The readershavespoken… - West Hawaii Today

Skimboarding 

at Sunset by 

North Hawaii News 

Best Photographer 

2011, Jock Goodman 

The readers have spoken…

For advertising info, call Lisa 930-8672 or Renee 930-8674 

NORTH HAWAII NEWS JUNE 23, 2011 

Best Real Estate Agent 

Elaine Christianson @ Hawaii Palm Properties 

As a proud Kohala resident, I will continue to be the trusted Realtor for buyers and sellers. 

Mahalo to my wonderful clients and friends, who have supported my business since 1987. 

Best Plate Lunch / Saimin/Noodles 

Kamuela Deli Waimea 

The Matsumura family, owners of Kamuela Deli, thank you for your votes!

Best of North Hawaii 

Third Annual Reader’s Choice Awards 

Congratulations To Our Winners 

In April of this year, our readers voted on the BEST of what makes this a great place to live, work and play. Expressions of 

appreciation can be found throughout the following pages. Find out why they were chosen! Each winner was awarded “The Best 

of North Hawaii” award by having the most votes in a particular category. These are the results from the ballots submitted. 


ATV Adventures Kahua Ranch Adventure Tours 

Air Tour Blue Hawaiian Helicopters 

Bicycle Tour Mauna Kea Mountain Bikes 

Dining Atmosphere Blue Dragon Coastal Cuisine & Musiquarium 

Eco Friendly Business Kohala Coffee Mill 

Elderly Care Facility Ho’onani Place 

Family Entertainment Loc. Blue Dragon Coastal Cuisine & Musiquarium 

Golf Course Mauna Kea Resort Golf Course 

Hospital North Hawaii Community Hospital 

Horseback Tours Paniolo Riding Adventures 

Karaoke Sansei Seafood, Steak & Sushi Bar 

Live Music Blue Dragon Coastal Cuisine & Musiquarium 

Open Mic Night Big Island Brewhaus 

Outdoor Market Waimea Homestead Market 

Pau Hana/Happy Hour Seafood Bar & Grill 

Pakini Grill 

Place for Dance Lessons Blue Dragon Coastal Cuisine & Musiquarium 

Prince Dance Company - Waimea 

Place to get Married Hapuna Beach Resort 

Place to see a Movie Honokaa Peoples Theatre 

Receptions/Banquets Mauna Kea Beach Resort 

Shopping Centers Queens’ MarketPlace 

Visitor Attraction Pololu Valley Lookout 

Best Food Location 

Breakfast Hawaiian Style Café 

Best Cup of Coffee Waimea Coffee Company 

Catering Blue Dragon Coastal Cuisine & Musiquarium 

Earl’s & Huli Sue’s 

Sandwich Lighthouse Delicatessen 

Desserts Merriman’s Market Café 

Fish/Seafood Blue Dragon Coastal Cuisine & Musiquarium 

Hamburger Village Burger Waimea 

Ice Cream Tropical Dreams Ice Cream 

Luau Waikoloa Beach Marriott 

Pizza Paolucci’s Pizza 

Place for a Beer Big Island Brewhaus 

Plate Lunch Kamuela Deli Waimea 

Saimin/Noodles Kamuela Deli Waimea 

Shave Ice Anuenue Ice Cream 

Sushi Sushi Rock 

Sunday Brunch Mauna Kea Beach Resort 

Steak Ruth’s Chris Steak House 

Vegetarian Lilikoi Café 

International Cuisine 

Chinese Don’s Chinese Kitchen 

Filipino Gj’s Filipino Restaurant 

Italian Solomine’s 

photos by: 

North Hawaii News Staff 

Japanese Sansei Seafood, Steak & Sushi Bar 

Mexican Tako Tako 

Thai Charley’s Thai 

Best Business 

Art Gallery Harbor Gallery 

Auto Body Repair Waimea Auto Repair 

Auto Parts Napa Auto Parts 

Auto Repair Lex Brodie’s Tire & Service Center 

Waikoloa Automotive 

Bed & Breakfast Kohala Country Adventures Guesthouse 

Building Supplies HPM 

Carpet Cleaning Stanley Steemer 

Clothing Store Persimmon Boutique 

Computer Repair Mobile Computer Doctor 

Construction Company Emerald Builders 

Peter Bank Construction 

Cosmetic Surgery Dr. Stover - N. Hawaii Medical Spa 

Craft/Hobby Supplies ACE Hardware - Waimea 

Dive Shop Kohala Divers 

Financial Institution First Hawaiian Bank 

Fishing Charter Bite Me Sportfishing 

Reel Pleasure Charter 

Fitness Center Mauna Lani Fitness Club 

Florist Watanabe Foral, Inc. 

Gift Shop As Hawi Turns 

Grocery Store KTA Super Stores 

Hardware Store ACE Hardware - Waimea 

Hotel/Resort Mauna Kea Beach Resort 

Internet Provider Oceanic Time Warner Cable 

Janitorial Service Cy-Co Janitorial 

Gold Coast Cleaning 

Sunshine Cleaning 

Kayak Rental Kohala Divers 

Law Office Sally Kimura 

Law Office of Ian Mattoch 

Motorcycle Shop Kiser Motorcycles 

Nursery Aikane Nursery 

Package Homes HPM 

Plumbing Company Cullin’s Plumbing 

Preschool/Daycare Hawaii Montessori School 

Property Management Clark Realty Corporation 

Rockwall Building Rock Star Masonry 

Roofing Company Kohala Roofing 

Self-Service Storage Waimea Self Storage 

Sign Shop John Allen Sign Co. 

Snorkel Cruise Ocean Sports 

Spa Mauna Lani Spa 

Sunset Sail Ocean Sports 

Surf Shop Waimea Surf Classics 

Big Island Surf 

Hulakai 

stories by: 

Andrea Jasper 

Tire Store Lex Brodie’s Tire & Service Center 

Toy Store Giggles 

Watch Repair Mountain Gold Jewelers 

Best of People 

Aesthetician Patricia Eli @ N. Hawaii Medical Spa 

Bartender Brandon Winslow @ Blue Dragon 

Chef Morgan Bunnell @ Blue Dragon 

Chiropractor Dr. Edward Doherty 

Dentist Dr. David Doi 

Fitness Instructor Sheila K Fernandez-Kinzer @ Lea Lea Fitness 

General Physician Dr. John Dawson 

Graphic Designer Jessica Young @ North Hawaii News 

Manicurist Lori Haven @ Gregore Salon 

Massage Therapist Donna Thomas @ Pacific Massage Service 

Shannon Satterwhite @ N. Hawaii Medical Spa 

Photographer Jock Goodman @ Jocks Hot Shots 

Veterinarian Dr. Robin Woodley @ Kapa’au Veterinary Center 

Best Place to Purchase 

Haircut Graciela’s Hair Salon 

Jewelry Lehua Jewelers 

Oil Change Lex Brodie’s Tire & Service Center 

Solar Energy Equipment Kumu Kit 

Wine & Beer Kamuela Liquor Store 

Wireless Communication Verizon 

Television Service Oceanic Time Warner Cable 

Best Financial & Real Estate 

Place for Banking Bank Of Hawaii 

Loan Officer Cindy Stone 

Persoal Finance/Loan Co. Edward Jones 

Financial Advisor/Planner Hector Robles @ Edward Jones 

Insurance Co. State Farm 

Insurance Agent Cheryl Kim @ State Farm 

Accountant Stacy Chun @ Stacy’s Bookeeping Inc. 

Tax Service Tax Etc. Waimea 

Real Estate Co. Clark Realty Corporation 

Lava Rock Realty 

Real Estate Agent Elaine Christianson(Hawaii Palm Properties) 

Nancy Alvord (Lava Rock Realty) 

Sue McCord C21All Island 

Best Mortgage Company CS Financial 

Best Title Company Title Guaranty Escrow Services, Inc. 

Best Home Builder Monty Miranda 

Steve Rodriques 

Best Appraiser Gerry Goulet @ Mauka Makai Appraisals 

Best Home Inspector Alex Woodbury @ Woodbury Consulting 

cover & interior design by: 

Jessica Young & Au McIntosh 

NORTH HAWAII NEWS JUNE 23, 2011

Showcasing the amazing 

talent of more than 150 

local artists allows Harbor 

Gallery to present incredible 

and unique pieces 

sure to impress every art 

enthusiast. 

The gallery is also 

known for personalized 

service and competitive 

pricing, and these advantages 

led readers of North 

Hawaii News to choose 

Harbor Gallery as the best 

art gallery in North Hawaii 

for the second year. 

Harbor Gallery opened 

in Kawaihae in January 

1990, and it was purchased 

by Gunner and Elli 

Mench seven years ago 

when the previous owners 

retired. Gunner has 

worked in the store since 

1996, and he and Elli can 

be found working at the 

gallery seven days a week. 

“There have been so 

many changes since then, 

and yet so many things are 

the same, especially the 

Best Art Gallery 

Harbor Gallery 

level of service we offer 

our clients,” said Gunner. 

The gallery shows a mix 

of paintings, prints, sculpture, 

glass, ceramic and 

lots of wood art, including 

the largest selection of 

Koa wood furniture pieces 

on the island. There 

are also many small gift 

items and craft pieces to 

choose from, creating a 

wide array of price points 

for everyone’s budget. 

Gunner and Elli are able 

to keep prices competitive 

with other galleries, 

and that’s appreciated by 

everyone, and especially 

Hawaii residents. 

“The fact that we aren’t 

located in the resorts also 

helps in that we have a 

lower overhead and can 

offer better prices generally 

on similar merchandise,” 

said Gunner. “That 

makes us a Kama’aina 

gallery.” 

Offering art from wellknow, 

highly skilled artists 


draws customers from 

near and far. 

“Our top artists are prolific, 

like David ‘Kawaika’ 

Gallegos and Kristi Kranz, 

and they are always coming 

up with a new twist 

to their work or different 

approach to diversify their 

appeal with the clients we 

have had here for so many 

years,” said Gunner. 

The gallery also features 

more than 50 wood 

workers, including award 

winning artists such as 

Wood Turner Kelly Dunn, 

furniture maker Mike Riley 

and sculptor Perry Policicchio. 

One thing that makes 

Harbor Gallery stand out 

is its commitment to local 

artists and to supporting 

the community. 

“The focus is on what’s 

local, from local artists,” 

said Gunner. “We have 

turned away countless artists 

that have approached 

us over the years that 

have beautiful work, 

but don’t live here. As 

a result, we support the 

local economy as much as 

possible.” 

