says Weddle. “It was a good thing our core staff stuck with us. But as business came back, trying to find people who would work was difficult. Our wages definitely went up; we’ve had to pay more to keep them.”

And this may be the lasting takeaway: We have to pay more to keep them. And do more than pay more. Otherwise, says Tian, “If the government doesn’t do any management, doesn’t provide affordable housing, set a residential tax rate, rent controls, they’ll go to other places like Florida and Arizona. Then we’ve lost our labor force. Without labor our economy will be limited.”

Understatement of the year?

Tian’s boss at the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, Mike McCartney, let Tian do much of the talking (aside from an occasional nudge) up to this point in the interview. Now he speaks eloquently and at length—see the full conversation at bit.ly/hn-McCartney —to sum up what Hawai‘i owes its citizens: “We need child care, affordable housing, health care, education, broadband and infrastructure. Those are important fundamentals that the state and county are going to have to pursue going forward. … We’ve all been good at getting our share of the pie. But now we gotta remember how to bake pies.”

“More pies,” says Tian.

“Instead of just taking our piece and walking away,” adds McCartney.

THE2021

WE LOOK AT LOATHSOME, LAUGHABLE AND LOOPY NEWS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED.

BY ROBBIE DINGEMAN ILLUSTRATIONS BY CHRIS DANGER

CLOSING THE BOOK ON2021

FEELS A LITTLE LIKE DISCOVERING THAT TRADER JOE’S TREAT WE’VE BEEN SAVING WAS “BEST BY” SEVERAL MONTHS AGO —we’re still excited but we’ve lowered our expectations. Our sense of time feels wobbly, altered, our lives still off-kilter. We go cautiously into 2022, hoping there will be many good nights and better days and the pandemic will recede.

What’s our takeaway? Let’s go with: 2021, a helluva lot better than 2020. On the COVID-19 front, most of us got vaccinated, out of the house and back into the routines that frame our lives. After another year of head-scratching news, we brace for more variants and move forward wary of what’s next. How can Honolulu’s vexed rail system—over budget and behind schedule—cost billions and still have wheels and tracks that don’t fit together? Did we really just see another executive admit to embezzling funds for personal indulgence? Thankfully—we all need a little relief—animals not only took over our homes but also some news headlines. Here we present HONOLULU Magazine’s annual Sour Poi Awards, to share outrage, an eye roll, hopefully a laugh at the things we can’t control. We know that sour poi tastes better than fresh to some of you, and to many of us as well. With that, we hope you share our taste for the irreverent, too.

UP IN SMOKE ... AGAIN

Vandals set fire to Waikīkī surf racks, not once or twice but three times in 2021. Each blaze at the racks—located right next to the police substation, for the record—destroys the boards of many residents. Rebuilding takes time, costs the city and taxpayers.

FIND YOUR OWN TRUCK

The return of larger numbers of visitors sends rental car rates soaring to more than $700 a day. Some tourists respond by snapping up cheaper moving trucks and vans, leaving locals in the lurch.

WHAT A DRAG!

DREDGING WORK CONTRACTED BY THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS to Healy Tibbitts Corp. sparks a Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources investigation after divers report finding a path of destruction through coral colonies and a trail of debris.

One coral colony shattered and toppled is estimated to be several hundred years old. The company commits to a fix: “Healy Tibbitts understands the significance of Hawai‘i’s precious natural resources, and we are committed to doing everything we can to take immediate restorative action and mitigate further damage to the coral reef.”

Find more Sour Poi items online at bit.ly/hn-more-sour

WHERE NO SQUID HAS GONE BEFORE OFF THE RAILS

„ More than 120 Hawaiian bobtail squid collected from East Honolulu’s Maunalua Bay traveled to the International Space Station in June to help scientists understand how long space missions a ect astronauts’ health. Turns out the lead investigator completed her doctorate at the UH Kewalo Marine Laboratory and believes that studying the squid may provide some clues to immune system problems in humans.

„ Honolulu’s long-planned and eternally problematic rail transit system reports too-narrow wheels on too-wide tracks. And that’s on top of rising costs that ballooned the shortfall to $2 billion. City o cials also say the track crossings— called frogs—have cracks and are poorly welded. After all this, the earliest possible completion of the driverless system is nearly a decade away even if the plan stops 4 miles short of Ala Moana Center.

GET YOUR GOAT

„ The state Department of Land and Natural Resources devises a lottery to trap and distribute invasive goats that were overrunning the cultural treasure of Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park. Hawai‘i Island folks respond, sending in 185 applications. In August, 14 lottery winners receive between 20 and 50 live goats each—the number of animals the state required each winner adopt—resulting in the relocation of 458 feral goats.

THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER

MAKAKILO RESIDENTS REPORT the unusual sight of cattle roaming through their suburban backyards for several weeks, including on Halloween. A spokeswoman for the cattle owners says they’re working to corral the cows more effectively after they busted out of their nearby ranch to seek greener grass because of droughtlike conditions at home.

TELL US WHAT YOU REALLY THINK

„ In discussing the community strain created by too many tourists, Hawai‘i Sen. Glenn Wakai asks state economists for data comparing electricity/water use by residents and visitors. After seeing that residents use more resources, Wakai tells the Honolulu Star-Advertiser: “When the tourists don’t come, people are unemployed. They stay home and locals start gobbling up all our natural resources and adding to our sewage treatment plants. So we should actually be inviting more tourists so people are staying at work instead of at home in their air-conditioned rooms watching Netflix all day.”

BITE ME

„ Facing the state’s largest unemployment crisis in decades, the Hawai‘i Department of Labor and Industrial Relations keeps its unemployment o ces closed to the public—from early 2020 through November 2021— citing pandemic risks. That doesn’t stop bed bugs from getting in: An outbreak temporarily closes the unemployment call center at the Hawai‘i Convention Center.

RED ALERT

REPORTS OF MILITARY FAMILIES sickened by smelly water contaminated by petroleum prompt Gov. David Ige and the Hawai‘i congressional delegation to call on the U.S. Navy to suspend operation of the Red Hill fuel storage tanks. “The Navy is currently experiencing a crisis of astronomical proportions in Hawai‘i,” says U.S. Rep. Kai Kahele. While the Red Hill facilities have long been plagued by leaks, it took nearly 100,000 people being told their water isn’t safe to drink for the larger call to action. Officials point to the even larger environmental health threat to O‘ahu’s water supply if the aquifer is compromised.

NOT THAT KIND OF FIX

Five current and former Honolulu city Department of Planning and Permitting employees are named in a federal indictment for taking bribes in exchange for preferential permitting. The department says it’s making sweeping changes to modernize and fix the system.

SAY IT AIN’T

DOUGH

FOUNDED IN 1851, LOVE’S BAKERY

filled our bellies with sandwich bread, hot dog and hamburger buns and those addictive tiny powdered Donettes. After the company shuts down under the weight of pandemic-related financial losses, Portland-based Franz Family Bakery keeps the iconic name alive in the Islands. Sadly, some goods don’t measure up: The sandwich bread got smaller and the fullsize doughnuts just can’t compare with the bite-sized ones we grew up eating.

SOLD OUT ‚

For more than 50 years, KIKUTV offered shows beyond the U.S. mainstream: from Japan action hero Kikaida to sumo tournaments where we cheered on our Hawai‘i wrestlers. We also celebrated Filipino music and dance on Filipino Fiesta, drama and travel shows on its airwaves. This summer, owner RNN National announced it was ending Japanese and Filipino programming to switch all its stations to 24/7 home shopping.

METH-ED UP

Former Kaua‘i politician Arthur Brun pleads guilty to all federal charges for leading a drug-trafficking ring while serving on the Kaua‘i County Council. He tells the judge that he sold drugs to support his addiction to meth: “I got no excuse. I take full responsibility for it.” Sentencing is set for March.

LANI MOO-VED

„ After a bankruptcy court approves the sale of Hawai‘i-founded Meadow Gold Dairy by Texas-based Dean Foods in 2020, the new owners continue to promote the company as “Hawai‘i’s Dairy for over 120 Years” and “Made with Aloha.” The Hawai‘i Foodservice Alliance files suit alleging that Meadow Gold intentionally misrepresents milk imported from California as being associated with local cows and farmers, complete with mu‘umu‘u-wearing mascot Lani Moo. The alliance contends that consumers are being misled into paying a premium price for imported milk they think comes from local dairies. Meadow Gold issues a statement that milk is processed here, “we have never claimed all our milk is local” and they are committed to building more sustainable operations.

SEW RONG

WFASHION HOUSE SEA NEW YORK prompts waves of outrage after it “creates” a Hawaiian quilt motif without crediting the Native Hawaiian designer or the cultural traditions behind the patterns. RedValentino also used a quilt design but then acknowledged its origin, working with Pa‘i Foundation and inviting three Native Hawaiian designers to present in spring. Sea drew additional heat for blocking local people from commenting online.

BUTHAWAIIAN PUNCH IS FINE

A CALIFORNIA COURT dismisses a class-action lawsuit in November that alleges King’s Hawaiian misleads consumers about where its sweet rolls are made. The complaint from women in Oakland and New York charged that labeling that includes “Est. 1950, Hilo, Hawai‘i” and a crown logo resembling a pineapple led them to believe that the product is currently made in Hawai‘i with “traditional Hawaiian ingredients” such as pineapple juice, honey and sugar. The Hawai‘i-founded company clearly describes its origins and current location on its website.

MISTAKEN IDENTITY

A ONCE-HOMELESS MAN WHO FELL ASLEEP while waiting in a long line for food outside a Honolulu shelter in 2017 was locked up in the Hawai‘i State Hospital for two years, where he was forced to take psychiatric drugs. Turns out he was mistaken for a man who had an outstanding warrant related to a 15-year-old drug case. Despite the man’s continued protests that he wasn’t who police claimed, he remained confined in the mental institution until a doctor checked into the case and discovered the truth. His attorneys say the hospital quietly released him with 50 cents in his pocket. He’s filed a federal lawsuit.

CHRIS DANGER is an illustrator originally from Hawai‘i. After graduating from Leilehua in ’06 (go Mules!), he attended the School of Visual Arts in NYC, worked in television for a few years, and now runs a successful illustration business creating books for kids and art for magazines. He regularly whips up award-winning work for HONOLULU Magazine, thus getting a little taste of home. Chris currently lives in Portland, Oregon, with his fiancée, Eva. chrisdanger.com

WANT TO SEE YOUR NAME IN LIGHTS?

The Hawai‘i Theatre hosts sponsored messages on the marquee. The fee helps preserve this elegant sign. Find out more: bit.ly/hn-marquee

Watch a time-lapse video of our names and various headlines scrolling across the marquee, and read our behind-the-scenes story of some unexpected challenges, issues and visitors we encountered that windy night in Downtown: bit.ly/hn-signs

FFrom the dazzling marquee of historic Hawai‘i Theatre and the naughty neon of Club Hubba Hubba, to bustling Leonard’s Bakery and now-closed Like Like Drive Inn, iconic signs serve as beacons of our community. But they can disappear in a blink.

AGOOD SIGN DOES MORE THAN JUST INVITE US IN.

The nostalgic Hawai‘i Theatre marquee may be the most photographed sign in the state, says Gregory Dunn, president and CEO of the Hawai‘i Theatre Center. Before COVID-19, dozens of Japanese visitors staged wedding photographs each day in front of the theater, and even with fewer visitors, the historic sign proves a popular backdrop.

The marquee features 364 handblown round glass lights and another 150 individual handblown neon glass tube lights, Dunn says. When the movie house opened in 1922, it featured the distinctive vertical two-sided HAWAII blade sign at the corner of Bethel and Pauahi streets and a smaller board. “In the late 1930s, the lobby of the theater was ren-

ovated by Consolidated Amusement in the art deco style of the day, and the brilliant horizontal HAWAII neon sign was added so larger messages could be displayed fronting Bethel Street,” Dunn says. During the renovation in the 1980s and ’90s, the original sign was found to be unsafe, he says, so a $1 million replication was created by Young Electric Sign Co. of Las Vegas with LED display boards added later.

Some signs achieve their own identities. Consider the Club Hubba Hubba sign on Hotel Street, a fixture since the 1950s when it advertised strip shows featuring burlesque dancers visiting from Las Vegas and Japan. As time wore on, Hubba Hubba’s runway and glitz gave way to a seedier joint but the sign remained after the club closed in 1997 and was renovated into office spaces.

The original sign, designed by renowned neon expert Robert “Bozo” Shigemura, included a neon silhouette of a dancer kicking a shapely leg. The dancer remains—although her light isn’t always on—but the kicks stopped when the club closed. The Stack family owns the property at 25 N. Hotel St. and serves as keeper of the sign.

Lee Stack says her family needed to get a variance from the Department of Planning and Permitting because the sign no longer reflects the current business. She thought it was important to seek the exception because the sign documents a part of Chinatown’s history that other signs do not. At that 2011 hearing, Stack says her family offered to remove the words “live nude shows.” The hearing officer declined: “‘No, you know, that’s part of the historic sign,’” Stack recalls him saying. “‘If you’re going to preserve it, then preserve it.’”

“If you’re going to preserve it, then preserve it.”

Chinatown’s Marks Garage displays the word PARKING spelled out in individual circles, as well as MARKS BUILDING along Nu‘uanu Avenue.

At 3208 Wai‘alae Ave., the word “Venus” is centered above the door of a building that opened as a beauty salon in 1941. Though it’s been closed to the public for many years, the sign’s classic style stands out.

Kailua’s Pali Lanes, the nostalgic neighborhood bowling alley that closed in 2021, awaits planned development by landowner Alexander & Baldwin that will also determine which, if any, of its signs will be preserved.

the personality of the owners, the character, the architecture.”

the style, “They showcase the purpose,

Building signs are essentially social communication, says Kiersten Faulkner, executive director of the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation. “They serve as signatures for the building. They showcase the purpose, the style, the personality of the owners, the character, the architecture.” Signs can become icons for a community, showcasing changing tastes, ethnic and cultural influences, almost serving as archaeological layers. “They reflect the material, the fonts, the colors, the imagery that were in style,” Faulkner says.

“Neon bender” Shigemura also worked on the Hawai‘i Theatre and the iconic 80-plus-year-old Wo Fat Building, now undergoing a $10 million restoration into a restaurant and hotel. The same state laws and city ordinances that protect our scenic and natural environment from visual clutter—including billboards and outdoor advertising—can make

Metal signs prove popular and long-lasting.

Right: The Royal Hawaiian’s stylish tempered green one (1927) now overlooks a lawn where events are hosted; originally, the spot was the main entrance to the Pink Palace. Upper left: The King Center sign (1961) includes a metal kāhili and the Pagoda Restaurant (1964) features a distinctive script and typeface. Left: Waikīkī Skyliner (1968), 2415 Ala Wai Blvd. Far left: Punchbowl Fender Works includes a drawing on each side: a car and an airplane.

it more difficult to preserve signs that no longer conform to current laws, Faulkner says.