Harbor Gallery actively 

donates to community and 

environmental causes, and 

they’re thrilled to also be 

supported by their loyal 

North Hawaii customers. 

“The fact that we won 

this award means so much 

to us,” said Gunner. “We 

would like to thank our 

customers over the years 

and our wonderfully 

talented local artists for 

their creative spark that 

makes our home here 

something special for all 

who live and visit here 

to enjoy, all year long. 

We hope that we can be 

honored with this award 

again in the future, for as 

long as we continue to offer 

the quality, variety and 

service everyone expects 

from us.” Harbor Gallery Owners. From Left to Right, Elli & Gunner Mench 

and Zeus.

Best General Physician 

Dr. John Dawson 

From left to right: Dr. John Dawson, Beverly Dawson, Dina Lusardi, Abby Culp, Emma Martinez-Parel & Kuuipo Lorenzo. 


Tim TerMeer enjoys the 

satisfaction his customers 

get from the ice cream, 

shave ice and other 

cool treats he serves at 

Anuenue Ice Cream. It’s a 

satisfaction he has known 

since the 50’s when he 

worked as a classic “soda 

jerk” at an ice cream 

parlor inside a Howard 

Johnson’s near Chicago. 

TerMeer still serves 

authentic ice cream sodas 

from his Kawaihae shop 

that he has owned for the 

past 13 years. But these 

days he is best known 

as the maker of North 

Hawaii’s best shave ice, 

a title he has earned for 

the past two years. 

Best Shave Ice 

Anuenue Ice Cream 

“I feel that to win it 

one time, it might be 

luck,” said TerMeer. “To 

win it a second time must 

mean I’m doing something 

right.” 

TerMeer is grateful for 

the acknowledgement and 

he is rewarded by seeing 

the satisfaction of his 

customers. 

“I have people tell me 

all the time how good my 

shave ice is,” he said. 

TerMeer’s machine uses 

a 5-inch blade to shave 

a block of ice, and he 

sets the machine to make 

very fine shavings that 

are as soft as the best 

powder snow at a worldrenowned 

ski resort. 


Customers have the 

choice of about 35 

flavors plus five sugar 

free offerings that are 

sweetened with Spleda. 

Most of the syrup is 

mixed from concentrate 

except for the li hing 

mui, whose unique flavor 

is hard to get right in a 

concentrated mixture. 

TerMeer has tried 

three brands of shave ice 

flavoring and he believes 

he has chosen the best. 

“I’m so pleased that 

other people feel the 

same way,” he said. 

He also hand-picked 

his favorite ice cream 

maker: Big Island Brand. 

It is made locally in small, 

nine-gallon batches. This 

reduces the amount of 

time necessary to mix 

the ice cream, which 

results in a thick and 

creamy product that has 

less air mixed in with it. 

Freshness also matters. 

“My ice cream is almost 

never more than one-anda-half 

weeks old,” said 

TerMeer. 

He even serves one 

flavor created just for 

his store, called chunky 

white chocolate ginger. 

White chocolate chips and 

chunks of candied ginger 

are mixed into Big Island 

Brand’s delicious vanilla 

ice cream. 

In addition, TerMeer 

sells pizza by the slice 

and hot dogs, which are a 

hit with beachgoers who 

come into the shop wet 

and hungry after a day at 

Hapuna Beach. TerMeer 

has a lot of repeat 

customers who live on the 

island, and plenty of offisland 

visitors frequent 

the shop during every 

vacation to the Big Island. 

“I’m the first place they 

stop before they check 

into their hotel,” he said. 

His favorite aspect 

to his job is getting to 

know his customers 

and talking story with 

people who have flown 

in from all around the 

world, like a particular 

Japanese family who 

has frequented his shop 

several times each year 

since he opened. 

“It’s fun,” he said. “I 

really enjoy meeting and 

talking to folks,” he said. 

He also enjoys knowing 

customers enjoy his treats 

and he is pleased to be 

voted the best shave ice 

in North Hawaii. 

“It’s very gratifying,” 

he said. “I’m trying to 

be the best. It’s neat to 

know other people feel 

that I am, too.”

Best Air Tour 

Blue Hawaiian Helicopters 

Blue Hawaiian’s pilots and staff at their exclusive Waikoloa Heliport. Winner of the North Hawaii News’ “Best Air Tour” award each of the past three years, Blue is the only 

activity company in the world to receive the coveted “International Star Diamond Award” from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences. 


In this modern age, 

no one may be more 

essential than the person 

who can keep computers 

running smoothly. 

Jim Hood does just that 

as owner and operator of 

Mobile Computer Doctor, 

Inc., a company that 

was voted best computer 

repair in North Hawaii. 

Mobile Computer 

Doctor is commonly called 

on to remove viruses 

and malware, resolve 

hard drive crashes and 

respond to the complaint, 

“my computer is sooo 

slowwww!” 

Hood realizes people 

from all walks of 

life, from the biggest 

businesses to the 

elderly person living 

by themselves, are all 

more dependent on their 

computers than ever, 

and no one wants to go 

without their computer 

Best Computer Repair 

Mobile Computer Doctor, Inc. 

for an extended time. So 

he created a company 

that can conveniently 

come to them, and he 

can often solve computer 

problems by taking 

control of peoples’ 

computers and working 

remotely. 

“Not only does it 

minimize stress and down 

time by keeping the user 

from having to take the 

whole setup apart, put it 

in the car , haul it across 

town, drop it off, pick it 

up, then figure out how to 

put it all back together, 

it also eliminates the 

‘separation anxiety’ for 

those who can’t stand the 

thought of going without 

their computer for even a 

few hours,” said Hood. 

Instead of simply 

focusing on fixing the 

device, Hood considers 

the relationships 

between users and their 


computers. 

“While I do offer the 

same hardware and 

software repair services 

that most computer 

technicians offer, what 

I really enjoy doing is 

pairing the a person with 

the right hardware and 

software to help them do 

what they are passionate 

about doing,” he said. 

Hood works on both 

Apple computers and PCs. 

He and his wife own three 

of each. 

In addition to repairs 

and installs, Hood is 

happy to set up the 

perfect backup solution 

for each user or business. 

He said recent statistics 

show that in the US about 

140,000 hard drives crash 

every week, and over 2 

million laptops are stolen 

every year, so the need 

for this service should 

never be underestimated. 

“Given that we are 

now storing so much of 

our lives on computers 

(family photos, home 

videos, students’ 

homework, family tree/ 

genealogy, tax and bank 

records, etc) having a 

reliable backup is more 

important now than 

ever,” he said. 

Mobile Computer 

Doctors also designs 

affordable websites 

that are easy for 

business owners to edit 

themselves- eliminating 

the need to pay a 

webmaster for ongoing 

updates. They began 

offering this service after 

a poor experience with 

a prestigious website 

designer. 

“Our site was still not 

finished months after 

their estimated deadline 

and out of frustration, 

my wife Beth took over 

the site and learned 

to build websites from 

scratch,” he said. “This 

experience sparked 

our inspiration to help 

other small businesses, 

entrepreneurs, or authors 

to begin their web 

presence with simple 

solutions rather than 

flashy expensive sites that 

won’t pay themselves off 

for years.” 

Hood started his tech 

career with the computer 

services department of 

Illinois State University 

during his freshman year 

there. 

“Every semester, I 

would get thank you 

cards from professors 

expressing their gratitude 

for my help in keeping 

their classes running 

smoothly,” he said. So 

upon graduation with a 

B.A. in psychology, and 

a M.A. in gerontology, 

he made a career out 

of this work that is the 

perfect combination of 

working with people and 

comptuers. 

Hood loves his job, 

from helping new 

businesses get off the 

ground to teaching Tutu 

how to use Skype so 

she can keep in touch 

with her grandchildren. 

Recently, Hood had the 

pleasure of setting a 

client up with voice 

recognition software 

so he could continue to 

contact family through 

email even though he 

is losing his eyesight 

through macular 

degeneration. 

“I absolutely love 

helping people empower 

themselves through the 

use of technology,” said 

Hood. 

computerdochawaii.com

Those looking for the 

perfect spot to kick back 

after a hard day’s work 

should look no further 

than Seafood Bar & Grill 

in Kawaihae. 

Voted best pau hana/ 

happy hour by readers of 

North Hawaii News, this 

restaurant and bar offers 

two happy hours each 

night. The first is from 

3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. 

and the second lasts from 

10:00 p.m. to closing. 

Locals enjoy great deals 

on drinks and pupus 

during pau hana, which 

means “finished work” 

in Hawaiian, and visitors 

also take advantage of 

the great food and prices 

Best Pau Hana/ Happy Hour 

Seafood Bar & Grill 

after a day at the beach 

or on their way home 

from a sightseeing trip to 

Hawi. 

Pau hana drink specials 

include $3.50 well drinks, 

$4 14-ounce imported 

draft beer, $4 martinis, 

and $5 mai tais or glasses 

of house wine. Favorite 

pupus include calamari, 

seafood quesadillas, 

shrimp shumai, coconut 

crusted shrimp and 

chicken wings. 

In addition to happy 

hour, the aloha hour fresh 

fish dinner special is 

available from 5:00 p.m. 

to 6:00 p.m. 

Seafood Bar patrons 

enjoy a relaxed 

�� 

�� 

�� 

atmosphere that reflects 

the best of Old Hawaii 

as they gather around an 

incredible 70-foot mango 

wood bar with a tiki roof. 

Three high definition 

televisions near the bar 

feature NFL, NBA and 

college sports. 

An indoor dining area 

is also available while 

others prefer to dine 

outdoors on the lanai with 

their family. 

Lunch and dinner is 

served from 11:00 a.m. 

to 11:30 p.m. Monday 

through Friday, and 

breakfast is available 

from 7:00 a.m. to 11:30 

a.m. on Saturday and 

Sunday only. While most 

of the Kohala coastline 

goes to sleep early, 

Seafood Bar offers drinks 

and pupus until 2:00 a.m. 

on the weekends. 

Seafood Bar opened 

its door in 2002 and 

it quickly gained 

notoriety among locals 

and snowbirds who 

frequent the restaurant 

every time they’re in 

town. Many patrons are 

discriminating diners who 

seek an incredible dining 

experience without the 

expansive price tag that 

comes with resort dining. 

In addition to the 

best of North Hawaii 

award, Seafood Bar has 

been named the best 

restaurant in Kawaihae 

by Trip Advisor. Here, 

diners savor chef Aaron 

Barfield’s extraordinary 

talents that are 

showcased by a diverse 

menu and daily specials. 