Maintaining retro signs can be expensive and labor intensive, even with the help of an expert with the technical skills for the work. Still, at Hawai‘i Theatre, Dunn’s enthusiasm shines through his list of repairs: “The theater’s vendor had to replace 127 electrical transformers inside the sign, in addition to dozens of neon bulbs that have been broken by inclement weather and the occasional rowdy passerby who just can’t resist trying to jump up and hit the neon bulbs with their hands,” he says.

Sadly, some signs fall victim to salt air and time, including the vintage vertical McCully Chop Sui sign near the corner of South King and McCully streets. “I’m sorry to say the sign is no more,” Butch Bukes of landowner JMC Property Partners tells me. Opened in 1957, the restaurant closed in 2006. The owners of the art gallery that moved in got a variance to keep the sign, which continued to glow after the gallery left and a barbershop moved in. But high winds a couple of years ago damaged the sign, Bukes says. “We had to take it down and they were unable to restore it; it was pretty well rusted out.”

Across O‘ahu, many modest buildings from the 1940s through ’60s feature charming signs with great flair, including Royal Grove Hotel, Leolani Apartments and many more. Author Mark Jonathan Davis liked so many signs that he filled his book Fonts in Paradise: Signs of Mid-Century Hawai‘i with them before they disappeared to document the “idyllic names and leisurely fonts designed to entice vacationing tourists.”

Diamond Head Surf (1959), 3810-3824 Lē‘ahi Ave. Royal Grove Hotel (1948), 151 Uluniu Ave. Leolani Apartments (1968), 715 Pi‘ikoi St. Victoria (1961), 2432 Cleghorn St.

Signs can be

In April 2020, Like Like Drive Inn closed permanently, after serving homestyle Hawai‘i diner food for nearly 70 years, a victim of the pandemic roller coaster. The sign remains on Ke‘eaumoku Street, but its future is uncertain. Another beloved sign stood in front of Fisherman’s Wharf (1951) at Kewalo Basin, on a parcel now owned by the state O ce of Hawaiian A airs and slated for development. In recent years, the vintage sign disappeared, leaving behind only the post that held it up. “The Fisherman’s Wharf sign is safe in storage,” confi rms communications director Alice Silbanuz, but she says it’s too early to say what role the sign might play.

Faulkner favors thoughtful preservation: “You don’t want to say that no sign is ever good and you don’t want to say that every sign is always good.”

See a sign you think is amazing, worth saving or has a great story? Tell me about it at robbied@honolulumagazine.com.

found carved into wood, painted onto buildings, and a few painted on glass. Searching for signs led us to finding or rediscovering some we pass often: the very mod-in-the1970s-style of Puck’s Alley, the bright tiles of Diamond Head Surf and even the very stylish Library of Hawai‘i lettering that adorns the handles of the Kailua Library’s front doors (1960).

The sign disappeared, leaving nothing but a post.

2022

BE ST DEN T ISTS

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.

The professionals listed were selected by their peers in a survey conducted by Professional Research Services of Michigan. If you notice any errors, please contact Ana Potter at apotter@hour-media.com. For more information, see page 64 or visit 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 45-270 William Henry Road, Suite 102, Kāne‘ohe (808) 596-8625

75-155 Lunapule Road, Suite A, Kailua-Kona (808) 238-3170

Joseph H. Chu 4365 Kukui Grove St., Suite 105, Līhu‘e (808) 482-3060

Kimo Chun 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1416 (808) 949-3960

Zachary Dodson (Maui) 135 S. Wakea Ave., Suite 211, Kahului (808) 872-9224

Derrick C. Fu 1401 S. Beretania St., Suite 480 (808) 597-1221

Jonathan Fu 94-1144 Ka Uka Blvd., Suite 5, Waipahu (808) 201-3636

Paul W. Guevara 94-673 Kupuohi St., Suite C-104, Waipahu (808) 677-3373

Sean A.N. Gurney 94-1144 Ka Uka Blvd., Suite 5, Waipahu (808) 201-3636

Craig Haga 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 208 (808) 591-1515

98-1247 Ka‘ahumanu St., Suite 218, ‘Aiea (808) 455-9051

Hsiao-Ling Hoshino 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1420 (808) 427-4166 590 Farrington Highway, Suite 523, Kapolei (808) 674-9988

Matt Eiyoshi Hoshino 94-673 Kupuohi St., Suite C-104, Waipahu (808) 677-3373

Adam Inaba 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 208 (808) 591-1515

98-1247 Ka‘ahumanu St., Suite 218, ‘Aiea (808) 455-9051

Andrew Inaba 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 208 (808) 591-1515

98-1247 Ka‘ahumanu St., Suite 218, ‘Aiea (808) 455-9051

Blake Ishikawa 1401 S. Beretania St., Suite 480 (808) 597-1221

Jason C. Joe 1060 Young St., Suite 323 (808) 695-2266

Howard Kang 30 Aulike St., Suite 404, Kailua (808) 235-3131

1401 S. Beretania St., Suite 575 (808) 218-6650

98-211 Pali Momi St., ‘Aiea (808) 439-8500

Aimee Kim 30 Aulike St., Suite 404, Kailua (808) 235-3131

1401 S. Beretania St., Suite 575 (808) 218-6650

98-211 Pali Momi St., ‘Aiea (808) 439-8500

John M. Kurahara 1401 S. Beretania St., Suite 480 (808) 597-1221

Jessica Liu

30 Aulike St., Suite 404, Kailua (808) 235-3131

1401 S. Beretania St., Suite 575 (808) 218-6650

98-211 Pali Momi St., ‘Aiea (808) 439-8500

Patrick J. Munley (Hawai‘i Island) 31 E. Lanikaula St., Suite C, Hilo (808) 319-2522

Wade K. Nobuhara

98-1247 Ka‘ahumanu St., Suite 218, ‘Aiea (808) 455-9051

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 208 (808) 591-1515

Paulo Nogueira

1401 S. Beretania St., Suite 480 (808) 597-1221

Farid Brian Shaikh 30 Aulike St., Suite 404, Kailua (808) 235-3131

1401 S. Beretania St., Suite 575 (808) 218-6650

98-211 Pali Momi St., ‘Aiea (808) 439-8500

Stuart Wisotzky (Maui)

275 W. Ka‘ahumanu Ave., Suite 188, Kahului (808) 856-4640

75-1028 Henry St., Suite 102, Kailua-Kona (808) 443-5203

1847 S. Kīhei Road, Suite 101, Kīhei (808) 856-4625

Noz Yamauchi 3660 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 309 (808) 955-8778

Randall D.J. Yee (Maui) 1063 E. Lower Main St., Suite C-224, Wailuku (808) 242-6857

Rachel Yorita 94-1144 Ka Uka Blvd., Suite 5, Waipahu (808) 201-3636

Michael Yuen 3221 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 370A (808) 739-9800

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.

Gerald Adachi 715 S. King St., Suite 425 (808) 521-4421

Jason C. Ako 4747 Kīlauea Ave. (808) 732-3368

Caitlin Armstrong 46-056 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 288, Kāne‘ohe (808) 748-4974

91-5431 Kapolei Parkway, Suite 1707, Kapolei (808) 460-7945

Kelvin N. Asahina 1010 S. King St., Suite 502 (808) 593-9025

Stephen Barba (Maui) 154 Papalaua St., Suite 200, Lahaina (808) 667-7711

Heather Cantori (Hawai‘i Island) 224 Haili St., Suite A, Hilo (808) 935-3724

David T. Chen 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1505 (808) 951-6888

Jared S. Cheng 1314 S. King St., Suite 725 (808) 596-2285

Angela M.A. Chin 1314 S. King St., Suite 418 (808) 488-8577

Kevin K.L. Ching 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 408 (808) 946-0442

Sung R. Choi 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1405 (808) 888-9331

Austin G.H. Choy 50 S. Beretania St., Suite C-201 (808) 536-4026

Alvin H.L. Chung 3468 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 222 (808) 737-8988

Terrence Codington (Hawai‘i Island) 75-1028 Henry St., Suite 203, Kailua-Kona (808) 329-4425

Ivan Colón 602 Kailua Road, Suite 201, Kailua (808) 263-6620

Declan Devereux 1601 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 101 (808) 941-5555

Keith Dung 4510 Salt Lake Blvd., Suite B3 (808) 487-9948

Tiffani Dunn (Hawai‘i Island) 75-1028 Henry St., Suite 203, Kailua-Kona (808) 329-4425

Michael Eng 91-1121 Keaunui Drive, Suite 112, ‘Ewa Beach (808) 748-4971

Lawrence M. Fujioka 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 715 (808) 955-1510

Todd Girard (Maui) 54 Maui Lani Parkway, Suite 2020, Wailuku (808) 756-9161

Christopher Godla (Kaua‘i) 4347 Rice St., Suite 202, Līhu‘e (808) 245-3582

Todd Goode 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1304 (808) 955-0004

Bennett G.M. Gum 1010 S. King St., Suite 403 (808) 589-2486

Marcus Hannah 970 N. Kalāheo Ave., Suite A-305, Kailua (808) 254-5454

Garrett T. Hayashi 1003 Bishop St., Pauahi Tower, Suite 393 (808) 536-5090

Nina Hayashi 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1119 (808) 942-2338

Heather Hearon (Maui) 255 Imi Kala St., Wailuku (808) 244-8808

Wayne Hirota 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1119 (808) 942-2338

Stephen R. Ho 438 Hobron Lane, Suite 209 (808) 949-4288

Russell Imanaka 1580 Makaloa St., Suite 828 (808) 941-4497

Berwyn Ito 1600 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1400 (808) 947-8888

Jeffrey A. Kagihara 1702 S. King St. (808) 941-7505

Steven Kanemoto 934 Punahou St. (808) 949-8341

Kelly Kawahara (Maui) 54 Maui Lani Parkway, Suite 2020, Wailuku (808) 756-9161

Chad Kawashima 1139 Bethel St. (808) 533-3892 30 Aulike St., Suite 401, Kailua (808) 262-6511

Kai Kawasugi 98-211 Pali Momi St., Suite 737, ‘Aiea (808) 487-1554

Bruce Keller 45-950 Kamehameha Highway, Kāne‘ohe (808) 247-4291

Chris Ko 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1405 (808) 888-9331

Gary Komenaka 1601 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 101 (808) 941-5555

Reid T. Koyanagi 1585 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1710 (808) 949-7333

Steven A. Kumasaka 46-030 Kamehameha Highway, Kāne‘ohe (808) 247-2240

Tzu-Lan Kuo 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1505 (808) 951-6888

Hideki P. Kurokawa 1060 Young St., Suite 212 (808) 538-0047

Ernest Lau 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-300 (808) 748-4973

Jonathan Lau (Maui) 255 Imi Kala St., Wailuku (808) 244-8808

Andy Lee 98-1005 Moanalua Road, Suite 2000, ‘Aiea (808) 489-9530

Jennifer C. Lee 1314 S. King St., Suite 725 (808) 596-2285

Beatrice P. Loo 710 N. King St. (808) 843-7503

Ryan Maehara 4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 109 (808) 734-3553

Brett Mandich 1601 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 101 (808) 941-5555

Blake T.K. Matsuura 98-1256 Ka‘ahumanu St., Suite 303, Pearl City (808) 488-1988

Benjamin K. Mead (Hawai‘i Island) 45-3290 ‘Ōhi‘a St., Suite 1, Honoka‘a (808) 775-7294

Alan Mitsunaga 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-300 (808) 748-4973

Jeffrey K. Miyazawa 45-480 Kāne‘ohe Bay Drive, Suite C-17, Kāne‘ohe (808) 235-4524

Wendell K. Morita 30 Aulike St., Suite 202, Kailua (808) 262-8227

Randal Motooka 1139 Bethel St. (808) 533-3892

Hong Murray (Hawai‘i Island) 75-1028 Henry St., Suite 203, Kailua-Kona (808) 329-4425

Dennis T. Nagata 1888 Kalākaua Ave., Suite C311 (808) 946-6326

Wesley K. Nihei 100 Kahelu Ave., Suite 114, Mililani (808) 621-0747

Michael Nishime 1401 S. Beretania St., Suite 470 (808) 732-0291

Robin M. Nishimura 850 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 112, Pearl City (808) 456-4552

Craig V. Nunokawa (Maui) 1885 Main St., Suite 204, Wailuku (808) 244-3986

Esther Oak 602 Kailua Road, Suite 201, Kailua (808) 263-6620

Lance D. Ogata (Maui) 140 Ho‘ohana St., Suite 301, Kahului (808) 877-8090

James J.K. Oh 1641 Nu‘uanu Ave. (808) 531-2533

Leslie K. Okimoto 1221 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 848 (808) 597-1322

Wynn H. Okuda 3660 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 315 (808) 734-1099

Clifford J. Omura 1150 S. King St., Suite 305 (808) 593-2999

Robert L. Ornelles 1150 S. King St., Suite 307 (808) 596-2851

Jon Ozaki 98-1256 Ka‘ahumanu St., Suite 303, Pearl City (808) 488-1988

Jaclyn M. Palola 94-1221 Ka Uka Blvd., Suite 201, Waipahu (808) 678-3000

Rohinton J. Patel 6700 Kalaniana‘ole Highway, Suite 216 (808) 955-0008

Angelica-Marie Puisis 46-056 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 288, Kāne‘ohe (808) 748-4974

Arleen Regala 99-128 ‘Aiea Heights Drive, Suite 602, ‘Aiea (808) 488-1900

Jason I. Revestir 47-388 Hui Iwa St., Kāne‘ohe (808) 239-6711

Cecil Riter 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 905 (808) 955-5922

Ted T. Sakamoto 615 Pi‘ikoi St., Suite 801 (808) 593-0835

Riichiro Sato 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 722 (808) 943-9338

Mason A. Savage 4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 210 (808) 734-5671

Cecile Sebastian 1003 Bishop St., Suite 340 (808) 537-2880

Lisa Whang Shirai 4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 501 (808) 735-3455

Jed P. Shitabata 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 602 (808) 949-1995

Lisa Shitamoto (Maui) 141 Ma‘a St., Unit A, Kahului (808) 242-6605

Justin Sjulson 3270 Wai‘alae Ave. (808) 732-4377

Jeffrey S.D. Sonson 602 Kailua Road, Suite 201, Kailua (808) 263-6620

Angela Su 99-128 ‘Aiea Heights Drive, Suite 602, ‘Aiea (808) 488-1900

Kevin M. Suehiro 934 Punahou St. (808) 949-2908

Ron S. Tagami 1150 S. King St., Suite 402 (808) 596-2866

Derek N.Q. Takai 4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 210 (808) 732-1424

Wade Takenishi 1314 S. King St., Suite 702 (808) 593-2775

Ashley Takiguchi 2525 S. King St., Suite 305 (808) 949-2378

Richard H. Tamaru 615 Pi‘ikoi St., Suite 804 (808) 589-2711

Tracy N. Tanji 94-873 Farrington Highway, Suite 202, Waipahu (808) 677-4041

Russell Tasaka 3221 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 376 (808) 737-9032

2024 N. King St., Suite 107 (808) 841-7944

Lance I. Teramoto 4747 Kīlauea Ave., Suite 101 (808) 737-9882

Jeffrey Thomas (Maui) 1847 S. Kīhei Road, Suite 101, Kīhei (808) 856-4625

Philip K.B. Tom 3221 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 376 (808) 737-9032

2024 N. King St., Suite 107 (808) 841-7944

Kathy Tomasu 4510 Salt Lake Blvd., Suite B3 (808) 487-9948

Noel S. Torigoe 1010 S. King St., Suite 803 (808) 596-2295

Patients can get their teeth cleaned at UH Mānoa’s dental hygiene clinic, open during the fall and spring semesters, for just $25. Services range from oral exams to X-rays and periodontal procedures.