Fresh, local fish and 

produce are combined 

to create delicious 

fare. Enjoy sashimi, 

ginger steamed clams, 

oysters Rockefeller 

and escargot. Some of 

Barfield’s signature dishes 

include seafood crusted 

fresh catch, the famous 

Seafood Bar fried rice and 

extraordinary Hawaiian 

style steamed fish. Other 

favorites include specialty 

pizzas, burgers, grilled 

rib eye steak and braised 

beef teriyaki short ribs. 

Managing partner David 

Yurtin said he is humbled 

and honored to be chosen 

for a best of North Hawaii 

award. The support of his 

customers only inspires 

him to work harder to 

provide delectable dishes 

at great prices. 

“Longevity is our 

secret, and I say that 

because nearly all of 

our business is repeat 

customers,” he said. “We 

try to keep them happy 

and I guess it’s working!” 


Those who dream of 

spending time on the 

bright blue Pacific, 

anticipating the strike 

of a big blue marlin can 

have their perfect day by 

picking up the phone and 

booking a tour with Bite 

Me Sportfishing. 

Anglers from around the 

world are drawn to Kona’s 

calm seas and the chance 

to catch a big blue marlin 

or short nose spearfish. 

For the serious angler 

who is hunting this most 

challenging fish, Bite Me’s 

blue water expedition is 

the ticket. 

Other options include 

the deep sea pelagic 

expedition that combines 

Best Fishing Charter 

Bite Me Sportfishing 

the hunt for trophy 

billfish and ahi as well 

as other pelagic species 

like mahi mahi, ono and 

aku. The BBQ expedition 

is for anglers who want 

to pursue mahi mahi, 

ono and tuna for their 

evening BBQ. Bite Me 

will even clean and fillet 

the catch so it’s ready to 

throw on the grill. A kid’s 

expedition introduces 

keiki to the sport while 

targeting smaller fish. 

Night and overnight 

trips, whale and dolphin 

trips, fishing/snorkeling 

trips, and personally 

tailored expeditions are 

all available. Five boats 

make this wide selection 

10 NORTH HAWAII NEWS JUNE 23, 2011 

of trips available. 

Bite Me owner and boat 

captain, Brian Wargo, 

grew up in a fishing 

family in Florida where 

he became a proud boat 

owner at age 10. As an 

adult, Kona’s legendary 

fishing drew him to the 

Big Island. He is now 

a boat captain and 

the owner of Bite Me 

Sportfishing, and he gets 

paid to share his love of 

fishing with others. The 

family’s fishing tradition 

continues, Wargo’s wife, 

Deneen, is also a captain 

for Bite Me. 

Bite Me Sportfishing 

is set apart from other 

fishing charters by a 

desire to cater to kids 

and families and through 

a willingness to tailor 

trips around customers’ 

desires. 

“We like to listen to 

what they want to do 

whether they want to 

go after small fish or big 

fish,” said Wargo. From 

overnight trips to shared 

half-day charters, Bite 

Me has the right tour for 

each angler. 

“We cater to every 

budget and every need 

they might have,” he 

said. 

Bite Me is also the only 

fish tour operator with 

a restaurant that allows 

anglers to eat their catch. 

This is the perfect option 

for visitors who don’t 

have a kitchen or grill, 

and there’s no better way 

to end a day on the water 

than with an ice cold beer 

and a thick slab of freshly 

caught fish. Visitors and 

local fishermen frequent 

Bite Me for breakfast, 

lunch and dinner with 

selections of fresh fish, 

seafood, pasta and 

sandwiches served at 

Honokohau Harbor. A 

retail store sells t-shirts 

and souvenirs. 

To further cater to 

guests, Bite Me can pack 

lunches to take out on the 

boat and a 15-passenger 

van is available to pick up 

anglers at their hotel. It’s 

no wonder Bite Me gets 

most of their business 

through word of mouth 

and referrals, and it’s no 

surprise it has been voted 

the best fishing charter by 

readers of North Hawaii 

News. 

The only people having 

more fun than Bite Me’s 

customers are the crew 

members who are thrilled 

to be out on the water 

sharing their love of 

fishing with others. 

“To watch people catch 

a fish and share that 

passion and excitement 

with them, it really 

makes it fun,” said 

Wargo.


11

A passion to help pets 

live a higher quality of 

life led Dr. Robin Woodley 

to seek out alternative 

treatments she can use to 

make pets well. Owners 

have also noticed the 

results and have named 

her the best veterinarian 


While practicing 

conventional veterinary 

medicine for the first 

twenty years of her 

career, Dr. Woodley 

became frustrated with 

the results of western 

medicine for chronic 

illnesses. So she studied 

professional and advanced 

veterinary homeopathy 

and became certified 

in acupuncture by the 

Best Veterinarian 

Dr. Robin Woodley, D.V.M., M.S. at Kapaau Veterinary Center 

International Veterinary 

Acupuncture Society. 

“Alternative medicine 

has allowed me to greatly 

extend the range of 

conditions I can treat 

and to restore balance to 

my patients’ lives,” she 

said. “We try to provide 

a solution to peoples’ 

problems with their pets, 

and we have a lot of 

options.” 

Dr. Woodley is currently 

studying for her master’s 

degree in Chinese 

herbology at the Chi 

Institute of Traditional 

Chinese Veterinary 

Medicine. 

Western medicine is 

also an important part of 

Dr. Woodley’s practice, 


and Kapaau Veterinary 

Center uses techniques 

associated with any 

modern veterinary 

practice such as blood 

work, ultrasounds and 

X-rays. Kapaau Veterinary 

Center’s kuleana includes 

restoring the balance 

of health for animals as 

individuals, their place 

in their species and their 

relationship with owners 

or guardians. 

Identifying the 

underlying imbalances 

causing a particular 

illness is key to treatment 

because it goes 

beyond simply treating 

symptoms. Dr. Woodley 

sees many canine patients 

experiencing arthritis 

and stiffness. While 

conventional treatments 

include prescribing 

an anti-inflammatory, 

she uses herbs and 

supplements to eliminate 

the cause of the 

inflammation. She also 

looks into the cause of 

the stiffness, such as diet, 

reactions to medications 

or parasites, to find a 

solution. Sometimes a 

simple diet change can 

make all the difference, 

especially if the dog is 

eating the wrong type of 

diet for its geographic 

origin. 

Skin problems are 

another common 

complaint owners 

bring to Dr. Woodley. 

This condition causes 

discomfort for the pet 

and the constant itching 

can be particularly 

annoying to the owner, 

but Woodley is confident 

in the results of her 

treatments. 

“Usually we can 

improve the quality 

of life and reduce the 

symptoms without causing 

the side effects that 

pharmaceuticals can 

have,” she said. 

She has practiced 

veterinary medicine in 

Hawaii since 1998, and 

opened Kapaau Veterinary 

Center in 2007. 

The friendly 

professional staff also 

played a big part in the 


award, and Woodley 

knows their clients 

appreciate the staff as 

well as the vast array of 

treatments the center 

offers. 

When she can help 

make a pet well, she 

knows she has done her 

job. 

“It’s very rewarding,” 

said Woodley, who is 

pleased when she can 

offer a solution to 

someone who thought 

nothing could be done to 

help their pet. 

“Wherever that solution 

comes from, I’m happy,” 

she said.

Best Shopping Center 

Queens’ MarketPlace 

Queens’ MarketPlace - Best Shopping Center Destination. 

Since opening in 2007, 

Queens’ MarketPlace at 

Waikoloa Beach Resort 

has earned a reputation 

among visitors and 

kama`aina as, “the 

gathering place of the 

Kohala Coast.” 

It has also been named 

the best shopping center 

in the North Hawaii News 

annual readers’ poll. 

Queens’ MarketPlace 

offers shopping 

opportunities, services 

and great food, along 

with entertainment and 

arts programs, movies 

under the stars and 

contemporary concerts in 

Waikoloa Bowl at Queens’ 

Gardens. 

The market is geared 

towards a multigenerational 

market 

focusing on families and 

young couples. 

“We feel we can also 

meet the needs for 

everyone. People just 

really need to come and 

visit us,” said Margo 

Mau Bunnell, sales and 

operations manager. 

Queens’ MarketPlace is 

home to several national 

brands like Quicksilver, 

PacSun and Lids. Shoppers 

also find a mix of locally 

owned stores like Local 

Lizard & Friends, where 

friendly gecko items can 

be found, or Persimmons, 

a local boutique that 

presents fashions suitable 

for a night out at this 

world famous resort. 

The perfect evening 

could begin with 

dinner right at Queens’ 

MarketPlace. Romano’s 

Macaroni Grill caters to 

those with a craving for 

Italian. Or one can indulge 

in Pacific Rim inspired 

cuisine at Sansei Seafood, 

Steak & Sushi Bar. Those 

who prefer a quick bite 

on their way to the beach 

may stop by the food 

court where diverse dining 

options are offered. 

While locals and visitors 

always enjoy gathering 

at Queens’ MarketPlace, 

there may be no better 

time than during one of 

the many events that 

occur there. In March, 

the soothing sounds of 

Hawaii’s famous stringed 

instrument can be enjoyed 

at the Waikoloa Ukulele 

Festival with Roy Sakuma. 

An annual Independence 

Day event draws crowds 

on July 4th, and the Moku 

O Keawe International 

Festival is a popular event 

each fall. 

The mall’s many shops 

and restaurants surround 

an expansive grassy lawn 

where shoppers gather 

year-round to hear the 

many artists who perform 

in a charming gazebo. 

Stunning tropical plants 

grace the area and foot 

bridges cross tranquil 

koi ponds teeming with 

brightly colored fish. 

Bunnell knows the 

success of Queens’ 

MarketPlace would be 

impossible without the 

dedication of shop owners 

and employees. 

“This award is truly 

about the people who 

work hard at Queens’ 

MarketPlace from 

employees to management 

staff of all our 

businesses,” said Bunnell. 

“Each store owner and 

everyone that works here 

plays such an integral part 

of Queens’ MarketPlace 

that you can feel a synergy 

that allows this place to 

prosper and grow. I would 

like to thank them, my 

staff and the owners and 

staffs of each business 

that helped us to get this 

great honor,” she said. 

Bunnell is also grateful 

to all the loyal customers 

who support Queens’ 

MarketPlace and chose 

it as the best shopping 

center in North Hawaii. 

“We would like to thank 

everyone who voted for 

us,” she said. “We hope 

that we have become 

the gathering place of 

the Kohala Coast and a 

favorite spot for both 

residents and visitors. 