Source: UH Mānoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene

THE ART OF SURGERY

Can you guess which is the artificial tooth connected to the dental implant?

S ingle-tooth replacement in the front upper jaw is full of surgical and cosmetic challenges because of the high visibility when smiling and talking. Dr. Cameron Y. S. Lee is a highly experienced oral and maxillofacial surgeon who will partner with your family dentist and the dental laboratory to help replace your missing tooth. The result is a beautiful smile.

As an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in Hawaii, Dr. Lee has the unique distinction of being a Fellow and Diplomate of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists—the largest dental implant organization in the world dedicated to the science of dental implantology and providing you a beautiful smile.

Anne Tran 3150 Monsarrat Ave. (808) 735-5437

Nina Tran 321 N. Kuakini St., Suite 803 (808) 536-2196

555 N. King St., #111 (808) 848-2400

Gary T. Umeda 1580 Makaloa St., Suite 560 (808) 942-9420

Brooke Uperesa 91-1123 Keaunui Drive, Suite 232, ‘Ewa Beach (808) 354-0808

Erin Uwaine 600 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 204 (808) 533-2861

Catherine Vargas (Maui) 255 Imi Kala St., Wailuku (808) 244-8808

Candace M. Wada 4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 309 (808) 732-9232

Robert J. Wada 4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 309 (808) 732-9232

Keiko Watanabe 1440 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1239 (808) 955-1440

James Wee 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1405 (808) 888-9331

Lauren Weiss 4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 210 (808) 732-1424

Steve Wilhite 1329 Lusitana St., Suite 405 (808) 526-2800

Allen M.O. Wong 1300 Pali Highway, Suite 211 (808) 538-7279

Keri Anne J. Wong 1010 S. King St., Suite 504 (808) 596-2553

Summer Wood 970 N. Kalāheo Ave., Suite C309, Kailua (808) 254-5503

Douglas C. Wrobel 6700 Kalaniana‘ole Highway, Suite 102 (808) 395-4474

John T. Wu 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1016 (808) 943-8888

Celeste C.H. Yagi 98-211 Pali Momi St., Suite 705, ‘Aiea (808) 487-1871

Melvin T. Yamada 1600 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1319 (808) 955-2439

Ken Yasuhara 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1001 (808) 947-8900

Brandon T. Yokota 1943 S. King St. (808) 946-4939

Jin Yoo 850 W. Hind Drive, Suite 115 (808) 373-1050

Joseph (Byung Un) Yoo 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1405 (808) 888-9331

Paul Yoo (Maui) 4473 Pahe‘e St., Unit R, Līhu‘e (808) 240-2656

Christopher J. Young 45-1144 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 304, Kāne‘ohe (808) 235-0018

Terence Q.L. Young 3660 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 212 (808) 945-9977

Gary G.L. Yuen 615 Pi‘ikoi St., Suite 1607 (808) 593-9344

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.

Matthew Abraham 338 Kamokila Blvd., Suite 203, Kapolei (808) 674-2255

Kenneth H. Arakawa 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1225 (808) 942-9999

99-128 ‘Aiea Heights Drive, Suite 107, ‘Aiea

Todd G. Carter (Maui) 33 Lono Ave., Suite 450, Kahului (808) 244-7634

Heera Chang 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 920 (808) 230-8000

Jeremy M. Hannon 45-1144 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 301, Kāne‘ohe (808) 230-8000

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 920 (808) 973-3700

Todd K. Haruki 1060 Young St., Suite 312 (808) 585-8455

Earl Hasegawa (Maui) 135 S. Wakea Ave., Suite 103, Kahului (808) 877-7775

David S. Haynes 1580 Makaloa St., Suite 725 (808) 973-3747

98-211 Pali Momi St., Suite 618, ‘Aiea (808) 483-3727

David K. Hiranaka (Hawai‘i Island) 76-6225 Kuakini Highway, Suite A102, Kailua-Kona (808) 326-2040

Eva P. Kiezik 46-056 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 250, Kāne‘ohe (808) 206-9464

98-1005 Moanalua Road, Suite 843, ‘Aiea (808) 949-5665

Blake K. Kitamura 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1720 (808) 949-5665

98-1005 Moanalua Road, Suite 843, ‘Aiea (808) 949-5665

46-056 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 250, Kāne‘ohe (808) 206-9464

Cameron Y.S. Lee 1060 Young St., Suite 220 (808) 731-2220

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

Mitchell P. Loo 1060 Young St., Suite 312 (808) 585-8455

Gregory Y.C. Lung 1580 Makaloa St., Suite 725 (808) 973-3747

98-211 Pali Momi St., Suite 618, ‘Aiea (808) 483-3727

James M. Michino 1580 Makaloa St., Suite 725 (808) 973-3747

98-211 Pali Momi St., Suite 618, ‘Aiea (808) 483-3727

Rodney N. Nishimoto 900 Punahou St., Suite 101 (808) 949-8681

Neil Oishi 1060 Young St., Suite 312 (808) 585-8455

Michael J. Pampalon 1580 Makaloa St., Suite 725 (808) 973-3747

98-211 Pali Momi St., Suite 618, ‘Aiea (808) 483-3727

Brett Sterling 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-300 (808) 748-4973

91-1121 Keaunui Drive, Suite 112, ‘Ewa Beach (808) 748-4971

91-5431 Kapolei Parkway, Suite 1707, Kapolei (808) 460-7945

Morgan K. Strawn (Maui) 24 N. Church St., Suite 206, Wailuku (808) 242-0077

Bruce Y. Todoki 1100 Ward Ave., Suite 815 (808) 532-2055

George A. Wessberg 900 Punahou St., Suite 101 (808) 949-8681

Craig A. Yamamoto 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1720 (808) 949-5665

98-1005 Moanalua Road, Suite 843, ‘Aiea (808) 949-5665

46-056 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 250, Kāne‘ohe (808) 206-9464

Lyle C. Yanagihara 1440 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1233 (808) 973-1433

ORTHODONTICS

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

Aurelia Bonham (Maui) 140 Ho‘ohana St., Suite 312, Kahului (808) 871-6576

24 Kiopa‘a St., Suite 101 (808) 793-3026

Paul Bonham 140 Ho‘ohana St., Suite 312, Kahului (808) 871-6576

24 Kiopa‘a St., Suite 101, Pukalani (808) 793-3026

If you smoke weed, tell your dentist. It may dull your sensitivity to anesthesia.

Source: The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association

PERSONALIZED, COMPASSIONATE CARE FOR A HEALTHY AND HAPPY SMILE

Our surgeons, Dr. Craig Yamamoto, Dr. Blake Kitamura, Dr. Eva Kiezik, and Dr. Thomas Yamamoto are all licensed oral and maxillofacial surgeons with years of experience. They specialize in dental implant procedures to replace missing teeth securely and safely. If you need wisdom teeth removal, jaw surgery, or other oral and facial surgery services, our team is more than qualified to provide treatment.

WE OFFER THE PROCEDURES YOU NEED TO RESTORE YOUR SMILE!

Blake K. Kitamura, DDS

Blake K. Kitamura, DDS Craig A. Yamamoto, DDS

Eva P. Kiezik, DMD Thomas A. Yamamoto, DDS

Kimi S. Caswell

1210 Ward Ave., Suite 200 (808) 536-2223

4618 Kīlauea Ave.

95-720 Lanikūhana Ave., Suite 230, Mililani

Won Chaekal 1330 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 302 (808) 593-0889

95-720 Lanikūhana Ave., Suite 210, Mililani (808) 625-8899

75-1028 Henry St., Suite 203, Kailua-Kona (808) 329-4425

590 Farrington Highway, Suite 523, Kapolei (808) 674-9988

Tammy ChangMotooka 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 503 (808) 947-3737

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

Brad M. Chun 4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 111 (808) 485-1177

1245 Kuala St., Suite 110, Pearl City, HI 96782

Peter Conmy (Maui) 285 W. Ka‘ahumanu Ave., Suite 220, Kahului (808) 873-8199

J. Mickey Damerell (Maui) 1129 Main St., Suite 107, Wailuku (808) 244-1499

J. Demeo 1600 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 519 (808) 941-5241

98-150 Ka‘ōnohi St., Suite C-214, ‘Aiea (808) 488-0026

David Dung 1600 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 519 (808) 941-5241

98-150 Ka‘ōnohi St., Suite C-214, ‘Aiea (808) 488-0026

Sean Holliday 1245 Kuala St., Suite 110, Pearl City (808) 485-1177

151 Hekili St., Suite 250, Kailua

615 Pi‘ikoi St., Suite 2011

4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 111

Lili K. Horton 677 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 801 (808) 550-4477

Curtis N. Kamisugi 98-211 Pali Momi St., Suite 500, ‘Aiea (808) 483-3000

95-390 Kuahelani Ave., Suite 1-A, Mililani

Malia Kamisugi 1060 Young St., Suite 201 (808) 523-2402

40 Aulike St., Suite 214, Kailua

Source: Hawai‘i Dental Service

Allergies can cause sinus pressure, which can lead to toothaches. In Hawai‘i, allergies are most commonly caused by mango and avocado blossoms.

Shelliann Kawamoto

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 503 (808) 947-3737

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

Gerald W.H. Kim 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1515 (808) 941-9888

98-211 Pali Momi St., Suite 602, ‘Aiea

Todd Kimura 1245 Kuala St., Suite 100, Pearl City (808) 485-1177

Mark Kitamura 850 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 215, Pearl City (808) 374-8421

590 Farrington Highway, Suite 155, Kapolei

4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 405

Scott S. Masunaga 1010 S. King St., Suite 101 (808) 597-1553

Pearlridge Shopping Center, 98-1005 Moanalua Road, Suite 845, ‘Aiea (808) 487-3323

Aaron Miyai (Maui) 505 Front St., Suite 202, Lahaina (808) 661-9229

Randal D. Morita 98-1247 Ka‘ahumanu St., Suite 325, ‘Aiea (808) 486-5505

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1000 (808) 941-3355

Scott L. Morita 98-1247 Ka‘ahumanu St., Suite 325, ‘Aiea (808) 486-5505

Daniel Shin

98-150 Ka‘ōnohi St., Suite C201, ‘Aiea (808) 748-4970

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

46-056 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 288, Kāne‘ohe

91-5431 Kapolei Parkway, Suite 1707, Kapolei

4473 Pahe‘e St., Suite K, Līhu‘e

95-720 Lanikūhana Ave., Suite 270, Mililani

Carlton A. Shiraki 95-1249 Meheula Parkway, Suite 135, Mililani (808) 625-5000

Daron Stevens 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-300 (808) 202-2007

Rosemarie Tan

725 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite C124 (808) 738-5500

Erik TinHan

98-1268 Ka‘ahumanu St., Suite 105, Pearl City (808) 485-2444

377 Keāhole St., Suite 211A

Steven Tottori

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 710 (808) 674-9191

525 Farrington Highway, Kapolei

Michael J. Wall

45-1048 Kamehameha Highway, Suite B, Kāne‘ohe (808) 235-6801

Michael B. Wong 1010 S. King St., Suite 404 (808) 597-6244

Errol Y.W. Yim 45-939 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 103, Kāne‘ohe (808) 247-6039

76-6225 Kuakini Highway, Suite D-101, Kailua-Kona (808) 329-7551

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

PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

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

Todd K. Asato 1314 S. King St., Suite 618 (808) 596-9889

94-673 Kupuohi St., Suite C103, Waipahu (808) 680-0097

Emily S. Bordner 2752 Woodlawn Drive, Suite 5-207 (808) 988-2636

J.W. Chang

95-1105 Ainamakua Drive, Suite 202, Mililani (808) 445-6272

Fred Chen 850 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 215, Pearl City (808) 374-8421

590 Farrington Highway, Suite 155, Kapolei

Brent Ching 1319 Punahou St., Suite 1080 (808) 949-8411

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1000 (808) 941-3355

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

46-005 Kawa St., Suite 301, Kāne‘ohe

Cally L. Adams (Maui) 1325 S. Kīhei Road, Suite 108, Kīhei (808) 875-4808

Katherine M. Masaki 1150 S. King St., Suite 1103 (808) 596-4840 CONTINUED

ENDODONTIC ASSOCIATES, LLC

With 50-plus 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. 2022 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 joined the practice in June 2020, adding more than 25 years of endodontic experience to the team.

“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.

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

David Ching

850 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 215, Pearl City (808) 374-8421

590 Farrington Highway, Suite 155, Kapolei

Jason Ching 850 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 260, Pearl City (808) 201-9956

Yongsok Do 91-2139 Fort Weaver Road, Suite 301, ‘Ewa Beach (808) 680-9411

Lynn K. Fujimoto 1310 Punahou St. (808) 941-4466

Radford Goto 3150 Monsarrat Ave. (808) 735-5437

T. Matthew Griffith (Hawai‘i Island)

76-6225 Kuakini Highway, Suite B101, Kailua-Kona (800) 461-5867

Benjamin Hanks (Maui)

1280 S. Kīhei Road, Suite 206, Kīhei (808) 868-5757

505 Front St., Suite 202, Lahaina

Allen K. Hirai 4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 201 (808) 737-0076

Erica Hollander (Maui) 1325 S. Kīhei Road, Floor 2, Kīhei (808) 879-1117

Juliana Hsu 2752 Woodlawn Drive, Suite 5-207 (808) 988-2636

Lauren Jenni Imai 1221 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1048 (808) 593-8828

4180 Rice St., #105, Līhu‘e (808) 245-2131

Maile S.C. Kim 642 Ulukahiki St., Suite 308, Kailua (808) 261-5354

46-001 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 418, Kāne‘ohe, HI 96744, (808) 235-3434

Michelle R. Kobayashi 4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 405 (808) 735-1733

98-1005 Moanalua Road, Suite 847, ‘Aiea (808) 487-7933

31 Kamehameha Ave., Kahului (808) 877-0066

Christopher C. Lee 1314 S. King St., Suite 618 (808) 596-9889

94-673 Kupuohi St., Suite C103, Waipahu (808) 680-0097

Peter Lee 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-300 (808) 748-4973

400 Hualani St., Building 9, Suite 192, Hilo (808) 443-5204

Christopher Nakamura 600 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 204 (808) 427-4232

Paul K. Seo 98-1254 Ka‘ahumanu St., Suite 158, Pearl City (808) 486-8881

Dean Sueda 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 617 (808) 944-1603

4450 Kapolei Parkway, Suite 570, Kapolei (808) 944-1020

Stacie Sueda 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 617 (808) 944-1603

4450 Kapolei Parkway, Suite 570, Kapolei (808) 944-1020

Stephen Sueda 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 617 (808) 944-1603

4450 Kapolei Parkway, Suite 570, Kapolei

Emilie Sumida (Maui) 99 S. Market St., Suite 102, Wailuku (808) 244-5495

David A. Sumikawa 1221 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1048 (808) 593-8828

4180 Rice St., Suite 105, Līhu‘e (808) 245-2131

Mark A.K. Sumikawa 1221 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1048 (808) 593-8828

4180 Rice St., Suite 105, Līhu‘e (808) 245-2131

In 2021, Hawai‘i Dental Service donated nearly 10,000 mouthguards to athletes at 90 high schools statewide.

Source: Hawai‘i Dental Service

Bryan S. Tamura 98-1005 Moanalua Road, Suite 847, ‘Aiea (808) 487-7933

4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 405 (808) 735-1733

31 Kamehameha Ave., Kahului (808) 877-0066

Luke Y. Teruya 98-1005 Moanalua Road, Suite 847, ‘Aiea (808) 487-7933

4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 405 (808) 735-1733

31 Kamehameha Ave., Kahului (808) 877-0066

Derek Tom 98-150 Ka‘ōnohi St., Suite C207, ‘Aiea (808) 488-0100

Clyde Y. Uchida 4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 3070 (808) 739-0878

98-211 Pali Momi St., Suite 615, ‘Aiea (808) 484-4459

Gavin Uchida 3660 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 201 (808) 735-2583

Renee C. UchidaHashizume 4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 3070 (808) 739-0878

98-211 Pali Momi St., Suite 615, ‘Aiea (808) 484-4459

Cherie C. UchidaMoribe 4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 3070 (808) 739-0878

98-211 Pali Momi St., Suite 615, ‘Aiea (808) 484-4459

Joshua Westphal 95-720 Lanikūhana Ave., Suite 270, Mililani (808) 748-4972

91-1121 Keaunui Drive, Suite 112, ‘Ewa Beach (808) 748-4971

91-5431 Kapolei Parkway, Suite 1707, Kapolei (808) 460-7945

Christopher E. Yim 46-005 Kawa St., Kāne‘ohe (808) 235-0550

Paul Yim 46-005 Kawa St., Suite 301, Kāne‘ohe (808) 235-0550

Lauren Young 850 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 215, Pearl City (808) 374-8421

590 Farrington Highway, Suite 155, Kapolei

PERIODONTICS

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

Earl Ah Moo 4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 401 (808) 732-2224

Dean S. Arashiro (Maui) 145 Ma‘a St., Kahului (808) 893-0880

Edmund A. Cassella 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1506 (808) 955-1506

Kenneth Choy 2226 Liliha St., Suite 408 (808) 593-9400

Aaron Colby 6700 Kalaniana‘ole Highway, Suite 216A (808) 728-7774

94-300 Farrington Highway, Suite D-02, Waipahu

Lyndon D. Fong 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 616 (808) 947-3333

Nicholas J. Fujii 98-211 Pali Momi St., Suite 710, ‘Aiea (808) 427-9989

Mari Heslinga (Hawai‘i Island) 519 E. Lanikaula St., Hilo (808) 935-4800

Darin K. Iha

1600 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 507 (808) 941-5561

Ray (Shih-Chung)

Liao 2226 Liliha St., Suite 408 (808) 593-9400

Gerald Meredith 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-300 (808) 748-4973

98-150 Ka‘ōnohi St., Suite C201, ‘Aiea (808) 748-4970

Ryan H. Yim 1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1506 (808) 955-1506

PROSTHODONTICS

Prosthodontists are dentists who deal with restorations—crowns, bridges, dentures and implants or mixed-implant and fixed-bridge cases.

91-1121 Keaunui Drive, Suite 112, ‘Ewa Beach (808) 748-4971

46-056 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 288, Kāne‘ohe (808) 748-4974

95-720 Lanikūhana Ave., Suite 270, Mililani (808) 748-4972

Jeremy Oakley (Hawai‘i Island) 45-3290 ‘Ōhi‘a St., Suite 1, Honoka‘a (808) 775-7294

224 Haili St., Hilo (808) 935-3724

Braden C. Seamons 615 Pi‘ikoi St., Suite 2011 (808) 596-7788

151 Hekili St., Suite 250, Kailua (808) 263-1100

Conrad C. Theiss (Maui) 33 Lono Ave., Suite 210, Kahului (808) 877-3605

Allison P. Tran 94-1042 Ka Uka Blvd., Suite 202, Waipahu (808) 744-0288

1441 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 1506 (808) 955-1506

Michael R.C. Umaki 1833 S. Beretania St. (808) 955-2275

Gregg T. Uyeda 932 Ward Ave., Suite 410 (808) 533-7200

M. Moria Amjadi 900 Punahou St., Suite 201 (808) 947-1323

Jmi Asam 4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 102 (808) 737-6150

Duane T. Fujii 1100 Ward Ave., Suite 820 (808) 531-3003

Glenn S. Hanada 850 Kamehameha Highway, Suite 116, Pearl City (808) 485-8558

Ben Kawasaki 321 N. Kuakini St., Suite 804 (808) 521-1896

Kevin J. Loo 848 S. Beretania St., Suite 305 (808) 524-1102

Richard H. Miyamoto 615 Pi‘ikoi St., Suite 1101 (808) 596-2622

Rosemarie Tan 725 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite C124 (808) 738-5500

Erik K. Wong (Maui) 140 Ho‘ohana St., Suite 300, Kahului (808) 871-6283

HOW WE CREATED THIS LIST

Who conducted this survey? Professional Research Services, a Detroit-based company that administers peer-review surveys of professionals including doctors, lawyers and dentists.

Who was surveyed? PRS contacted more than 3,000 licensed general dentists, dental specialists and referring physicians (including family medicine, oral and maxillofacial surgery, pediatrics, head and neck plastic surgeons) 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 three 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. What instructions were they given in completing the survey? Voting was done online in the summer of 2021. 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 three colleagues in each given dental specialty and were able to manually nominate three physicians if they did not appear on the drop down list. Respondents were allowed to modify their ballots until the closing date.

Did specialists vote only on their own specialty, and vice-versa for generalpractice dentists? No, people could vote across all practices.

Could a dentist vote for him or herself? Technically, yes, but most dentists only recommended their colleagues, as the survey was designed as a peer review. Additionally, each dentist appearing on the list received more than one vote.

Were dentists on every island included in both nominations and polling? Yes.

What are the voting categories? The listing includes seven specialties: general dentistry, endodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics

and prosthodontics. Dentists were allowed to vote for three dentists in each category. Were respondents allowed to make comments on specific dentists? This is a straight listing—no comments were allowed to influence the final list.

How is this an objective listing if it’s based on opinions? 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.

Are results checked against state of Hawai‘i records for criminal action or misconduct? What would happen if a misconduct complaint had been filed against a winner? 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

HONOLULU MAGAZINE

PARADISE of the PACIFIC

133 YEARS COVERS

PARADISE OF THE PACIFIC WAS BORN IN JANUARY 1888, with the blessing of King Kalākaua. Though our name changed in 1966 to HONOLULU Magazine, the magazine has been in continuous publication for more than 130 years.

HONOLULU is one of the oldest magazines in the United States and has featured some of Hawai‘i’s most iconic figures on the covers, from Duke Kahanamoku to Eddie Aikau.

Order some of the most compelling covers in a variety of poster sizes online at shop. honolulumagazine.com

BEST 2022

DENTISTS ENTI T

PROFILES

Looking

GENERAL DENTISTRY

Rohinton Patel, D.M.D.

“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 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 16 years of experience enables Dr. Patel to offer a painless injection technique. For apprehensive patients, he offers “True Sleep 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 serves as president of Dental Lifeline for the State of Hawai‘i. 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.

PROSTHODONTICS

Jmi Asam, D.M.D.

Improve Your Quality of Life with Dental Implants

Welcome to Pacific Dental & Implant Solutions, where we are dedicated to you, the patient. As a specialist, I will provide you with the highest standard of comprehensive dental care.

Dr. Jmi Asam is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Creighton University with a double major in Physics and Mathematics. Dr. Asam then graduated Cum Laude from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine.

Dr. Asam then earned her specialty degree in Advanced Prosthodontics from the University of Illinois at Chicago. The Prosthodontist distinction involves an additional three years of rigorous specialty training after dental school. Prosthodontics is the only specialty recognized by the ADA that focuses on the replacement and restoration of missing and failing teeth; this includes Dental Implants & Full-Mouth Reconstructions. Dr. Asam uses this additional specialty training along side state-of-the-art technology to provide the highest standard of care.

Before moving home, Dr. Asam worked as a Prosthodontist at ClearChoice, the leading national provider of dental implants and the revolutionary All-on-4 Full-Mouth Reconstruction procedure. Visit our website to read more about Dr. Asam and our services.

Kimi Caswell DDS, MS

Dr. Kimi Caswell knew from an early age that she wanted to help people achieve the beautiful, healthy smiles they deserve. She completed dental school at the University of Missouri in the top 10% of her class before graduating with a Master of Science in Oral Biology and a certificate in orthodontics from Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. She opened the doors of her Honolulu practice in 1995 and has been changing smiles and lives ever since.

One of HONOLULU Magazine’s Best Dentists since 2005, Dr. Caswell is an active member of the American Association of Orthodontics, the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontics, the Hawaii Dental Association, the Hawaii Society of Orthodontists and the American Dental Association. She is one of Hawaii’s leading Invisalign providers and is frequently asked to lecture on behalf of Clear Aligner Therapy. Dr. Caswell and her staff attend the Invisalign summit bi-annually, where she is recognized as part of the top 1% of Invisalign providers in the world.

When asked what Dr. Caswell enjoys most about being an orthodontist, she says, “Empowering dreams, one smile at a time.” But it’s not just about creating beautiful smiles; comfort, trust and quality care are all part of the Caswell Orthodontics mission to ensure each patient has an amazing orthodontic experience.

Even as a working mother of two beautiful daughters, Dr. Caswell still finds time to contribute to many organizations. She considers it a privilege to support organizations such as the Hawaii Food Bank, Toys for Tots, Lokahi and the Hawaii Cancer Society. She has served on the Queen’s Hospital cleft lip and palate team for years, providing comprehensive orthodontic care to children with special needs. In her spare time, Dr. Caswell enjoys spending time with her two daughters, practicing yoga, walking her dogs, and enjoying quality time with her family and friends.

WARD: 1210 Ward Ave #200, Honolulu, HI 96814

KAHALA: 4618 Kilauea Ave. #4, Honolulu, HI 96816

MILILANI: 95-720 Lanikuhana Ave. #230, Mililani, HI 96789

(808)536-2223 | CASWELLORTHODONTICS.COM

Jeremy Hannon, D.M.D.

Oahu Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, directed by Dr. Jeremy Hannon, has been providing unparalleled surgical care to the Windward community for nearly a decade. We are now proud to announce the opening of a second convenient location in town in the Ala Moana Building.

Sought after by Oahu’s top dentists and medical centers for outstanding full scope Oral and Maxillofacial surgery procedures, with an emphasis on wisdom teeth extraction and dental implants, Dr. Hannon and his experienced team believe that surgical excellence must be paired with a compassionate, communicative, and individualized approach to every patient’s experience. Because surgery can be a stressful event, Dr. Hannon and his team thoughtfully educate patients on their condition and what to expect at every step - from referral through recovery - ensuring maximum comfort and peace of mind. Founded on a mission to provide outstanding care to anyone in need, his team prides themselves on the work they do on behalf of underserved populations and “treating each individual as Ohana.”

At Oahu Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery we offer state of the art, cutting edge technology including Carestream Cone Beam 3D CT, X-GUIDE dynamic 3D navigation system by X-Nav, and Trios 3 Shape Intraoral Scanner creating a completely digital optimized workflow.

“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

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. Based in Kailua-Kona, the Harvard-trained dentist, physician and surgeon has been serving the Big Island Community for more than 27 years, providing services to those suffering from missing teeth, infections or tumors in the face or jaw, 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 12 years and earned recognition as a Center of Excellence for all-on-4 dental implants. During this pandemic he has served on the Board of Directors at Kona Community Hospital as a volunteer. Dr. Hiranaka is currently the director of a locally based, nationally recognized continuing education club for dentists in his community.

PROSTHODONTICS

Dr. Richard H. Miyamoto, D.D.S.

Patients with crooked, missing or decayed teeth who want to chew or look better would benefit from a prosthodontist’s expertise. With advanced training and experience, a prosthodontist would be able to consistently deliver excellent results even in the most difficult of cases. Dr. Miyamoto, with over 30 years of experience, is unparalleled in the restoration of lost or damaged teeth, esthetic and implant dentistry.

Dr. Miyamoto is a graduate of Northwestern University Dental School with additional specialty training which include a general practice residency at Queen’s Medical Center, prosthodontics at University of Texas, maxillofacial prosthodontics at MD Anderson Cancer Center and implant prosthodontics at UCLA Medical Center. His extensive resume is reflective of a commitment to continued education in order to provide the most innovative treatment for the benefit of each patient.

Technological advances, including digital impression scanners, Cone Beam CT scans, in-office milling for same day crowns or bridges, are offered for patient comfort and convenience. Dr. Miyamoto also provides all inclusive implant treatment which include surgery and fabrication of final restorations. Guided implant surgery is offered when indicated for flapless, less invasive surgery. When needed, bone or tissue grafting is also provided to optimize esthetics and implant longevity and success. Same Day restorations such as an All-On-4 implant bridge has provided Dr. Miyamoto’s patients with life changing results. An option for general anesthesia during implant surgery can be provided by a board certified MD anesthesiologist. Carefully crafted dentures, partials, crowns, veneers and bridges have consistently satisfied the most demanding patients.