Please come and be 

part of the Queens’ 

MarketPlace ohana, as we 

appreciate you and your 

business. We hope to help 

you create those lasting 

memories and become 

a part of your everyday 

lifestyle.” 


1

Best Steak 

Ruth’s Chris Steak House 

First (front) Row from L to R: King Lanwe, Jessie Bautista, Sonny Lopez, Lisa Bantiles, Melissa McHone, Jaydene Kanekoa, Thomas Barrett, Mike Uyeda 

Second (Back) Row from L to R: Tino Kios, Kapono Pieper, Jon Rafol, Kris Pattison, Curtis Sylva, Ron Davidson, Rance Rapozo and Doug Pritchett. 

1 NORTH HAWAII NEWS JUNE 23, 2011

Jun Balanga grew up 

on the beach in Lanikai 

on Oahu, and his love 

for the ocean runs deep. 

He found his perfect 

profession as owner and 

surf board designer for 

Hulakai and when he’s 

not shaping boards, he 

can be found in the line 

up doing, “research and 

development.” 

“We go out and we 

really put these boards to 

work,” said Balanga, who 

is thrilled when he spends 

months on a design that 

performs just the way he 

wants it to when the right 

Best Surf Shop 

Hulakai 

swell finally rolls in. 

Balanga’s vast water 

knowledge stems from 

decades of surfing, 

paddling, sailing, canoe 

surfing, stand-up paddling 

and running water 

safety patrols. All these 

experiences have given 

him insight while shaping 

cutting edge boards 

designed specifically for 

Hawaii’s conditions. 

Hulakai sells made-toorder 

surf boards that 

are engineered for each 

rider’s preferred style 

and breaks. Balanga 

started offering stand-up 

paddleboards in 2001, 

and this equipment now 

makes up roughly 90 

percent of his business. 

These board designs range 

from surfing, endurance 

training, padding, all 

around cruising boards 

and equipment suited for 

beginners to advanced 

paddlers. Balanga 

believes the stand-up 

paddle board craze 

stems from a desire for 

an effective, low impact 

workout that strengthens 

core muscles and provides 

cross training for athletes 

of other sports. But once 

folks try SUP, they can’t 

get enough time in the 

water. 

“A lot of people get 

into surfing because of 

stand up paddling,” he 

said. 

Seven authorized 

dealers carry Hulakai 

products on the Big 

Island, and dealers can 

also be found on Oahu, 

and in nine mainland 

states. Hulakai’s retail 

store at Shops at Mauna 

Lani sells boards, paddles, 

safety equipment, board 

bags, leashes, epoxy 

repair kits and soft racks, 

in addition to logo shirts, 

rash guards and hats. 

This surf shop stocks real 

gear for real surfers, and 

everyone who works in 

the store shares a passion 

and knowledge for the 

ocean. 

“We are all in the 

water,” said Balanga. 

“Local knowledge is what 

we offer.” 

Perhaps this led to 

Hulakai being named the 

best surf shop in North 

Hawaii by residents who 

read North Hawaii News. 

Hulakai also sponsors 

riders and the stand up 

paddleboard world tour. 

The company offers surf 

and stand up paddleboard 

lessons and canoe rides. 

Customers are thrilled 

to experience the ocean 

through the eyes locals 

who have spent their 

whole lives on the water. 

Balanga said they may not 

realize that he is having 

even more fun than they 

are. 

“Every day is a good 

day at the beach,” he 

said. “It’s a fun job. 

Somebody has got to do 

it.” 


1

With year-round 

perfect weather and 

some of the most 

incredible scenery on 

earth, there may be no 

better place to ride than 

Hawaii’s Big Island. And 

there may be no better 

place to purchase or 

repair a bike, or get the 

latest gear than Hawaii’s 

largest powersports 

dealer, Kiser Motorcycles. 

Kiser is an authorized 

dealer for Honda, 

Kawasaki, Yamaha, 

Kymco and KTM. For the 

street, they offer cruiser 

motorcycles, sport bikes, 

commuter bikes, dual 

purpose bikes, scooters 

and mopeds. Off road 

bikes include all sizes 

of dirt bikes from kid’s 

bikes to bikes for the 

Best Motorcycle Shop 

Kiser Motorcycles 

national caliber racer. 

Besides new bikes, 

Kiser Motorcycles buys 

and sells used bikes and 

takes trade-ins. 

Kiser also offers ATVs 

and side-by-side utility 

vehicles for play, race 

and work. The Kawasaki 

Mule and Honda Big 

Red side-by-sides are 

the most popular work 

vehicles sold at Kiser at 

this time. 

Ocean lovers will find 

personal watercraft 

for fun, tow in surfing, 

fishing or rescue. 

Kiser houses one of 

the largest selections of 

tires in the state, and 

riders will find all the 

gear and accessories 

they need, like helmets, 

boots, gloves, jerseys, 

Serving the needs of North 

Hawaii with 

News & Information 

For editorial information... 

call Ron Eland at 885-8818 

For advertising information call 

Lisa Salazar at 930-8672 or 

Renee Resureccion 

at 930-8674 

or fax 885-0601 


saddlebags, jackets, 

safety equipment, 

rain gear, goggles, oil, 

chemicals. You name it, 

they have it all in their 

24,000 sq. ft. facility 

in the Kaloko Industrial 

area. 

Kiser Motorcycles was 

founded by Garcie “Mr. 

Kiser” over 30 years 

ago. A great staff, loyal 

customers and the 

dedication of Mr. Kiser 

has contributed to the 

store’s success. 

“He still makes 

every customer feel 

like family,” said store 

owners Kris and Kym 

Kiser, who took over the 

dealership in 2003. 

In fact, the entire 

staff at Kiser Motorcycles 

recognizes the 

importance of each 

customer. 

“We have the best 

staff here,” said the 

Kisers. “They always go 

the extra mile for our 

customers. Our staff is 

very knowledgeable of 

our brands and what we 

have to offer.” 

With a focus on 

customer service and a 

great reputation, its no 

wonder Kiser was chosen 

as the best motorcycle 

shop by readers of North 

Hawaii News. 

“Our customers truly 

come first,” said the 

Kisers. “We have families 

that have been coming to 

our store for more than 

a generation. They know 

they will get taken care 

of here.” 

Kiser Motorcycles also 

has what Kris and Kym 

consider to be the best 

motorcycle mechanics 

on the island, who can 

perform any kind of 

repair from a patch job 

on a tire to a major 

engine repair. 

Those who ride 

understand the thrill of 

twisting the throttle back 

and feeling the wind on 

their face. Besides buying 

a bike for pleasure, some 

ride to cut down on their 

fuel consumption. 

“Motorcycles, scooters 

and mopeds are a must 

have with the rising cost 

of gas,” said the Kisers. 

“Some get up to a 114 

miles per gallon.” 

Kiser also sponsors 

cycling and triathlon 

events to promote a 

healthy lifestyle, and 

they hold their own 

sprint triathlon on 

Thanksgiving day every 

year, which attracts 

everyone from firsttimers 

to pro triathletes. 

This is a communityminded 

store that has 

become a destination 

point even though it’s 

still a small, family 

business. 

“The aloha spirit just 

happens at our shop,” 

said the Kisers. “For us 

it’s all about the people 

here. Our customers 

– there is no match, they 

are the best.

Best Sushi 

Sushi Rock 

Since its inception in 

2002, Sushi Rock has 

gained notoriety by 

breaking through the 

constraints of traditional 

sushi to create a unique 

and incredible culinary 

experience in Hawi. 

Peter Pomeranze 

started to notice an 

influx of people into 

his quiet community 

eight years ago, which 

gave him the idea to 

open a restaurant. His 

desire was to showcase 

the island’s freshest, 

local ingredients for 

both kamaaina and 

visitors to enjoy. Given 

an abundance of fresh 

fish and produce, 

sushi seemed like the 

perfect fare. However, 

Pomeranze didn’t want 

to do the same old thing. 

So he and his former 

partner devised a menu 

that would offer a new 

kind of sushi. 

“I had no desire to 

push the envelope just to 

be different but simply 

to offer new and exotic 

flavor combinations that 

would enhance a classic 

food,” said Pomeranze. 

“After all, sushi is so 

steeped in tradition 

it was really the last 

cuisine to be messed with 

and brought forward into 

a new age. This is how 

Sushi Rock was created 

and how it was born.” 

Sushi Rock’s signature 

dishes are varied. In the 

sushi realm, the Bombay 

Sunset may best define 

Sushi Rock. This sushi 

consists of ahi poke/ 

curry cabbage slaw and 

fuji apples topped with 

either fresh sashimi 

or seared local grass 

fed tenderloin. Other 

signature items include 

Rock Salad featuring 

organic local greens, 

edamame, goat cheese 

and oranges tossed in 

Sushi Rock’s cilantro miso 

dressing. Rock Pockets 

are their version of inari 

featuring various fillings 

ranging from ceviche 

and lime slaw to soba 

noddles, goat cheese, 

avocado and basil. 

Sushi Rock is currently 

#1 on both Trip Advisor 

and Yelp for North Kohala 

and the Travel Channel 

did a recent story about 

the restaurant. 

“They referred to 

us as ‘a sushi lovers 

dream come true,’” said 

Pomeranze. 

Pomeranze believes 

the care that goes into 

each meal at Sushi Rock 

has contributed to the 

restaurant’s success. 

“Our slogan ‘come 

taste the love’ is not 

merely a slogan. We 

say often and proudly 

that the most important 

ingredient we cook 

with is love. I am a firm 

believer that food is only 

as good as the attitude 

it is prepared with,” he 

said. 

Pomeranze credits his 

staff with this year’s Best 

of North Hawaii award. 

“I am extremely proud 

of the group of young 

people who work here, 

he said. “They come in 

every day determined to 

do a good job and hell 

bent on satisfying every 

guest’s needs.” 

Pomeranze is proud 

of the incredible food 

they create, and positive 

atmosphere enjoyed by 

guests and employees. 

“I hope I have taught 

them to work hard and 

well and to expect to 

be treated respectfully 

at their work place,” he 

said. “I have heard from 

many past employees and 

am very proud of their 

accomplishments post 

Sushi Rock.” 

Pomeranze is also 

rewarded by seeing 

the pleasure of his 

customers. 

“I love coming in 

every day and feeding 

people great food and 

seeing the smiles on 

their faces as they dine,” 

he said. “Nothing gives 

me the satisfaction of a 

customer who truly feels 

the love that we put into 

each and every plate that 

goes out.” 