Dedicated to providing a positive experience, Dr. Miyamoto takes the time to listen and understand patient’s needs and concerns. Strict infection control practice is enforced to address Covid infection concerns and provide patient protection and peace of mind. “Our mission statement is to always treat patients like family in a caring and compassionate environment,” says Dr. Miyamoto. “Many thanks to our patients and doctors who have supported my practice all these years.”

GENERAL DENTISTRY

Cecile Sebastian, D.D.S.

While many things have changed since last year, one thing has remained the same: Our commitment to your dental health and safety. Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice. We follow and exceed the recommendations of the CDC and OSHA to keep our patients and team safe. The office air is fogged from floor to ceiling three times a day with hypochlorous acid, a DCD- and EPA-approved virus killer. Air purifiers and added personal protective gear are only a few of the added precautions in place.

We have been conveniently and centrally located in a state-of-the-art dental office in downtown Honolulu for over 25 years. Taking a holistic approach to dentistry, our team enjoys changing patients’ lives through physiologic dentistry, which is a comprehensive view of oral health, balance and beauty. It is making sure that the shape and position of the teeth and jaw support natural, pain-free function.

With great care and a gentle touch, our patients make informed decisions about their many treatment options. Well-known for our cutting-edge techniques and advanced dental technology, we provide a wide range of services, from simple fillings to complex restorations or dentures with implants. It’s what makes our work so satisfying—being able to help our patients with different needs and concerns, and sending out a healthier, happier and more beautiful person than when they first walked into our office.

Another secret to our success is our team. Many of us have worked together for over 20 years (or pretty close to it!) and are now more family than co-workers. Patients can see, feel and hear the harmony coming into our office and feel very well taken care of, just like family.

Please visit us at smileinnovationshawaii.com or call (808) 537-2880.

“We combine caring and compassionate care with expertise in cosmetic, implant and physiologic dentistry.”

Cherie C. Uchida-Moribe, D.D.S.

Motivated by the desire to ensure healthy smiles for Hawai‘i’s youth, Dr. Cherie Uchida-Moribe obtained a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree, a post-graduate Specialty Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and became Board Certified which establishes her as a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.

Dr. Uchida-Moribe works side-by-side with her father, Dr. Clyde Y. Uchida, and twin sister, Dr. Renee C. Uchida-Hashizume in two established offices specifically

tailored for children, adolescents, and young adult dental needs with the latest dental technologies while still maintaining a childfriendly welcoming décor. She emphasizes education/prevention and establishing good oral health practices at an early age.

“I would like to thank my peers and colleagues for once again recognizing me as one of HONOLULU Magazine’s Best Dentists. I look forward to continuing to provide our patients with the best level of dental care that earned this recognition.”

KAHALA MALL | 4211 WAIALAE AVE., #3070

HONOLULU, HI 96816 | (808) 739-0878

PEARLRIDGE OFFICE CENTER | 98-211 PALI MOMI, #615 AIEA, HI 96701 | (808) 484-4459

Renee C. Uchida-Hashizume, D.D.S.

American Board of Pediatric Dentistry Certified, Specialty Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry and a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Dr. Renee C. Uchida-Hashizume has the training and education necessary to provide patients with the dental care that every parent expects for their child.

Dr. Uchida-Hashizume works alongside her father, Dr. Clyde Uchida, and twin sister, Dr. Cherie Uchida-Moribe. The doctors maintain two inviting offices that are equipped with the latest dental equipment

and designed for young patients. Dr. UchidaHashizume provides a fun and gentle environment so each patient has a pleasant and rewarding dental experience. She strives to help families prevent dental caries and ensure proper dental habits.

Dr. Uchida-Hashizume wants to thank all of her peers for recognizing her as one of HONOLULU Magazine’s Best Dentists. Dr. Uchida-Hashizume takes great pride in providing the best dental care for Hawai‘i’s children, adolescents and young adults.

KAHALA MALL | 4211 WAIALAE AVE., #3070

HONOLULU, HI 96816 | (808) 739-0878

PEARLRIDGE OFFICE CENTER | 98-211 PALI MOMI, #615 AIEA, HI 96701 | (808) 484-4459

Clyde Y. Uchida, D.D.S., M.S., Inc.

Clyde Y. Uchida, D.D.S., M.S., Inc.

PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

Clyde Y. Uchida, D.D.S., M.S.

As a family pediatric dental practice, I provide two friendly state-of-the-art offices that utilize the latest dental technologies and conveniences that help ensure that each patient has a positive and memorable dental experience. Working side-by-side with my twin daughters, Dr. Renee C. Uchida-Hashizume and Dr. Cherie Uchida-Moribe, who each are recognized as HONOLULU Magazine’s Best Dentists, we enjoy working closely with patients and parents and having them join our family.

With a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree, Specialty Certificate, Masters at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and years of experience treating Hawai‘i’s children, adolescents and young adults, I continue to focus my practice on educating patients and parents on the importance of dental care and early prevention to help maintain healthy, happy smiles.

I am honored to once again be one of HONOLULU Magazine’s Best Dentists and I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to my peers and colleagues. It still brings great joy to hear a patient call out, “Hi, Uncle” or “Hi, Doc OOCH” and I look forward to continuing to provide the best dental care and experience for our patients and parents as we continue to grow.

Clyde

Uchida, D.D.S., M.S., Inc.

Gerald Adachi, D.M.D.

Dr. Gerald Adachi is driven by a passion to bring you personalized, excellent dental care. An emphasis on continuing education keeps him at the forefront of dental technology and techniques to offer the most advanced treatments available. He has served over 30 years with the Hawai‘i Dental Association as part of the Continuing Education Committee and chair of the Dental Education Program.

At Kaka‘ako Smiles, Dr. Adachi and his team are proud to help you create your beautiful, healthy smile with a state-of-theart facility that includes an in-house custom

dental lab, which allows for superior fit and aesthetics. Kaka‘ako Smiles remains committed to your health and has added extra measures, including the addition of four surgical air purifiers and fogging of treatment rooms after each patient, to ensure your safety and peace of mind.

Dr. Adachi has two wonderful children with his wife, Rona: Daniel and Dana Adachi, D.D.S., who, after graduating with highest honors from dental school and completing a general practice residency at USC and Los Angeles VA, now joins her father as Kaka‘ako Smiles’ newest dentist.

Jason C. Ako, D.D.S.

Exceeding patient expectations and earning their trust, confidence and friendship are pillars within the dental practice of Kahala Cosmetic & Family Dentistry and the dental office of Drs. Jason and Austin Ako. Together, dentists Jason and Austin Ako make patient care and wellbeing their top priorities with well explained treatment options, on-time appointments and a comfortable, caring atmosphere. Their patient-centered dental practice offers a wide range of services, including routine dental care, white mercury-free fillings, same-day crowns, implants and full-mouth rehabilitation.

A graduate of Creighton University, Dr. Ako has more than 30 years of experience and is a certified Invisalign provider. Together, both dentists provide services that include implantsupported dentures, computerized 3D Cerec same-day crowns, Cone Beam Technologies and 3D-printed restorations, all in a state-ofthe-art dental office.

Kahala Cosmetic and Family Dentistry offers expanded hours and a safe and continually sanitized environment with dentists that care and are committed to excellence in all areas of patient dental care. We look forward to serving you!

Kahala Cosmetic and Family Dentistry

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

It has been an incredible year. We have all sacrificed to get over this pandemic and it looks like we are doing well. Our office has always been here for you, whether it was to make sure you are taken care of during a dental emergency in the worst period of the pandemic, to now, where we can treat all your dental needs in a safe environment. We thrive on improving the lives of our patients. Our motto is: “A beautiful smile begins with healthy teeth and gums.” When we see our patients smile confidently, we feel we have helped them, both inside and out.

Our staff offers many years of proven experience in the dental field and truly enjoys working with all our wonderful patients. We dedicate ourselves to delivering a high level of service and are fully equipped to serve all your dental needs in a safe and comfortable environment. We welcome all our new and existing patients as well, because taking great care of all patients, their lives will have been improved and they will have the confidence to refer their friends and family.

Visit HawaiiGeneralDentist.com for all your dental questions.

Allen K. Hirai, D.D.S.

Allen K. Hirai, D.D.S.

A cornerstone of Dr. Allen K. Hirai’s treatment philosophy is having parents as active partners in ensuring preventive dental care from the office to the home. Many patients appreciate that Dr. Hirai, a nonpharmacological (non-sedation) behavior management specialist, will care for their children without the use of mind-altering sedation medications.

With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Hirai takes great pride in seeing his young patients grow up into productive and active young adults with healthy smiles. Each child receives exceptional comprehensive dental care as an individual who is nurtured and supported in their experience in his office, thanks to his long-time and loyal staff.

A cornerstone of Dr. Allen K. Hirai’s treatment philosophy is having parents as active partners in ensuring preventive dental care from the office to the home. Many patients appreciate that Dr. Hirai, a non-pharmacological (non-sedation) behavior management specialist, will care for their children without the use of mind-altering sedation medications. With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Hirai takes great pride in seeing his young patients grow up into productive and active young adults with healthy smiles. Each child receives exceptional comprehensive dental care as an individual who is nurtured and supported in their experience in his office, thanks to his long-time and loyal staff.

“My daughter used to hate going to the dentist. Ever since being referred to Dr. Hirai, I don’t need to fight with her to go anymore. She now loves going to the dentist and wishes that she could go and see him more often.”

“My daughter used to hate going to the dentist. Ever since being referred to Dr. Hirai, I don’t need to fight with her to go anymore. She now loves going to the dentist and wishes that she could go and see him more often.”

– Melissa B.

– Melissa B.

PERIODONTICS

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

I would like to thank my colleagues and their staff for their continued support in providing the best care for our patients. Celebrating 27 years of service in 2021, we continue our very personalized approach to patient care and management, from consultation through treatment. I personally sit down with patients to explain in detail what their diagnosis and treatment options are and to assure them that their referring dentist is always informed. I could not achieve this without the superb team effort of my longstanding staff.

We continue to utilize and update our technology: Cone Beam (3D) radiographic

imaging, digital surface scanning of the dentition, 3D printing, laser-assisted surgeries, Piezo-electric surgical procedures, cancer/tumor diagnostic instruments, damaged tissue regeneration, as well as for plastic/esthetic surgical procedures. I also enjoy sharing knowledge as an international lecturer and Associate Professor at the University of Hawai‘i Dental Hygiene Program.

PERIODONTICS

Nicholas J. Fujii, D.D.S.

Born and raised on Oahu, I graduated from Hawaii Baptist Academy in 2004, followed by the University of Hawaii at Manoa 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. Periodontics & Dental Implants

1441 KAPIOLANI BLVD., SUITE 616 | HONOLULU, HI 96814 I (808) 947-3333 98-211 PALI MOMI, SUITE 710 | AIEA, HI 96701 | WWW.HAWPIA.COM

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

Since establishing the Pacific Maxillofacial Center in 1999, Dr. Todd Haruki has enjoyed helping patients achieve their goals of improved oral health and overall wellness. While Dr. Haruki focuses on wisdom teeth extractions and dental implant surgery, he offers a wide range of procedures including dentoalveolar surgery, managing facial fractures, orthognathic surgery, and managing oral and facial pathology.

With the addition of Dr. Neil Oishi in 2017, Pacific Maxillofacial Center became the only practice on Oahu that has surgeons who are certified by the American Board of

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, are medically licensed physicians, and are licensed dentists.

Pacific Maxillofacial Center offers the latest technological advances including cone beam CT scan and CT guided dental implant surgery. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the practice has also implemented Surgically Clean Air purifiers and hypocholorous fogging to ensure the safety of all patients and team members.

“There’s a difference between treating patients and caring for patients. Our team understands this and strives to give our patients the excellent care that they deserve.”

MAIN OFFICE | 1060 YOUNG STREET, SUITE 312

HONOLULU, HI 96814 | (808) 585-8455

WAIPIO OFFICE | 94-1221 KA UKA BOULEVARD, SUITE B204

WAIPAHU, HI 96797 | (808) 676-9560

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

Dr. Neil 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.

Dr. Oishi joined Dr. Todd Haruki at Pacific Maxillofacial Center, which focuses on wisdom teeth removal, dental implant

placement and bone grafting procedures. They continue to incorporate the latest techniques and technologies to provide better outcomes and a more comfortable patient experience.

“…After a very informative consultation with Dr. Oishi it was apparent my choice to come to this Center was a wise one. This is the type of Dr. and Center you definitely need to consider. You will not be dissatisfied. You are literally treated like Family.”

—Yelp Review

MAIN OFFICE | 1060 YOUNG STREET, SUITE 312

HONOLULU, HI 96814 | (808) 585-8455

WAIPIO OFFICE | 94-1221 KA UKA BOULEVARD, SUITE B204

WAIPAHU, HI 96797 | (808) 676-9560

Garrett Hayashi, D.D.S.

I am honored to have the patients that I do – each one special with unique dental needs, and each entrusting my great team and me to always do the right thing to provide superior dental care. With 27 years of practice in comprehensive, interdisciplinary dentistry provided with compassionate care, this local-born Mid-Pacific graduate treats patients by drawing on all dentistry fields using only proven science-based techniques. Got a cracked tooth or a terrible toothache? Need an implant restored or a wedding-ready smile? I strive for excellence in a health-centric, esthetic-based model of oral care. We offer the latest dental advancements, including CEREC, Invisalign,

low-radiation digital radiography and iTero scanner for impressions. During this time of COVID, our entire team received their vaccines, including booster shots. We also have HEPA filters in each operatory, extra-oral suction devices to rid the air of droplets, and several layers of personal protective equipment.

Committed to continuing education, I learn from the best. For this University of Washington dental school graduate, these include Spears Dental Learning Center, Kois Dental Institute Hawaii Dental Forum, and a trusted list of specialists.

Our convenient downtown Honolulu location is mindful of patients’ busy lives, offering three 10-hour work days weekly.

Honored to be selected by my peers as one of 2022’s Best Dentists and with more than 30 years of experience, I feel privileged to serve my wonderful patients in this exciting era for dentistry. My knowledgeable staff welcomes you to a warm, comfortable and safe office where you are ensured of the latest innovations and new technologies in cutting edge dental care.

Dental implants are a specialty, now done faster and more precisely with planning software and computer-guided implants. It’s so satisfying to see patients with dentures

upgrading themselves to fixed teeth so they can smile with confidence and chew comfortably. We also offer 3D Cone Beam CT scans to better diagnose dental problems than x-rays; more durable computerized porcelain crowns; faster, more comfortable Rotary Endodontics for root canals; and sedation dentistry and computerized anesthesia for your comfort and assurance. Providing individualized treatment plans, we strive for preventive care after work is done to ensure you of a lifetime of excellent dental health.

PAUAHI TOWER 1003 BISHOP ST STE 393, HONOLULU, HI 96813-6409 (808) 536-5090 | ABISHOPSTREETDENTAL.COM

Stephen R. Ho, D.D.S.

GENERAL

438 HOBRON LN., SUITE 209 | HONOLULU, HI 96815 (808) 949-4288 | STEPHENRHO.COM

ORTHODONTICS

Curtis N. Kamisugi, D.D.S.,

Dr. Curtis Kamisugi continually raises the bar in orthodontics one smile at a time. Holding a D.D.S. with high distinction and a master’s degree in orthodontics from Indiana University, he perpetually updates his practice to perfect patients’ results and enhance their experiences.

Dr. Kamisugi’s intraoral photographic scanner, allowing impressions without using uncomfortable trays and alginate, is greatly appreciated by his patients. Also, his highly trained staff ’s unique bracket placement techniques enable the application of braces in half the time of traditional application. For busy families, his offices—‘Aiea and Mililani—both utilize online appointments

M.S.D.

and receive phone, email and text. His practice’s AOAC team, certified by the leading national provider of orthodontic assisting and clinical training, has earned this distinguished achievement annually by completing countless hours of continuing education and passing rigorous testing on orthodontic technique and theory. It is offered to practices with a majority of team members passing a comprehensive curriculum and testing program.

Dr. Kamisugi and staff embody the aloha spirit in their friendly service to patients. What makes the difference is that throughout treatment and thereafter, everyone feels a part of the ‘ohana.

‘AIEA | 98-211 PALI MOMI ST., #500 MILILANI | 95-390 KUAHELANI AVE., SUITE 1-A | (808) 483-3000 | KAMISUGI-ORTHO.COM

DRCURTISKAMISUGI | SMILEDESIGNERSINC

GENERAL DENTISTRY

Reid T. Koyanagi, D.D.S.

Years of Experience

I graduated from Creighton University School of Dentistry in 2001. I am a member of the American Dental Association, Hawaii Dental Association, and Honolulu County Dental Society.

What Sets Your Office Apart

We strive to build relationships with our patients. We want them to feel comfortable expressing their goals and understanding all of their options. We also do our best to stay up-to-date on current techniques so that we can provide the best care for our patients.

Thank you

A special thank you to our wonderful patients for giving us the opportunity and pleasure of working with them throughout the year. Thank you also to my staff for their hard work and dedication. Last, but not least, thank you to my family for their love and support.

Interests

Traveling, BBQing & spending time with family and friends!

Scott Masunaga, D.D.S.

“I have the best job in the world!” proclaims Dr. Scott Masunaga about his passion for orthodontics: Creating a dynamic, esthetic smile along with a balanced and enduring dental bite for all of his patients.

“Achieving excellent orthodontic results challenges orthodontists to draw on their skill and training to change a patient’s ‘phenotype’ (an individual’s observable, genetically influenced appearance), and especially those of adolescent children, to shape their jaws and teeth into cosmetically pleasing facial features and smiles as they mature.

“A skilled orthodontist achieves ‘growth shaping’ by making scientifically based

decisions in prescribing the proper treatment, but whose true quality takes decades to evaluate. A continuous accumulation of orthodontic techniques and knowledge are therefore necessary to attain outstanding and effective lifelong results.”

He was inspired and mentored by his father, Dr. Glenn Masunaga, one of Hawaii’s first licensed orthodontists, who named his practice, “Orthodontic Arts,” in recognition of this relationship of science and art. Dr. Scott thanks his peers for recognizing his unwavering commitment to providing outstanding orthodontic treatment.

Je rey K. Miyazawa, D.D.S.

For over 25 years, Dr. Jeffrey K. Miyazawa has been Windward O‘ahu’s leader in providing comprehensive dental care with an emphasis on cosmetic and contemporary restorative dentistry.

A graduate of ‘Iolani School, Creighton University and several post-graduate institutions, Dr. Miyazawa continues his education of current best practices through the American Society of Implant and Reconstructive Dentistry (ASIRD). His affiliations include the ADA, HDA, Honolulu County Dental Society and ASIRD. He is a trustee for the Hawai‘i Dental Association and former Chairman of the Hawai‘i Dental Board.

He is humbled by the trust of his many multi-generational patient families. One patient describes his practice: “When you walk into Dr. Jeff ’s office, there’s a certain feeling of aloha that is genuine. He is excellent at what he does. He cares about us. We started going to him many years ago; now our kids take their kids to him.”

Dr. Miyazawa acknowledges that his accomplishments are possible because of his faith and his family. He is grateful to his loyal patients, dedicated staff and colleagues for this honor by HONOLULU Magazine and for the pleasure of serving this community.

ORTHODONTICS

Tammy Chang-Motooka, D.D.S., M.S.

Professional Education and Experience

• Graduated with Distinction, University of Missouri, Kansas City Dental School

• MS, Oral Biology and Certificate in Orthodontics, Northwestern University Dental School

• Hawaii Director of the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontics

• Advisor, Hawaii Dental Forum

• Many years of experience serving all ages

What Sets You Apart?

Excelling in cutting-edge orthodontic technologies, our office offers impressionfree digital scans, esthetic Symetri Ceramic and Iconix gold bracket systems, digital radiography and digital communication

options like email, phone and text appointment reminders. Hawaii Orthodontist also has achieved the Invisalign Diamond Provider status, limited to 1% of practitioners nationwide. Our associate, Dr. Shelliann Kawamoto, adds innovative treatment philosophies and fresh ideas to our practice.

Proudest Accomplishments

Achieving my dream of becoming an orthodontist and working with other dental professionals to help patients achieve their goals for a beautiful, healthy smile. Being team captain of a caring, energetic and attentive staff committed to serving others. Most importantly, being blessed with my wonderful family.

ORTHODONTICS

As a former orthodontic patient, I understand the power of a transformed smile. Our goal is to create beautiful and healthy smiles that enhance self-esteem and self-confidence. Since 2008 I have been in practice with Dr. Tammy Chang-Motooka. Together, we offer our combined years of experience and the latest in innovative technology. We continue to stay current with improvements in orthodontic appliances and treatment modalities through persistence with continuing education. Our skilled and friendly orthodontic team enables us to

provide high quality orthodontic care and exceptional service for patients of all ages. I obtained my doctorate of Dental Surgery, certificate in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics and Master of Science in Oral Biology degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

I am a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists, and past president of the Honolulu County Dental Society (2010) and Hawaii Society of Orthodontists (2011).

| HAWAIIORTHODONTIST.COM

Hawaii Orthodontist

Shelliann Kawamoto, D.D.S., M.S. ALA MOANA BUILDING, SUITE 503 | KUNIA SHOPPING CENTER C103 (808) 947-3737 | HAWAIIORTHODONTIST.COM

Hawaii Orthodontist

Dr. Dennis Nagata, D.D.S

A general and cosmetic dentist with over 40 years of experience in his field, Dr. Nagata specializes in comprehensive cosmetic dentistry, TMJ problems, implantology and airway-focused dentistry. He is trained and certified to treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) using oral appliances and Nightlase® snoring reduction therapy, and is a Premier Provider for Invisalign® clear aligners. Dr. Nagata’s expertise and dedication combine artistry and technology to give his patients smiles that exude confidence, beauty and well-being.

Dr. Nagata serves as a voluntary member of the Board of Dentistry for the state of Hawaii and is a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, the American Dental Association and the Pierre Fauchard Academy, a volunteer-run nonprofit organization dedicated to raising the professional standards of dentistry. He is currently serving patients’ dental needs at Landmark Dental Group in Honolulu.

Riichiro Sato, D.D.S.

A person’s personality and way of thinking is greatly influenced by his or her parents, friends and childhood environment. And Dr. Riichiro Sato’s thoughts on dentistry and the way he practices are direct reflections of his unique background and international experiences.

Raised by two physicians, Dr. Sato took the fundamental traits and keen curiosity passed down from his parents and applied them to the field of dentistry. Through personal years of research, teaching and clinical practice, he believes that it is always important to know and understand the concept of evidence-based dentistry from a scientific viewpoint in order to achieve good results.

At the same time, he understands that there exist many barriers preventing the dentist from proceeding with the “ideal” treatment plan. Thus, he stresses the importance of effective communication—being both a technician as well as an educator—so that patients can fully understand what needs to be done in order to achieve success.

Fluent in Japanese and English, and having received dental licenses from both countries, Dr. Sato has the unique advantage of analyzing dental cases using experiences from both worlds. Currently, he is a visiting professor at Iwate Medical University in Japan, as well as chairman of the Hawai‘i chapter of the American College of Dentists.

Landmark Dental Group, LLC

GENERAL

Esther Oak, D.M.D.

Dr. Esther Oak is proud to serve her community here on Oahu. With gentle and compassionate hands, she strives to provide the highest quality of care. Ever since she was a little girl, Dr. Oak had a flair for both science and art, and always knew that she wanted to work with people. For Dr. Oak, practicing dentistry brings out the perfect blend of her strengths.

Dr. Oak earned her DMD degree at the University of New England College of Dental Medicine, where she was awarded the Oral Health Scholarship Award and the International College of Dentists Leadership Award USA Section for academic excellence and

demonstration in leadership. To Dr. Oak, her patients’ comfort comes first. She says, “The best part of my job is genuinely connecting with my patients. I consider all aspects of my patients’ lives for optimized individualized care.”

When she’s not busy designing smiles and building relationships with her patients, she enjoys painting, appreciating the islands’ beauty, and spending quality time with family and friends. With state-of-the-art equipment in the office, Dr. Oak is happy to offer digital scanning, dental implant therapy using a 3D navigation system, cosmetic dentistry, teeth whitening, and Invisalign.

Ivan Colón, D.D.S.

For the many people that struggle with dental anxiety, Dr. Colón is proud to offer painless and anesthetic injection-free treatments through the use of the Solea laser. “The best part of my job is watching patients transition from being anxious and nervous to relaxed and comfortable as a result of the care I was able to provide. I love making dentistry easy for people,” says Dr. Colón. “My mindset is: ‘How you do anything is how you do everything.’ When this energy is paired with genuine care and empathy, the result is fully individualized care delivered at the highest level.”

Dr. Colón earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at Loma Linda University, where he stayed on as a clinical instructor before moving to Hawai‘i. He has now been practicing on O‘ahu for 12 years, recently serving two terms as secretary of the Honolulu County Dental Society, and is a member of the Hawai‘i Dental Association and the American Dental Association. He enjoys spending his free time with his wife and two (soon to be three!) daughters and trail running in the beautiful mountains of O‘ahu.

David Sumikawa, D.D.S., M.S.

It’s an honor to be included in the list of Best Dentists alongside my partners and our wonderful team of staff. Their commitment to our patients and the community inspires me every day. I am so appreciative of this recognition from our peers.

Trust

Parenting my own two children has taught me more than I could imagine, and those lessons guide the way I approach my patients and families. Every child and situation is unique so we keep that in mind with each encounter. We treat all children with the level of care and understanding that we would give to our own family, and

we listen to the desires and concerns of their parents.

Education

I graduated from Northwestern University Dental School, and completed my pediatric dentistry residency and earned my Master of Science degree at the University of California-San Francisco. I am board certified in pediatric dentistry.

Community Service

I volunteer on the faculty at The Queen’s Medical Center Dental Clinic. I am also on the clinical staff with the Cleft and Craniofacial Center at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children.

Mark Sumikawa, D.D.S., M.S.

Our practice strives to provide each child with the most positive experience possible. Our doctors and staff understand that each child is unique, and we design our approach to fit the needs of each individual child.

Practice Philosophy

We maintain an open-door policy that welcomes parents into the treatment area.  This allows the parents to become more active participants in the oral health of their child. Although we are the ones providing the care at the office, it is the parents who are in charge on a day-to-day basis at home.

Education

I graduated from dental school at the University of California-Los Angeles, and completed my pediatric dentistry residency and earned my Master’s degree at the University of California-San Francisco.

Thank You

A big thank you to our wonderful staff for making our office a special place. None of this would be possible without all of you. I would also like to thank my wife and two sons for their love and support and for inspiring me each day.

Lauren Jenni Imai, D.D.S., M.S.

I was born and raised in Honolulu and am a graduate of ‘Iolani School. Knowing early on that my career interests focused on dentistry, I pursued and graduated from the combined, accelerated B.A./D.D.S. program from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. While in dental school I realized my interest in dentistry focused on the oral healthcare of children and adolescents. Following dental school I completed my pediatric dentistry residency at the University of California-San Francisco and also earned a master of science (M.S.) in oral and craniofacial sciences.

Our practice strives to develop and maintain a positive attitude towards dentistry for all of our patients. Working with children is a dynamic experience and we are constantly discovering new ways to improve every day. I am fortunate to work with an amazing team in order to achieve this goal.

Pediatric dentistry is a special field that involves working with not only the child patient, but his or her family as well. Chasing after my daughters provides me with the insight to assist me in this endeavor.

GENERAL DENTISTRY

Mason A. Savage, D.D.S.

Trust It is my privilege and honor to not only serve my patients but to call them friends. Trust is built over time and has become harder to come by in the hurried culture we find ourselves. Every person deserves personalized, compassionate care based on their clinical needs, as well as their own dental “vision.” Taking the time to co-discover and develop a plan to make your dental “vision” a reality is the foundation of our practice.

Confidence To help us ensure patients receive the highest quality of care, we use the most state-of-the-art technology, including digital X-rays. Investing over 80 hours

a year to continuing education ensures we stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in dentistry.

Precision Our office has incorporated the latest in CAD/CAM digital technology. By virtually eliminating traditional impressions, we have the ability to digitally scan your teeth, design and provide beautiful, custom restorations in a fraction of the time—often the same day!

Affiliations/Study Clubs Hawaii Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, Academy of Dentistry International, Terry Tanaka Prosthodontic Study Club, Richard V. Tucker Cast Gold Study Club

“Mahalo Lorine, Liza, Laura, Christy, Jennifer & Our Family of Amazing Dental Studios. I am thankful and humbled you are part of my team!”

MALL | 4211 WAI‘ALAE AVE., SUITE 210 | HONOLULU, HI 96816 (808) 734-5671 | SMILESBYSAVAGE.COM

Derek Takai, D.D.S.

Professional Education And Experience

I am a proud graduate of Punahou School, the University of Washington and its School of Dentistry, serving as a faculty instructor on implants and restorative dentistry. With over 15 years in private practice, I love what I do.

What Sets You Apart?

My passionate commitment for high quality and best outcomes dental care includes contacting my patients following procedures to check on their overall well-being. I believe effective treatment extends to identifying my patients’ concerns and calming their fears. Communication is essential for a strong

doctor-patient relationship to improve health outcomes by ensuring clear understanding of patients’ dental needs and meeting their priorities. In 2018, Honolulu native and also a graduate of UW’s School of Dentistry Dr. Lauren Weiss joined our dental ‘ohana. Our growing team has increased our accessibility to provide skilled and compassionate dentistry.