1

Last month North 

Hawaii Community 

Hospital (NHCH) turned 

15. Though that’s 

relatively young in the 

hospital world, NHCH 

remains the highest 

scoring hospital in the 

state of Hawaii for 

patient satisfaction 

(based on a Medicare 

survey). 

In 2010, CEO Ken Wood 

joined the executive 

team with a commitment 

to continuing – and 

improving – the highest 

quality care, patient and 

staff satisfaction, and 

fiscal performance. 

“I’m very honored to 

be leading North Hawaii 

Community Hospital as it 

marks 15 years of serving 

the residents of North 

Best Hospital 

North Hawaii Community Hospital 

Hawaii. NHCH has an 

incredibly rich legacy and 

a deep commitment from 

the community. We will 

continue to learn from 

and be guided by our 

community as we move 

forward to improve and 

grow our services,” said 

CEO Ken Wood. 

Addressing the 

physician shortage 

Currently NHCH is 

addressing one of the 

most pressing medical 

care needs in Hawaii 

– the physician shortage 

– through a recruitment 

program in which 

the hospital employs 

physicians to enable them 

to focus on patient care 


rather than the business 

of running a medical 

practice. An example is 

the recruitment of OB/ 

GYN and family practice 

physicians, as well as 

orthopedic surgeons. 

Dr. Doug Hiller and 

Dr. Diane Payne – both 

orthopedic surgeons – are 

developing a center of 

excellence in orthopedic 

care. In most cases 

Hawaii residents will no 

longer have to go off 

island for treatment – Dr. 

Hiller specializes in foot 

and ankle care, sports 

medicine and fracture 

care, while Dr. Diane 

Payne specializes in 

hand and microsvascular 

surgery. 

This new program 

allowed Dr. Hiller to 

return to the island to 

practice orthopedic 

medicine. Hiller, perhaps 

best known for having 

served as Chief Physician 

for the IRONMAN World 

Championships and 

Chief Medical Officer for 

the Olympic Triathlon, 

left the island and his 

local practice of 20 

years in 2008 due to the 

overwhelming challenges 

of running a medical 

practice in West Hawaii. 

Renovating the 

Emergency Department 

What started several 

years ago as a vision to 

renovate and expand the 

emergency department 

is finally becoming a 

reality. For the past 

six months, NHCH has 

been working with the 

former Chief Experience 

Officer at the Cleveland 

Clinic and Sandwich Isles 

Development to reinvent 

the patient’s experience 

in the emergency 

department. 

Now that preliminary 

design work is complete, 

NHCH will begin to move 

on its plan of action. In 

mid-2012, NHCH will open 

a temporary emergency 

department facility 

(adjacent to the current 

emergency department) 

while building the new 

facility. The projected 

date of completion for 

the new Emergency 

Department is early 2013. 

Staying on the Cutting 

Edge of Technology 

This summer NHCH will 

add digital mammography 

to its state-of-the art 

Imaging Department. 

Currently the hospital has 

a 1.5 Tesla magnet MRI 

suite and a 64-slice CT 

scanner that enable NHCH 

to do Cardiac Angiography 

and other vascular studies 

as well as all diagnostic 

exams. 

All of these services, 

available to North Hawaii 

residents and coupled 

with the compassionate, 

individualized care given 

by hospital employees 

and volunteers, have led 

the community to choose 

NHCH as the best hospital 

in North Hawaii.

Lex Brodie’s Waimea is 

pleased to be named the 

best tire store, best oil 

change and best service 

center in the 2011 Best 

of North Hawaii awards. 

When most people hear 

the name Lex Brodie’s, 

they immediately think 

of tires. Lex Brodie’s 

sells quality tire brands 

such as Michelin, BF 

Goodrich, Uniroyal, 

Falken and Cooper, and 

they install, balance and 

repair tires. But they 

also do battery, hose and 

belt replacement, brake 

repair, coolant flushes, 

driveline repair, engine 

diagnostics, heating and 

air conditioning repair, 

pre-purchase vehicle 

inspections, preventive 

maintenance, safety 

Best Tire Store / Oil Change / Auto Repair 

Lex Brodie’s Tire & Service Center 

inspections, tune-ups, 

wheel alignment and 

more. 

Mark Low, Waimea 

store manager, said 

attentive customer 

service led to three 

awards for Lex Brodie’s 

this year. 

“We take the time to 

ask questions to match 

the right tire for their 

driving needs,” he said. 

“Our technicians and 

salesmen have also been 

well trained and we are 

always staying up to date 

with our skills training.” 

A huge inventory of 

tires makes the job of 

choosing just the right 

tire for each customer 

and vehicle possible. 

And with four facilities 

on the Big Island, in 

Waimea, Hilo, Pahoa 

and Kona, Lex Brodie’s 

is able to get products 

quickly without waiting 

for shipping from offisland. 

A fantastic warranty 

is another reason to 

purchase tires at Lex 

Brodie’s. For passenger 

and light truck tires 

with an aspect ratio of 

50 and above and light 

truck rim sizes of 17” 

or smaller, Lex Brodie’s 

offers a road hazard 

warranty that covers any 

damage to the tire when 

driven under normal 

circumstances. This 

coverage is optional at 

a cost of 10 percent of 

the tire’s purchase price. 

The store also offers 

a four-year unlimited 

tire mileage warranty 

on all tires as long as 

customers properly 

maintain them through 

tire rotations and wheel 

alignments. 

Customers who choose 

Lex Brodie’s can relax 

in the customer waiting 

area while their job 

is performed. Or they 

may choose to do their 

shopping and enjoy the 

food court at Parker 

Ranch Shopping Center, 

or they take advantage 

of a free shuttle that 

will take them home, to 

work, or bring them back 

to pick up their vehicle. 

Those who have their 

oil changes done at Lex 

Brodie’s benefit from 

the quality Chevron 

lubricants and the 

complete 38-point 

inspection. 

“Our technicians treat 

your vehicle like it was 

their own and we take 

that responsibility very 

seriously,” said Low. 

This care results in 

customer satisfaction. 

“We are the only 

approved American 

Automobile Association 

auto repair facility on 

the Big Island,” said Low. 

“That means that all of 

our stores have achieved 

at least a 97 percent 

customer satisfaction 

rating or higher and 

passed a check-list of 

requirements to earn this 

approval.” 

A care for customers 

began with Lex Brodie, 

who was born on Kauai in 

1904 and opened the first 

Lex Brodie’s on Oahu 

in 1964. The company 

has expanded to serve 

communities throughout 

the islands. Low is 

grateful to his North 

Hawaii community for its 

support of the Waimea 

Lex Brodie’s store. 

“I would like to thank 

all of our new and 

loyal customers for 

continuing to entrust us 

with maintaining and 

repairing their vehicles,” 

said Low. “To our very 

hardworking employees— 

congratulations! I look 

forward to keeping all of 

our customers’ cars on 

the road for many more 

years to come!” 


1

Best Haircut 

Graciela’s Hair Salon 

The ladies of Graciela’s appreciate the support of their loyal customers and community! 


Editorial: 885-8818 

Advertsing: 885-0507

Offering the latest 

surgical and non-surgical 

cosmetic procedures and a 

wide range of relaxing and 

rejuvenating spa services 

by some of the best people 

in the business has earned 

North Hawaii Medical Spa 

three best of North Hawaii 

awards. 

At North Hawaii Medical 

Spa, residents enjoy such 

services as facials, peels, 

massages, waxing, body 

wraps, laser treatments, 

and many other indulgences. 

The spa is inviting and 

the staff welcoming, and 

once clients settle into the 

peaceful and beautiful surroundings 

they will never 

want to leave. 

“We really combine 

comfort and relaxation 

with treatments that really 

work,” said administrator 

Bayardo Aviles. 

He said the spa offers 

medical solutions to real 

skin problems, along with 

tantalizing spa treatments 

that leave clients feeling 

wonderfully rejuvenated. 

Also, a retail center offers 

the best in sunscreen and 

skin care products, and 

also sells the Obagi Skincare 

line. 

Offering so many services 

close to home also 

makes the spa convenient, 

said Aviles. In addition to 

the Kamuela facility, a 

Kona and a Hilo location 

offer treatments and procedures 

to East and West 

Hawaii. 

Dr. D. Stover, DDS, MD, 

PhD, is well trained in the 

latest techniques and he 

has expert knowledge in 

minimally invasive skin 

care treatments and total 

facial cosmetic surgery. 

He offers his expertise to 

patients to help look and 

feel their best. 

He offers oral surgeries 

such as dental implants 

and facial reconstruction, 

facial cosmetic surgery, 

non-surgical procedures 

Best Cosmetic Surgery / Aesthetician / Massage Therapist 

Dr. Stover / Patricia Eli / Shannon Satterwhite at North Hawaii Medical Spa 

such as botox, laser treatments 

and comprehensive 

skin care solutions. He is 

especially pleased to offer 

a mini face-lift that is 

affordable and effective 

and patients experience 

a short three-day down 

time. He also offers Active 

and Deep Fx fractionated 

laser technology. This 

state-of-the-art technique 

targets a wider surface 

area than traditional laser 

treatments and typically 

requires only one session. 

“I enjoy being able to 

offer so many options, 

surgical and non-surgical 

to meet peoples needs and 

help them look and feel 

better,” he said. 

Dr. Stover said his staff 

operates the most comprehensive 

laser center in the 

state, and his office may 

be the busiest cosmetic 

surgery facility in Hawaii. 

Dr. Stover and his staff 

give careful attention to 

each client, and this has 

resulted in many awards 

for North Hawaii Medical 

Spa. 

Shannon Satterwhite was 

voted the best massage 

therapist in North Hawaii. 

She has been licensed 

since 2006. The basis of 

her training is in therapeutic 

massage on accidental, 

industrial and athletic injuries. 

She has experience in 

many techniques including 

Swedish, aromatherapy, 

hot stone massage, 

Lomilomi, hand and foot 

reflexology, body scrubs 

and wraps. Her specialties 

are deep tissue and sports 

massage. 

Patricia Eli joined North 

Hawaii Medical Spa in 2007 

after 30 years experience 

in the hotel resort spa 

and salon industry. Pat’s 

specialties are advanced 

facials, microdermabrasion 

treatments, dermasound 

treatments, chemical peels 

and waxing services. She 

receives many compli- 

Dr. John Stover’s Cosmetic Centers of Hawaii are conveniently located in Waimea, Hilo and Kona. Using state-of-the-art 

equipment they offer the most comprehensive cosmetic surgical procedures in Hawaii. 

ments on her touch, quality 

and expertise. 