Contribution To Community

In honor of the dedication of my mentors, Drs. William Vogt and Walter Ching, I continue their mentorship tradition by sharing my knowledge with others to aspire to a career in dentistry. Coaching Punahou’s varsity football team is my small way of giving back to a school that gave me so much.

I would like to thank my family, sta and our newest addition to the team, Dr. Lauren Weiss, who I am blessed and proud to call my partner. Together, we look forward to serving you the best dental care possible. Mahalo!

Lauren Weiss, D.D.S.

Born and raised in Honolulu, Dr. Lauren Weiss is a graduate of ‘Iolani School, Boston College and the University of Washington School of Dentistry. After shadowing Dr. Derek Takai for several years throughout undergrad and dental school, she joined his practice in 2018.

Dr. Weiss shares the team’s passion for service that goes above and beyond. “We take pride in providing high-quality care and want every person who walks through our doors to feel comfortable, calm and stress-free,” she says. She says the best part of her job is when patients say they now look forward to dental visits because they love the experience.

Dr. Weiss takes the time to educate her patients on their treatment options and the importance of dental habits for overall health.

“I know I’ve done my job when patients tell me they are now motivated to take care of their teeth,” she says. “I also love being able to raise a person’s confidence by giving them a smile that they are proud to show off to the world!”

Dr. Weiss would like to acknowledge the entire dental team, all of whom play a large role in creating an amazing experience that keeps patients coming back.

4211 WAIALAE AVE., SUITE 210 | HONOLULU, HI 96816 | (808) 732-1424 | KAHALADENTIST.COM

Richard Tamaru, D.M.D.

Honored to be named one of Hawaii’s Best Dentists for 2022, Dr. Richard Tamaru is humbled and grateful to be recognized by his peers. With 35 years of practice in general dentistry, he feels fortunate to have developed positive, collaborative relationships with excellent specialists and dental laboratories to provide a high level of care for his patients. He and his friendly and experienced staff strive to make each patient feel comfortable and confident entrusting him with their dental health. Focused on thoughtful and personalized patient care, Dr. Tamaru’s team points to long-standing, genuine relationships with

patients as the cornerstone of his practice. Born and raised in Honolulu, Dr. Tamaru graduated with honors from the Oregon Health Sciences University School of Dentistry. He extended his training by completing the general dentistry residency program at St. Francis Medical Center and currently serves as attending staff at Queen’s Medical Center’s dental residency program. Dr. Tamaru and his staff are language trained bilingually in English and Japanese, serving local residents as well as patients from abroad.

T.

We want to take this time to acknowledge our friends and colleagues who have risen to meet exceptional challenges over the past two years to provide the safest and best dental care possible to their patients. We are grateful for their extraordinary care in normal circumstances and remain impressed by how quickly our profession united to encourage and assist each other

M.S.

during these challenging times. We are proud to be a part of this community of dental providers who care for patients and one another.

Dean Sueda, D.D.S., M.S.

Dr. Dean Sueda has been providing superior dental care for Hawai‘i’s keiki since 1980. During this time, he has earned the trust and confidence, not only of his fellow dentists, but of thousands of his patients and their parents. Believing in providing a safe and nurturing environment, Dr. Sueda goes beyond simply providing high quality dentistry for his patients. He educates his patients and families for a lifetime of good oral health. In fact, many past patients now bring their children and grandchildren to him because they know they will be treated as family. His community work also involves children, including coaching youth sports,

Honolulu Keiki Dental

1441 KAPIOLANI BLVD., SUITE 617

HONOLULU, HI 96814 | (808) 944-1603

HONOLULUKEIKIDENTAL.COM

speaking engagements at schools, and volunteering for medical/dental missions for underserved families in Thailand, Majuro, Philippines and Nepal.

Dr. Sueda and his associate, Dr. JJ Chun, and Dr. Sueda’s two children, Drs. Stacie Sueda and Stephen Sueda have opened a second state-of-the-art, kid-friendly office in Kapolei, where the same high quality, conversational approach to dental care/ treatment is practiced.

Dr. Sueda is humbled and sincerely thanks his dedicated staff, his peers and colleagues and family for his continuous recognition as a “BEST DENTIST.”

Kapolei Keiki Dental

4450 KAPOLEI PKWY #570

KAPOLEI, HI 96707 | (808) 944-1020

KAPOLEIKEIKIDENTAL.COM

Stacie Sueda, D.D.S.

As part of a family-owned practice in pediatric dentistry, Dr. Stacie Sueda takes pride in providing excellent dental care for children as well as creating a fun, comfortable and child-friendly environment to put every child at ease.

“We really stress the importance of educating parents and their children, in a conversational approach, about each individual patient’s dental conditions, recommended procedures, and how to set our young patients up to be the best adult patients they can be,” says Dr. Stacie who earned her dental degree from University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry.

Honolulu Keiki Dental

1441 KAPIOLANI BLVD., SUITE 617

HONOLULU, HI 96814 | (808) 944-1603

HONOLULUKEIKIDENTAL.COM

A graduate of Hawaii Baptist Academy and Siena College in Loudonville, New York, Dr. Stacie completed her M.S. in pediatric dentistry from University of Michigan. Volunteering with Aloha Medical Mission Group, she has worked abroad providing free dental care for the underprivileged.

With a friendly staff bringing over 25 years of dental care experience, the practice offers a completely digital office with state-of-theart facilities and full services. They include interceptive and full orthodontic treatments, including Invisalign®, and continual care for their older special needs patients.

Kapolei Keiki Dental

4450 KAPOLEI PKWY #570

KAPOLEI, HI 96707 | (808) 944-1020

KAPOLEIKEIKIDENTAL.COM

Stephen Sueda, D.D.S.

Dr. Stephen Sueda proudly joins his sister, Stacie, and father, Dean, this year as Honolulu Keiki Dental’s newest Best Dentist. The pediatric dentist completed his residency at the University of Michigan before joining the family practice in 2020.

For Dr. Sueda, the most rewarding part of being a pediatric dentist is teaching keiki good habits that benefit them for the rest of their lives. “Our goal is not only to give our patients nice, healthy smiles, but also to shape them into adults that can maintain

Honolulu Keiki Dental

1441 KAPIOLANI BLVD., SUITE 617

HONOLULU, HI 96814 | (808) 944-1603

HONOLULUKEIKIDENTAL.COM

their oral health,” he says. He says growing up with a father who is also pediatric dentist showed him how much of a positive impact he can have on others. Building great, long-lasting relationships is important to the dentists at Honolulu Pediatric Dental, who make an effort to get to know their patients’ parents and families during each appointment. “When you think about it, it’s so cool that we are able to help families as a family,” Dr. Sueda says. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Kapolei Keiki Dental

4450 KAPOLEI PKWY #570

KAPOLEI, HI 96707 | (808) 944-1020

KAPOLEIKEIKIDENTAL.COM

D.D.S.

Dr. Michael Umaki and his staff value excellence and continuously strive to do what’s best for their patients, using a blend of knowledge, skill and kindness to create a welcoming environment and an experience that leaves their patients healthy and happy.

With the additional health concerns caused by COVID-19, a new importance has been placed on creating a safe environment for patients. New protocols have been implemented to ensure safety and social distancing, including: new equipment and technology installed to reduce the chances of and contamination from the air; instal-

lation of barriers, UV air filters and highvolume, extra-oral suctions; face shields; and N95 masks. Additionally, Dr. Umaki was one of the first dentists to incorporate advanced plasma field air filters, which force the air and any floating aerosols through a laser plasma field, effectively killing any viral particles.

Now, more than ever, it is comforting to know that the surgeon you go to cares about you and is going out of his way to keep you healthy. Dr. Umaki and his staff are committed to the safe, first-rate treatment of their patients and look forward to helping you get the treatment you need.

in Hawaiʻi

Candace Wada, D.D.S.

In her work perfecting smiles for over 35 years, Dr. Candace Wada genuinely loves dentistry, serving her patients as an accessible caregiver and active listener. Through preventive care, teeth replacement and implant dentistry, her bustling practice thrives with a long list of happy patients. She and her friendly, knowledgeable staff provide up-to-date treatment options and assist patients with their dental insurance in a gentle, caring family-style environment.

Dr. Wada has been an examiner for the ADEX dental licensure exam for ten years. This lifelong learner stays current with the latest dental techniques through seminars and conferences. Volunteering to help the

needy through Donated Dental Services and Give Back a Smile, she also mentors high school and college students interested in dentistry.

Now enjoying working with her son, Dr. Robert Wada, in a true “family practice,” she offers a newly expanded and renovated stateof-the-art and patient-centered office. During the COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure patients’ and her staff ’s safety, they have gone above and beyond all CDC and ADA recommended precautions.

Huge thanks go to her hard-working and dedicated staff for making her success possible. She feels honored and blessed by colleagues and peers who chose her as one of HONOLULU Magazine’s Best Dentists.

Robert Wada, D.D.S.

Growing up around a dental practice, ‘Iolani graduate Dr. Robert Wada saw firsthand how rewarding dentistry can be. After graduating from the University of Oregon in 2008, he went on to earn his dental degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2015 and joined the family practice.

With a newly renovated office and some of the latest technology such as CAD/CAM dentistry, Dr. Wada aims to provide his patients with personalized care in a warm family environment. Staying current with techniques and materials is important to Dr.

Wada who attends numerous study clubs and seminars. Another passion of his is giving back to the community by volunteering with Donated Dental Services.

He would like to thank his mother, Dr. Candace Wada for being his inspiration and his staff for always going the extra mile to make the patients feel at home. “Building trust with my patients with quality, comfortable and personalized care is a priority,” says Dr. Wada, who looks forward to developing long term, lifelong relationships with his patients.

Kahala Smile Professionals, LLC

Ryan H. Yim, D.D.S.

The road to a healthy smile begins with the right treatment. At Periodontal Specialists of Hawaii, now under the ownership of Dr. Ryan Yim, patients will continue to receive quality, compassionate dental care.

Alongside a team of highly trained specialists and caring staff, Dr. Yim is dedicated to restoring the health and beauty of your smile through a collaborative approach, working with your dentist to find the most comfortable and effective plan for you. His office offers traditional regenerative treatment for gum disease, periodontal plastic surgery

Periodontal Specialists of Hawaii

to improve the look of receding gums, and guided dental implants to replace missing teeth. Additionally, Dr. Yim is experienced in minimally invasive techniques such as tunneling for soft-tissue grafting and LANAP laser gum surgery.

All members of the team at Periodontal Specialists of Hawaii are board-certified practitioners and current members of the American Academy of Periodontology, American Dental Association, and Hawai‘i Dental Association. Periodontal Specialists of Hawaii is conveniently located in the Ala Moana Building, with a new satellite office in Kaneohe.

Allison Tran, D.D.S.

Focusing on quality service with a compassionate and gentle approach, Dr. Allison Tran adds modern techniques to evidence-based periodontal therapy to provide effective, lasting solutions to periodontal issues. Using state-of-the-art digital imaging technology, computerized records and a collaborative approach to care, she communicates closely with the patient and their referring dentist to create an individualized treatment plan that works best for them. Her practice offers a wide range of services including dental implants, treatments for receding gums, periodontal disease, and bone grafting and other regenerative procedures.

Dr. Tran and her team of caring, serviceoriented staff offer their services at two locations on O‘ahu. She is an attending periodontist in Queen’s Medical Center’s dental division and is an active member of the American Dental Association, Hawai‘i Dental Association, Honolulu County Dental Society, American Academy of Periodontology, Terry Tanaka Study Club and American Board of Periodontology. She is proud to be board-certified in her specialty, an achievement beyond the mandatory educational requirements for periodontics. She is also grateful to her husband and family, whose loving continual support makes this all possible.

P. Tran, D.D.S. LLC Periodontal Specialists of Hawaii

Ken Yasuhara, D.D.S.

I am humbled and honored to have been included in this issue of HONOLULU Magazine’s Best Dentists. This honor is not just for me, but also for those who I am associated with. Much of what has been accomplished in our practice could not have happened without the contributions and support of an awesome team. Thank you!

To those who have entrusted their dental care to us, we will always strive to provide quality dental care with competency,

integrity and compassion. We keep current with the latest advances in the art and science of dentistry, and will ensure that you are informed of, and have the opportunity to receive, these services.

Our goal is to partner with you in creating and maintaining a healthy, vibrant smile. A great smile can change far more than just the way you look. A great smile can often change the way you look—at life! Call us today for a complimentary consultation.

CONGRATULATIONS

to all the dentists recognized this year for their expertise, experience and reassuring chairside manner. Thank you for helping us smile brighter before, during and after each visit.

HEALTHY LIVING

HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS WORTH KNOWING.

In this special section, you’ll meet some of Hawai‘i’s dentists, their teams and other professionals who can help you and your family achieve a healthy and happy life.

Joined by a team of friendly, attentive sta , 2022 BEST DENTIST

DR. BERWYN ITO o ers 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.

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

“Thank you to my colleagues in the Hawai‘i Dental Forum for continuing to inspire me to o er the best dental care I possible can. Thank you to our patients for their trust and confidence in us. Lastly, thank you to my sta for making us as successful as we are.

DR. BERWYN Y. ITO

in Hawaiʻi

HDS, HMSA, HMAA, CIGNA AND MOST DENTAL INSURANCE ACCEPTED

Considering Dental Implants? Choose an ASIRD qualified team.

The American Society of Implant and Reconstructive Dentistry (ASIRD) is a nationwide not-for-profit association dedicated to educating consumers on the value of dental implants and the importance of choosing an experienced surgeon and dentist team.

By using an ASIRD dental implant team, rest assured that your dentist routinely restores and maintains dental implants, and only a board certified or ASIRD trained surgeon will place your implant. By actively participating together in ASIRD qualified dental implant education programs, your team of doctors is able to offer you cutting edge technologies and advanced innovations that are customized to you in a safe and comfortable environment. Learn more about ASIRD and these dentists online at ASIRD.org

When you work with an ASIRD dentist, you know your dentist has completed extensive qualified continuing education. They must complete didactic and hands-on clinical training in technology, aesthetics and dental health. In addition, ASIRD dentists complete a rigorous clinical peer review process which requires a high degree of commitment and skill.

Congratulations to Hawaii’s top ASIRD dentists!

These dentists have met the ASIRD membership renewal requirements for 2022.