“I truly love what I do,” 

said Eli. “Working in a 

Medical Spa and caring for 

my clients with medical 

grade product lines assures 

them that I will provide 

more intense treatments 

seeing more results that 

only a medical spa facility 

can offer.” 

With so many great 

people, services and a passion 

to help their clients 

look and feel great, North 

Hawaii residents know 

where to go when they 

want the best. 


1

North Hawaii residents 

who want to treat 

themselves to a meal 

that is both delicious and 

healthy may find that one 

of Lilikoi Café’s mouthwatering 

dishes is exactly 

what they have been 

craving. 

Lilikoi Café has been 

delighting North Hawaii 

with its appetizing dishes 

for the past five years. 

This year it has been 

named the best place 

for vegetarian food in 

the North Hawaii News 

annual readers’ poll. 

John and Frances Lorda 

opened the restaurant 

Best Vegetarian Food 

Lilikoi Café 

because they enjoy 

using their creativity 

while preparing meals 

as well as while meeting 

the daily challenges of 

running a business. John 

describes the food they 

serve as, “wonderful, 

healthy food.” 

The shop is known 

for its excellent deli 

offerings, its selection 

of generous salads 

and its tasty lasagna. 

The vegetable lasagna 

and veggie crepes are 

among the most popular 

vegetarian meals served 

at the cafe. Many patrons 

choose to create their 


own salad by adding up 

to three deli choices, 

such as Mediterranean 

pasta, to their mixed 

green salad. 

A refreshing glass 

of juice is the perfect 

complement to one 

of these meals. Lilikoi 

Café offers a number of 

healthy juice selections 

such as carrot, carrotcelery, 

and carrot-green 

pepper apple, the house 

cocktail which contains 

carrot, apple, beet and 

ginger, or simple classics 

like orange, apple or 

pineapple. The fruits and 

vegetables are squeezed 

fresh as each customer 

places an order. 

Other lunchtime 

choices include a variety 

of sandwiches such as 

ham, chicken, white 

tuna with apple, raisins, 

pine nuts and onions, 

vegetarian with onions, 

eggplant and zucchini 

and many others. On a 

cool Waimea day, the 

melted ham and cheese 

sandwich, meat loaf, 

or a cup of steaming 

vegetable soup might hit 

the spot. 

A trip to Lilikoi Café 

can be a great lunchtime 

escape on a regular 

workday or an enjoyable 

stop while shopping at 

Parker Ranch Center. 

Matinee concertgoers 

often visit the café for 

a tantalizing dessert 

after the performance to 

make the day even more 

special. 

The most popular 

desserts include delicious 

cobblers, cheesecake 

and tiramisu. All desserts 

are made fresh and 

new treats show up in 

the showcase often, so 

regulars can always find a 

new surprise. 

Other diners chose to 

start their day off right 

with a healthy breakfast 

at Lilikoi Café. Fresh 

fruit salad, hot cereal 

with raisins, quiche, 

breakfast burritos, 

breakfast crepes and 

eggs with ham or sausage 

are just a few of the 

choices. 

The Lordas use the 

best, fresh ingredients 

and they buy local 

products whenever 

possible. The café can 

be found in the Parker 

Ranch Center in Waimea 

and it is open from 

7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

Monday through Saturday.

Best Preschool/ Daycare 

Hawaii Montessori School 

Executive Director Angeline Geldhof, Teachers & Students. 


Best Jewelry 

Lehua Jewelers 

From left to right: Patricia Charles, Michael Landers, Owner, “Lehua” Sharon Gilbert & Linda Grotelueschen. 



Lisa 930-8672 or Renee 930-8674

For the second year in 

a row, Rock Star Masonry 

has been voted best rock 

wall company in the 

North Hawaii News annual 

reader’s poll. 

Although the sagging 

economy has required 

a variety of cost saving 

measures in order to 

remain in business, 

the company has 

remained dedicated to 

its mission of providing 

the highest quality 

work possible, while 

continuing to provide a 

Best Rock Wall Building 

Rock Star Masonry 

decent living and a safe 

working environment 

for its employees. The 

recognition offered by 

this award is powerful 

evidence that the 

company is taking the 

right steps to manifest 

that intention, and 

Michael Luke Aitken, the 

company’s founder and 

president, would like to 

take this opportunity to 

express his appreciation 

to the voters for their 

choice. 

“I’m also enormously 

Limited design 

resources? 

Our publications feature 

free ad design. 

proud of the men who 

are making this sort of 

recognition possible,” 

he said. “Our masons 

are truly a dedicated, 

hardworking and talented 

group. Our clients tell 

me again and again how 

easy our employees 

are to work with, how 

cooperative and friendly 

they are. I’m very 

fortunate to be part of 

such a great team!” 

Besides rock walls, the 

company has also built 

miles of concrete roads 

and driveways, and stone 

veneers for projects like 

the West Hawaii Veteran’s 

Cemetery and the West 

Hawaii Civic Center. 

And because it’s not all 

about the money, the 

company has donated 

time and energy to local 

institutions like Anna 

Ranch. 

“It’s really a matter 

of enlightened selfinterested,” 

Luke said. 

“We live here, so it only 

makes sense to find ways 

we can help our local 

Place an ad in North Hawaii News, 

Big Island Weekly, West Hawaii Today or 

808Classifi eds and we’ll design your ad for free. 

Our trained, expert designers will create 

a look to get you results. We’ll hit your target 

without hitting your wallet. 

Call your ad rep today 

885-0507 

institutions flourish.” 

Looking forward, the 

company’s intention is 

to maintain the high 

quality of product and 

service that this award 

recognizes. They’ve 

also made the decision 

to extend their reach 

geographically, and 

are now bidding jobs 

in Hilo and Volcano, 

while maintaining their 

high profile presence in 

the coast resorts and 

Waimea. Whether it’s a 

big government contract 

like the Saddle Road 

improvements, or a single 

homeowner’s touchup and 

repair work over on Mud 

Lane, the staff at Rock 

Star are ready to take it 

on, and make sure it’s 

done right, within budget, 

and on time. 

“On behalf of all of us 

here at Rock Star, thanks 

again for letting us know 

that we’re getting it 

right. This award deepens 

our commitment to do 

even better in the year 

ahead.” 


First Hawaiian Bank’s 

service, solutions and 

financial security have 

made them a popular 

choice in Hawaii for well 

over a century. The 

quality of the services at 

their eight branches on 

the Big Island is what has 

made First Hawaiian Bank 

North Hawaii’s choice for 

Best Financial Institution. 

“The success of 

First Hawaiian Bank 

is largely due to the 

great relationships our 

customers have with 

their bankers. We are 

there every step of the 

way, wherever your life’s 

journey takes you,” 

said Dave Honma, First 

Best Financial Institution 


Hawaiian Bank senior 

vice president and Hawaii 

region manager. “We 

want to say mahalo to 

all of our customers who 

made us the #1 bank on 

the Big Island. We truly 

appreciate this honor and 

will continue to do our 

very best to serve you.” 


was founded in 1858 

by Charles Reed Bishop 

and has been helping 

customers with their 

financial needs for 

over 152 years. First 

Hawaiian Bank has 

built a reputation for 

always creating great 

relationships with its 

customers. 


First Hawaiian 

Bank’s long history 

and commitment to 

the community have 

made it one of Hawaii’s 

most trusted financial 

institutions. Consistent 

and prudent credit 

policies have helped 

them avoid the credit 

challenges facing many 

of the other mainland 

banks, and their credit 

rating is one of the 

strongest in the nation. 

First Hawaiian Bank is 

ranked in the top tier of 

all U.S. Banks in terms of 

credit quality, earnings 

and capital, and was 

given an A+ rating by 

national bank monitoring 

firm Institutional Risk 

Analytics. 

The most appealing 

aspect of First Hawaiian 

Bank is its unique 

sense of caring. Their 

employees are not only 

knowledgeable about the 

bank’s various products 

or services, but they 

truly care about their 

customers and want to 

assist them with their 

total financial needs, 

regardless of age, income 

or life stage. In addition 

to personal, private and 

business banking services, 


offers retirement and 

estate planning services, 

as well as insurance and 

investments through 

licensed professionals 

who have the client’s 

best interest in mind. The 

bank’s customers know 

that they can go to their 

banker or branch manager 

and get help with their 

financial needs. 

Furthermore, First 

Hawaiian Bank is one 

of the most charitable 

companies in the state. 

The First Hawaiian 

Bank Foundation gave 

$2.5 million to over 400 

charitable organizations 

in 2010. Many of their 

employees volunteer for 

non-profit organizations 

in their free time. First 

Hawaiian employees 

also make contributions 

to the bank’s annual 

Kokua Mai employee 

giving campaign, raising 

over $560,000 in 2010 

to benefit charities 

in Hawaii, Guam and 

Saipan. Employees have 

generously contributed 

over $2 million to 

charities through Kokua 

Mai since the program 

began in 2007. 

So if you’re looking for 

safe, friendly, communityfocused 

banking, stop by 

your local First Hawaiian 

Bank branch today.

Limited design resources? 

Our publications feature 

free ad design. 

Place an ad in North Hawaii News, Big Island Weekly, 

West Hawaii Today or 808Classifi eds and we’ll design your ad for free. 

Our trained, expert designers will create a look to get you results. 

We’ll hit your target without hitting your wallet. 

Call your ad rep today 885-0507 


Generous portions 

of delicious kau kau, 

piping hot, monster 

sized pancakes and 

endless aloha has led to 

Hawaiian Style Cafe being 

named the best place for 

breakfast in North Hawaii. 

Residents gather daily 

at Hawaiian Style Cafe to 

talk story over a hearty, 

local breakfast or a 

delicious lunch. Among 

the most popular items: 

Kalua hash, several 

Best Breakfast 

Hawaiian Style Cafe 

varieties of loco moco, 

Kalbi ribs, Hawaiian 

plates, fresh ahi with 

Puna papaya & pineapple 

salsa, Oxtail soup and 

luau stew. Other diners 

choose the healthy 

breakfast that consists 

of turkey bacon with egg 

whites, whole wheat 

toast and fresh Puna 

papaya. 

For those seeking a 

unique meal they won’t 

find anywhere else, 

�� 

�� 

�� 


the haupia pancakes, 

international omelets or 

Pulehu lamb ribs may hit 

the spot. 

Hawaiian Style Cafe has 

kept Waimea residents 

and visitors well-fed for 

the past six years. The 

restaurant is open for 

breakfast and lunch from 

7:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 

Monday through Saturday, 

and from 7:00 a.m. to 

Noon on Sunday. 