Dr. Keiko Watanabe

Dr. Chris Young

Dr. Emory Young

Dr. Robert Wada

Dr. Candace Wada

Dr. Douglas Wrobel

Dr. Keith Uehara

Dr. Jill Uehara

Dr. Garret Uehara

Dr. Sheri Tyau

Dr. Cathy Tsunehiro

Dr. Jon Tanabe

Dr. Laura Suzuki

Dr. Angela Su

Dr. Wes Sato

Dr. Riichiro Sato

Dr. Nestor Santiago

Dr. Ted Sakamoto

Dr. Jaclyn Palola

Dr. Michael Okano

Dr. Tina Mukai

Dr. Jeff Miyazawa

Dr. Ronald Mau

Dr. Zach Lee

Dr. Bonnie Lau

Dr. Theresa Kuo

Dr. Brian Kim

Dr. Jay Kanegawa

Dr. Marsha Tanabe

Dr. Russell Imanaka

Dr. Nelson Hatanaka

Dr. Glenn Hanada

Dr. Carla Fukumoto

Dr. David Chen

Dr. Randall Chang

Dr. Jo Ann Chang

ono

Food and Drink in Hawai‘i

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT P.103

BY MARTHA CHENG | PHOTOS BY OLIVIER KONING

Bar Method

Two bars debut, delivering some of Honolulu’s most luxurious and creative experiences—but are they worth the price tag?

The Freddie 2.0, a $30 drink at Podmore

IN NOVEMBER 2018, within days of each other, two bars announced their forthcoming debuts. Both would be built from scratch—one anchoring the ground floor of a historic building, the other a sliver carved out of a new condo development. One would evoke a swanky London, the other a secretive Japan.

They were our town’s most anticipated bars, the sophomore endeavors of some of our most lauded restaurateurs locally and nationally: husband-and-wife Anthony Rush and Katherine Nomura of Senia, and Tom and Justin Park, no relation, of Bar Leather Apron.

It took three years for them to open. In that time the world changed. In that time, they dealt with messy breakups from the same business partner. When both bars finally released reservations last summer, it was during Hawai‘i’s worst COVID-19 surge.

I went to both the month they opened—August—but warily. On one hand, I was excited

to go to a bar with friends, to drink creations by some of Honolulu’s most imaginative minds. On the other, I wondered, what did it mean to go to a place that was conceived before the pandemic, that plowed through to open without outdoor seating and with labor intensive dishes and drinks in a time when labor was scarce? And $30 drinks and $125 omakase? Was it a triumph of spirit or was it triviality? In the beginning, we thought COVID-19 would change everything. In the end, did it change nothing? Clearly, the pandemic had given me a lot of time for existential questioning, even more than usual. I needed a drink. So I went.

Podmore

“IT’S SO SENSUAL HERE, ” whispers my friend when the lid lifts from our potato salad. Likely, no potato salad has ever prompted that sentiment. And yet here we are, in the embrace of an emerald green velvet banquette, as wisps of smoke curl toward us like incense from a shallow wooden bowl. Just a potato salad! And yet, it isn’t: Among perfectly roasted potatoes are thyme-scented crispy gnocchi, pickled red onions and cornichons, to be dipped in a pot of melted Parmesan, Gouda and cheddar, like an intimate, mini fondue.

This is the paradox of Podmore. There is a gin and tonic that is just a gin and tonic, as it says so plainly on the menu. But it is $30. My friend is

Anthony Rush and Katherine Nomura of Podmore

The gin and tonic travels through this contraption before cracking apart in the glass.

confused. Gin and tonics are her favorite drink. She parses the description as if there were a secret message written between Hendrick’s gin and Fever Tree tonic. I had ordered it the first time I went to Podmore, a few months ago, and I tell her the presentation is unlike anything she’s ever seen. I don’t tell her about the disco ball ice, the sculpture that looks like it could double as a torture device. “But what does it taste like?” she asks. Like a gin and tonic, I admit. She shrugs and orders the Bijou ($16), with gin, green Chartreuse and sweet vermouth, the combination calling to mind a green meadow dotted with lavender. She feels no FOMO about the gin and tonic. My drink, the Friendship Tattoo ($18), is darker—with Pasote Blanco tequila made with rainwater and the smoky and woodsy amaro Sfumato, softened with other liqueurs. It is possible to have two different cocktail experiences at Podmore, and it’s the one on this second visit—quiet and understated and, yes, sexy—that I prefer.

When Podmore first opened, my companions and I went for the showier drinks, including our favorite, The Chung Chow ($30), a riff on a Pimm’s cup with multicolor boba-sized ice in flavors of cucumber, mint, and strawberry, orange and lemon—fizzy and fun and sunshine in a glass. It’s one of the few items on the menu that’s wildly creative but doesn’t feel too serious. Some of the other drinks, like the Ants on a Log ($25), accompanied by peanut butter spheres and sherry droplets (emulating raisins) on celery, make me long for the childhood version. And then there’s that gin and tonic, one of those experiences I’m happy to have tried once but don’t feel compelled to repeat.

Much of the menu at Podmore is drink and food as art, a stage for Rush’s creative and obsessive mind. (This is

the chef who creates Wellingtons that resemble stained glass, the guy who for years, from country to country, carried a paper model of a seven-compartment box, looking for someone who could create the wooden septagon that would unfurl at the end of the tasting menu at Senia.) Food favorites include the foie gras parfait ($28), a clear glass showing off layers of peach compote, velvety foie and a raspberry gelée accompanied by a twee burlap bag of mini Yorkshire puddings. The roasted pork bun ($8) takes the familiar Chinese pork bao and gives it a British Sunday roast supper spin—the fluffy bao made with sage and parsley to emulate the flavors of stuffing, and the ultra tender pork belly and crackling skin accompanied by a smear of applesauce. Rush’s Britishness is sprinkled throughout the menu and comes to the fore in the desserts, as in a sticky toffee pudding ($12), a soft and soothing date cake that arrives warm, topped with vanilla ice cream and drenched in a caramel sauce taken just to the edge of burnt, its dark bitterness and a sprinkle of salt rescuing the dessert from overbearing sweetness. The Eton mess ($12) isn’t a mess in Rush’s hands, but a tidy dessert of whipped cream and strawberries with micro basil adding fresh blasts of herby anise, a splash of gin to keep the sugar in check, and shards of crisp meringue for shifting textures.

Rush says he opened Podmore in the style of bars and bar hopping that he and his wife have enjoyed in other cities—bar snacks and drinks in lieu of full meals. He has a higher alcohol tolerance than I do—on my first visit with friends, we ordered half the menu, spent a lot, and were still very hungry (and tipsy). Maybe we’re more of the Spanish and Italian bar-hopping sort, with lower proof drinks and lots of food.

And so on our second visit, fortified with dinner beforehand, we focus less on the food and forgo the spectacle. We enjoy the simpler drinks, still luxurious in their details in ice and glassware, like the brass and mother of pearl accents throughout Podmore’s interior. And then the novelty recedes and gives way to each other’s physical company, what we’ve missed the most.

Foie gras and Nutter Butter sandwich with strawberry ume jelly

During the day, Podmore serves brunch in a setting that’s brighter and slightly more casual, but still swanky. Highlights include the English breakfast with house-made blood sausage and bacon.

The Bijou, with gin, green Chartreuse and sweet vermouth

Bar Maze

MORE PARADOXES: For their second spot, Justin and Tom Park wanted a place their friends could drop by without a reservation. But Bar Maze has become even harder to get into than Bar Leather Apron. Blame the pandemic for that: Instead of a drop-in standing-room izakaya as originally envisioned, social distancing and capacity limits forced them to open another reservation-only bar. And since they already had a kitchen built—albeit a tiny one—they decided to create a place where the food and drinks would be developed in concert, where the drink would be as much a part of the dish as, say, a ginger scallion sauce on chicken. Justin Park and the chef, Ki Chung, haven’t quite reached the food and drink equivalent of finishing each other’s sentences, but the omakase at Bar Maze (which comes from the Japanese word mazeru, to mix) is still one of the best food and drink pairings in town.

The tall sliver of a space is divided in two: the mezzanine, where drinks and food are ordered à la carte, while downstairs, at the counter and high tops in view of the chefs and bartenders, the five-course omakase dinner ($150) is

served. Of the two options, I unexpectedly preferred the omakase—though I usually gravitate toward more casual dining, the à la carte experience lives in limbo between casual and formal.

A recent dinner downstairs began with a quartet of finger food, the sort of pūpū you wish every cocktail party would include: Highlights were a luscious pot of uni and potato cream served with potato croquettes (a ringer for hash browns), and tiny crisp nori chips sandwiching a shiitake jam that’s dark, sweet and mysterious like tsukudani. They’re paired with a fizzy and light cocktail of sake, Champagne and the flavors of kiwi and yuzu.

Chung, who previously helmed Michelin-starred Aubergine in Carmel, California, leans into his Korean heritage with a take on naengmyeon, or Korean cold noodles. Kombu-cured kampachi “noodles” are mounded with shards of purple daikon and other vegetables, plus smoked trout roe and a mild white kim chee granita—as refreshing as its inspiration and calling to mind a tartare of the sea, especially in its oyster shell-like vessel shaped by Brooklyn-based ceramicist Nicole Pilar.

Until Bar Maze, I had never had a zero-proof cocktail that rivaled a boozy one. But my dining companion had ordered the nonalcoholic option for her dinner, and in the case of her drink for the kampachi course, I favored abstinence. In lieu of shochu and elderflower liqueur, Justin Park substitutes lychee black tea, providing the astringency of alcohol without the heat, letting the drink’s other delicate flavors of tomato and mango in the glass come through. But even with the alcoholic pairings, Park shows restraint, choosing lighter spirits and creating lower-proof drinks (a rare skill that I appreciated even more a few weeks later when I ended up wasted by the second course of a cocktail-paired dinner).

Chung’s precision and techniques to layer flavor upon flavor especially come through in the steak course, in which flat iron steak (or A5 Miyazaki

Ki Chung and Justin Park of Bar Maze

Pot of uni and potato cream served with potato croquettes

wagyu for an additional $50) is triple seared— first with salt, then after a rinse in sake and pear juice, and finally after a coating in a tare. Save yourself the money and stick with the flat iron, muscly, robust and beefy—and perfectly paired with a warm vanilla-and-maple scented Old Fashioned. This course arrives like a miniature bo ssam, the Korean pork shoulder accompanied by plenty of fixings, with pristine lettuce to wrap the beef into, and a bowl of maitake rice I’d love to wrap myself into.

The dinners always end with shave ice— ethereally light and doused in cantaloupe syrup when we went.

Justin Park says as the menu changes, he and Chung are working closer together—the first dishes and drinks were developed partly over Zoom while Chung was still in California. Like everyone, they discovered the limits of what can be achieved virtually, and perhaps as the menu evolves, they’ll prove that by physically working together, they’ll get closer to integration and what they originally hoped to achieve.

Small Bites

Here’s a taste of what you may have missed in our daily dining blog, Frolic Hawai‘i. frolichawaii.com

Message in a Bottle

Bottleheads isn’t just an exciting add to the Windward spirits scene— it’s an oasis of local foodie delights too. Find rum from Kawaihae next to Islander Sake, local beers alongside Belgian ales, and a food menu heavy on the cheese.

bit.ly/hn-bottleheads

Cold Tofurkey

Just because it’s vegan doesn’t mean it’s healthy (or satisfying). But two eateries—one in Kahuku, one in town—helped our meat-addicted creative director wean himself from his current diet with hearty, delicious, vibrant and complex vegan fare.

bit.ly/hn-vegan

Hop To It

Stewbum & Stonewall Brewing Co. hasn’t brewed its own beers in four years, since owner Darren Garvey sold the original location in Kāne‘ohe. That changed with the debut of four new beers on the menu at the King Street brewpub. bit.ly/hn-stewbumstonewall

PHOTOS: THOMAS OBUNGEN, JAMES NAKAMURA, ALEXANDER GATES

THE COLLECTION, 600 ALA MOANA BLVD., BARMAZE.COM, @BAR.MAZE

Naengmyeon, or Korean cold noodles

BY KATRINA VALCOURT managing editor

We’ll Always Have Servco

After seven years, it’s time to say aloha.

DEAR CAR,

We never really got to say goodbye when I traded you in at Honda Windward, almost on a whim. I only went to look around, to get an idea of what I could buy in the future. I didn’t plan to drive o in a new car, leaving you behind. But it was either trade you in or watch you continue to fall apart. You deserved better.

You were my fi rst. We met in 2014 at Servco Honolulu. Twenty-four and newly single, I was drawn to you: a shiny silver 2005 Toyota Corolla. Kelley Blue Book says Corollas have been the world’s bestselling car since 1997, not to mention one of the most popular cars on O‘ahu. I didn’t even have a license, but the timing felt right: As a young adult growing into her own I wanted freedom, and who better to learn with than my new partner in crime? (Just kidding. The only ticket we got was for parking too far from the curb in Haha‘ione.) A few thousand dollars later—the largest cash payment I’d ever made—you were mine.

I still took the express bus to and from work every day so most things we did together were just for fun. Staying downtown for pau hana cheese sandwiches at The Tchin Tchin! Bar. Driving my friends everywhere as payback for the eight years I mooched o them, even as they made fun of my abrupt braking and crooked parking. My confidence to explore new places grew: the dirt path to Kahuku Sugar Mill, the undulating road through Ho‘omaluhia (which is actually annoying to drive because there’s always someone smack in the middle trying to get that perfect Instagram shot)—places I couldn’t have experienced without you. My favorite times were the long, quiet drives down the Windward Side at night. Without streetlights or any other cars on the road, only the Makapu‘u lighthouse casting its beam over the distant waves, the world felt like it belonged to us.

You kept me safe when Hurricane Darby hit in 2016, powering through rushing water up to your bumper in the Vineyard oramp dip just before it shut down. Within your four doors I sang at the top of my lungs knowing no one could hear me, and cried when I drove home alone after saying goodbye to my best friends who were moving away. By the time I parked in my driveway, pulling the emergency brake was like turning o my emotions and leaving them with you.

Things changed the night we hit a pillar in the parking lot of Hawaiian Brian’s after an Amy Schumer show in 2016. I knocked your side mirror o , denting the passenger door. Again, I cried, this time for you. I repaired you as best I could, but you were scarred for life.

Our relationship changed. I hardly washed you. I told the woman who rear-ended you in the Smith-Beretania garage that I didn’t care. I kept up your regular maintenance, but out of a sense of obligation, not love. I took no joy in fixing you up—not like the first time I replaced a headlight all by myself that first year and felt truly empowered. Now you jiggled, creaked and groaned frequently.

And even though everything that was wrong could have been fi xed, I couldn’t help but want more. With used cars in short supply, when I found a Nissan Sentra with everything I wanted—Bluetooth integration, a backup camera, nothing too fancy but a definite upgrade—only 3 years old and way under market value, I handed you over without even a final trip around the block.

You weren’t perfect. But you were just what I needed to get a taste of O‘ahu like never before—on my own, completely in control. I hope you make someone else as happy as you made me for those seven years. Thanks for the trips.