A tireless effort to 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

offer tasty food at an 

excellent value, and 

friendly service makes for 

a spectacular experience 

at Hawaiian Style Cafe. 

Owner Guy Kaoo enjoys 

the endless smiles and 

enjoyable conversations 

that take place at his 

restaurant. This starts 

with the employees, who 

enjoy coming to work 

every day and being in 

each other’s company. 

“We all laugh at each 

other’s jokes, make fun 

of one another and look 

forward to enjoying our 

lunch together,” said 

Kaoo. “It doesn’t get any 

better than that.” 

Kaoo is pleased by the 

restaurant’s Best of North 

Hawaii award, and he is 

grateful for his customer’s 

support. Knowing his 

customers have enjoyed 

the meal he prepared is 

the most rewarding part 

of Kaoo’s day. 

“I love having our 

guests tell us how much 

they enjoyed their meal 

and they will be back. 

Then I see them walk 

through the door the next 

day,” he said. 

Those who have grown 

to love Hawaiian Style 

Cafe will be pleased to 

learn the restaurant plans 

to open a second location 

in Hilo, tentatively 

scheduled to open in 

January 2012.

Best Chiropractor 

Dr. Edward Doherty 

Dr. Edward Doherty is pleased to be named best chiropractor 

in the 2011 North Hawaii News readers’ poll. 

Best Self-Service Storage 

Waimea Self Storage 

Manager Margaret Caravalho & Assistant Manager Pat Eli. 


The best title company 

in North Hawaii is deeply 

rooted in the community 

it serves, and this leads to 

genuine care and a wealth 

of local knowledge that’s 

shared with each client. 

“Our staff live and work 

in North Hawaii. We come 

from Paauilo to Kohala, so 

our expertise to handle the 

transactions of our home 

is real and personal,” said 

Carol Mendes, branch 

manager and escrow officer 

with Title Guaranty 

Services, Inc. in Waimea. 

“People trust us and 

know we not only work in 

the community but are a 

part of the community in 

every sense of the word. 

We support the region and 

give our time, talent and 

resources to our friends 

and neighbors of North 

Hawaii.” 

Title Guaranty is small 

enough to meet the needs 

of clients with aloha and 

flexibility, but it is also 

large enough to complete 

any job and offer a wide 

array of services. As an 

agent for five national 

underwriters, the company 

offers many options to suit 

their customers’ needs. 

With 19 branches throughout 

Hawaii, three of which 

are on the Big Island, 

and 300 employees state 

wide, Title Guaranty is the 

largest title and escrow 

company in Hawaii. It is 

also the oldest. 

Title Guaranty offers 

escrow and title services, 

and the company owns and 

maintains a title plant-plat 

book system beginning 

in 1957 and a computerized 

title plant effective 

1986. All recorded documents 

and grantor/grantee 

indices from mid-1800’s to 

current are at hand at Title 

Guaranty. 

“We maintain an exten- 

Best Title Company 

Title Guaranty Escrow Services, Inc. 

sive archive and in-house 

title plant which we update 

daily for every parcel 

of land in the state of 

Hawaii, for example, tax 

records, health records, 

circuit court records are 

inputted by our staff,” said 

Mendes. 

Title Guaranty also pioneered 

the development 

of TGExpress and Docutrieve®. 

Both are useful 

web-based tools for real 

estate professionals. 

Experience, professionalism, 

and immaculate 

attention to detail are just 

a few attributes one should 

look for when choosing an 

escrow and title company, 

said Mendes. Title Guaranty 

offers all of the above 

with sincerity and personal 

attention to each client. 

“Good customer service 

is integral to our business,” 

said Mendes. “We 

understand the position 

our clients, home buyers 

and sellers are in and 

work hard to uphold a high 

degree of professionalism, 

integrity and personal 

service.” 

Longevity is another attribute 

of a good title/escrow 

company. 

“Title Guaranty is trusted 

because of our long history 

of service in Hawaii,” 

said Mendes. “Our tag line 

is symbolic of what makes 

us unique, ‘A Legacy Built 

on Promises Delivered.’” 

Delivering those promises 

and helping people 

make the biggest purchase 

of their lifetime makes the 

job of an escrow officer 

very rewarding. 

“Seeing a transaction 

from beginning to end is a 

team effort,” said Mendes. 

“Escrow is the coordinator 

of this special event. 

We are a part of peoples’ 

dreams. It is a very satisfying 

job.” 


Left to right: Branch Manager Carol Mendes, Denni Keyes, Lilia Inciong-Aki, Heather Bragado, Jenni Lee, Brandi Bell, 

Erin Pajimola, and Patricia Lee.

Best Fitness Instructor 

Sheila K Fernandez-Kinzer at Lea Lea Fitness 

Thank you Big Island for voting me #1 Fitness Instructor for North Hawaii. 


1

The brassy notes of 

the Olliephonic Horns 

drift over from the stage, 

mixing with the enticing 

smells of fresh cooking 

emanating from the 

kitchen. Dancers whirl 

across the dance floor, as 

the wait staff rushes by 

with colorful drinks and 

steaming dishes of lamb 

kebabs or seafood risotto. 

The stars and moon hang 

low in the sky, ocean 

breezes drifting through 

the open-air courtyard. 

It’s another evening at 

the Blue Dragon, winner 

of seven awards in this 

year’s North Hawaii News 

readers’ poll. 

Set in downtown Kawaihae, 

the Blue Dragon 

has been described as a 

“lively yet cozy” entertainment 

venue that’s 

open for dinner Thursday 

through Sunday and offers 

Best Live Music / Dining Atmosphere / Family Entertainment location / Place for 

Dance Lessons / Fish/Seafood / Bartender / Chef 

Blue Dragon Coastal Cuisine & Musiquarium / Bartender Brandon Winslow / Chef Morgan Bunnell 

live music and dancing 

each of these nights. Dedicated 

to providing live 

music for North Hawaii 

locals and visitors alike, 

the Blue Dragon brings 

in performers like John 

Keawe, Salsa Latinos, 

Gary Washburn, Bump 

Ciry, and Tomi Isobe Blues 

Band. The eclectic mix 

offers everything from 

singer-songwriter acts to 

big band ensembles- from 

blues-rockers to string 

quartets. 

But the word ‘fresh’ 

doesn’t just describe 

the venue’s musical talent, 

it is also one of the 

defining qualities of the 

Blue Dragon’s kitchen. 

Chef Morgan Bunnell has 

been voted the best chef 

in North Hawaii for his 

creative interpretations 

of coastal cuisine from 

around the world. Start 

Get your drink on with North Hawaii’s Best Bartender, 

Brandon Winslow of the Blue Dragon! 


Blue Dragon would like to thank North Hawaii for voting us Best of 2011 for Dining Atmosphere, Family Entertainment 

Location, Live Music, Place for Dance Lessons & Fish/Seafood. It is our pleasure to serve you fine food & entertainment! 

➤

with a refreshing Blue 

Dragon house salad made 

with organic local greens, 

tomato, cucumber, carrots 

marinated onion with 

sprouts and blue cheese. 

Next, enjoy incredible 

selections of fresh, local 

fish prepared to order, the 

rock star steak, or South 

American surf with grilled 

tequila marinated jumbo 

shrimp. House specialties 

include blackened fish 

tacos, grilled lamb chops, 

pasta, stir-fry and more. 

The flourless chocolate 

cake, coconut bliss, or 

passion fruit sorbet are 

just a few choices from 

the delectable dessert 

menu that will make the 

ultimate finale to your 

dinner at Blue Dragon. 

Despite the diverse origins 

of these dishes, they 

are unified by the creative 

use of local ingredients, 

often from the nearby 

organic Hawi Blue Dragon 

Blue Dragon Coastal Cuisine & Musiquarium Cont’d 

Farm. Their popular fresh 

fish comes from local 

fishermen, and is served 

in an array of styles and 

sauces. Additionally, they 

offer numerous vegetarian, 

vegan, and glutenfree 

dishes. 

For those who’ve 

worked up a thirst on 

the dance floor, the Blue 

Dragon’s bar offers a selection 

of specialty local, 

domestic, and international 

beers and microbrews. 

Dragon Drinks 

and house specials offer 

creative re-imaginings of 

classic cocktails, as well 

as delightful original creations, 

featuring ingredients 

such as Li Hing Mui, 

lilikoi, and Bolivian coca 

leaf liqueur. Those willing 

to try bartender Brandon 

Winslow’s amazing creations 

will be rewarded 

with the unique tastes of 

these special drinks. 

Don’t be surprised if 

you find that the Blue 

Dragon’s patrons are 

relaxed and radiantskinned- 

they might’ve 

just come down from the 

Blue Dragon Bodywork 

Spa, located upstairs. 

Offering a variety of massage 

styles and luxurious 

spa services, the Bodywork 

Spa is the perfect 

appetizer for an evening 

of Blue Dragon fun. 

With such great atmosphere, 

food, and entertainment, 

it is no wonder 

that the Blue Dragon has 

won more best of North 

Hawaii awards than any 

other business on the 

island. 

Cater your special event with North Hawaii’s best-Blue Dragon. 

Congratulations Best Chef of North Hawaii, 

Morgan Bunnell! 


To the team at Clark 

Realty Corporation, 

the future looks bright. 

Real estate sales have 

picked up, there’s never 

been a better time to 

buy a home, and this 

locally-owned real estate 

brokerage has been voted 

best real estate company 

in North Hawaii once 

again. 

“I like to think it’s 

because we consider our 

clients first. Our attitude 

is – when we put our 

clients first, everything 

else will follow,” said 

Putman D. Clark, 

president of Clark Realty 

Corporation. “It’s the 

agents and the employees 

who are the company. 

They are the heart 

and soul and they have 

Best Real Estate Company / Property Management 

Clark Realty Corporation 

everything to do with our 

success,” he said. 

The company 

emphasizes office 

teamwork over 

competition, and 

the professionalism 

and excellent service 

practiced among the 

agents, brokers and staff 

undoubtedly contributed 

to their being chosen 

“Best of North Hawaii.” 

In addition, Clark 

Realty’s residential 

property management 

services were also chosen 

tops in its field by North 

Hawaii News readers. 

Property management 

is particularly important 

in North Hawaii, where 

some of Hawaii’s most 

valuable resort properties 

are found. Second home 


owners have come to 

rely on Clark’s caretaking 

program to inspect and 

monitor their property 

while they’re away. Clark 

works carefully with 

chosen service providers 

and, if the owners wish, 

will also handle monthly 

bills and arrange for 

house cleaning before 

they return. 

The company takes 

pride in every residential 

property it manages 

for long-term rental, 

and it was voted best 


company in the 2010 West 

Hawaii Today readers’ 

poll. The residential 


division supervises about 

400 individually-owned 

residences around the 

island, whose combined 

value is more than 

$203 million. Owners 

and tenants receive 

exceptional service 

and each property is 

personally inspected by 

its manager at least every 

six months. 

As the largest 

independently-owned 

real estate brokerage 

in the state, the 

company maintains a 

strong online presence, 

aggressive marketing and 

professional management 

that benefits both clients 

and agents. Clark Realty 

Corporation has five 

offices on the Big Island 

and 160 agents and staff 

who reached more than 

$160,000,000 in sales in 

2010 

Clark Commercial 

Group, another branch 

of the company, provides 

expert brokerage service, 

professional management 

of office, retail and 

industrial properties 

and commercial leasing 

island-wide. 

All in all, Clark Realty 

Corporation covers the 

full spectrum of real 

estate sales and services. 

Before establishing 

Clark Realty, Hawaii-born 

“Putty” Clark worked 

for a multi-national, 

Oahu-based corporation 

in the 1970s. Soon, his 

entrepreneurial spirit 

and long-time desire 

to work in the real 

estate profession led 

him to a new career 

as broker-in-charge of 

Bradley Properties on 

the Big Island, which he 

purchased and renamed 

Clark Realty Corporation 

in 1994. The company has 

experienced rapid growth 

and success, and Clark 

finds his career to be a 

great fit. 

“I enjoy meeting our 

clients’ needs,” said 

Clark. “It’s very, very 

satisfying.” 

Educating clients 

is a big part of what 

Clark Realty agents do. 

Walking potential buyers 

through the home buying 

process and helping 

them see the benefits of 

homeownership versus 

paying rent can help a 

family lay down their 

roots in their island 

home.”

With an incredibly 

diverse selection of 

beer and wine, and a 

focus on each customer, 

Kamuela Liquors has been 

named the best place to 

purchase beer and wine 


Alvin Wakayama, owner 

and manager, has a strong 

desire to please each 

customer and this may 

stem from his deeprooted 

appreciation of his 

Waimea home. 

“Our family has been 

an integral part of this 

Waimea/ North Hawaii 

community for four 

generations,” he said. 

“Waimea is in our blood 

and in our soul, and we 

genuinely care about the 

well-being and future of 

this community.” 

Kamuela Liquors carries 

an astounding 1,800 

Best Place to Purchase Beer & Wine 

Kamuela Liquors 

varieties beer and wine in 

addition to an impressive 

selection of imported and 

domestic cheese, olive 

oil, vinegar, crackers, 

butter, pate, wine 

accessories and what 

Wakayama considers the 

best salami in the world. 

With such a wide 

selection, choosing the 

right beer or wine for 

an occasion may feel 

daunting. Wakayama’s 

favorite is the Domaine 

Armand Rousseau 

Chambertin Clos de Beze 

2005. Helping customers 

find the right pairing for 

a special meal is just 

one part of the job that 

is satisfying. Sharing the 

aloha spirit is another. 

“We strive everyday to 

conduct ourselves with 

genuine Waimea aloha 

spirit,” said Wakayama. 

Stocking hard-to-find 

drinks and food items 

that his customers 

request also contributes 

to Kamuela Liquor’s 

success. 

“We are overly 

attentive to our 

customers’ wants and 

needs,” he said. “We 

make a concerted effort 

to sell items that the 

chain stores and big box 

stores do not sell.” 

This locally owned and 

community-minded store 

has served Waimea since 

1946. 

“From the bottom of 

our hearts, we sincerely 

would like to say ‘Mahalo’ 

to each and every one 

of you - the greatest 

customers in the world,” 

said Wakayama. “We 

are here only because of 

you.” 

Wakayama is also 

grateful to his dedicated 

employees. 

“It is a blessing to 

have incredibly great 

employees,” he said. 

“Excellent customer 

service is the most 

important product 

that we work hard at 

seeking.” 

Making and keeping 

customers happy helps 

Wakayama feel fulfilled 

in his work. He looks 

forward to serving 

customers and supporting 

his North Hawaii 

community well into the 

future. 

“Over the years we 

have and we will continue 

to contribute and give 

back to this wonderful 

community in meaningful 

ways,” he said. 


Lisa 930-8672 or Renee 930-8674 


Dr. David Doi provides 

gentle, high-tech, 

personal and friendly 

treatment, but that’s 

just the beginning of his 

holistic-minded dental 

practice. He knows 

that his patients’ dental 

care can affect their 

overall health, so he uses 

a holistic approach to 

address their concerns. 

Because of this heartfelt 

commitment, Dr. Doi 

has been chosen as Best 

Dentist in North Hawaii. 

Dr. Doi uses conventional 

and western techniques 

common at other dental 

practices, but his holistic 

approach to dentistry 

gives him more tools to 

benefit his patients. 

For example, some 

patients are uneasy 

Best Dentist 

Dr. David Doi 

about visiting a 

dentist. Conventional 

dentistry treats them 

with pharmaceuticals, 

prescribes a therapist, 

or uses desensitization 

by exposing them to the 

dentist a little bit at a 

time. Dr. Doi is open 

to patients using other 

forms of treatment 

such as aromatherapy, 

music therapy, color 

therapy glasses, or 

relaxation methods he has 

developed through the 

study of hypnosis. 

“Lots of people are 

apprehensive when they 

hear the word ‘dentist.’ 

I have developed a style 

for making these patients 

feel comfortable without 

using lots of drugs,” Doi 

explained. 


A true Waimea son, Dr. 

Doi has served the dental 

needs of North Hawaii for 

over 30 years. He spent 

his childhood years in 

Kawaihae, working at his 

grandparents’ farm and 

store, T. Doi and Sons, 

and he graduated from 

high school in Waimea. 

Despite his local roots, 

Dr. Doi’s practice draws 

patients from all over 

the Big Island and state. 

Doi said, “I’m not just a 

mechanic to fix teeth, 

because I can do that, but 

I also talk to my patients 

and make connections. 

That’s really what makes 

people willing to fly in or 

drive long distances to 

come to my practice.” 

For Dr. Doi, holisticminded 

means keeping up 

with new developments, 

so he can offer his 

patients the most 

sophisticated and up –todate 

treatment options. 

One modern, advanced 

treatment considered 

holistic is electronic xrays 

that expose patients 

to less radiation, resulting 

in less chemicals in the 

office and environment. 

Dr. Doi recently added 

a high-tech instrument, a 

bioluminescence testing 

device. The company 

that supplies the product 

reports that Dr. Doi’s 

office is the only one 

on the Big Island that 

currently uses it. It 

analyzes a patient’s 

mouth for excessive 

acid-producing bacteria, 

a primary factor for 

tooth decay. Dr. Doi 

uses different products, 

some organic, to cause a 

shift to the more-desired 

alkaline-producing 

bacteria. The device 

enables him to verify that 

the shift has taken place. 

Membership in 

dental organizations 

and attendance at 

conferences allows Dr. Doi 

to remain current with 

the findings of scientists 

and industry leaders. In 

the state of Hawaii, he is 

the only active member 

of the Holistic Dental 

Association and the only 

Hawaii Associate Member 

of the International 

Academy of Oral Medicine 

and Toxicology. Locally, 

he serves on the board of 

the Traditional Chinese 

Medical College of 

Hawaii. 

“Our skilled and 

friendly staff is our 

greatest asset,” said Dr. 

Doi. “They are dedicated 

to providing excellent 

service to all of our 

patients.” 

All of the hygienists 

are licensed professionals 

who take continuing 

education courses every 

year to stay on the 

cutting-edge of dentistry. 

Communication is an 

important part of dental 

care, so patients should 

feel free to ask us any 

questions they may have 

along the way. Please 

call 885-7144 to schedule 

a visit with the helpful 

staff.


Offering hard-tofind 

deli selections and 

delicious sandwiches 

created with the best 

ingredients, Lighthouse 

Delicatessen has quickly 

become well-known 

among North Hawaii 

residents. 

Four friends, Bobby 

Hoyt, Rick Klaus, 

Chris Scelza and Marci 

Elizondo opened 

Lighthouse Delicatessen 

in October of 2010 after 

noticing a culinary void 

in Hawi. With their 

combined experience, 

a delicatessen was the 

perfect fit. 

Combining excellent 

ingredients with 

meticulous care while 

preparing each sandwich 

is what makes them so 

good. 

“We use the freshest 

and best ingredients 

available, said co-owner 

Bobby Hoyt. “Each 

sandwich is made not 

only with love, but as if 

we were going to eat it 

ourselves.” 

The owners do their 

best to use locally grown 

vegetables, fruits and Big 

Island meats whenever 

Best Sandwich 


available. 

Some unique offerings 

include the Chicken 

Cordon Bleu sandwich, 

and the Thanksgiving 

sandwich comprised of 

turkey, cranberry and 

stuffing. However, some 

of the most popular 

offerings at Lighthouse 

Delicatessen are classics 

such as the Reuben or 

meatloaf sandwiches. 

Besides a diverse 

selection of madeto-order 

sandwiches, 


makes a variety of deli 

items available to a 

tiny town where these 

foods were previously 

unavailable. 

“The majority of our 

products are unique 

in North Kohala,” said 

Hoyt. Available offerings 

include exotic cheeses, 

cut-to-order meats, fresh 

loaves of bread, fresh 

pretzels, Dr.Browns and 

Bunderburg sodas. 

Other signature items 

include pretzels, black 

and white cookies, 

fresh baked loaves 

of bread and houseroasted 

meats, like Big 

Island roast beef, local 


organic turkey and pork 

tenderloin. 

The adjacent 

Lighthouse Liquors offers 

the perfect complement 

to offerings at the 

delicatessen. 

“Lighthouse 

Delicatessen and 

Lighthouse Liquors are 

like two peas in a pod,” 

said Hoyt. “Who doesn’t 

like good things to eat 

and drink?” 

Like Lighthouse 

Delicatessen, Lighthouse 

Liquors offers a wide 

range of selections in 

Kohala which sets the 

store apart from the 

others. 

Hoyt said, “Where else 

can you buy a great Pinot 

Noir, Single Malt Scotch, 

a Pabst Blue Ribbon, or a 

boutique beer all in the 

same place?” 

These four ownerfriends 

take pride in 

their incredible food and 

often indulge in their 

own delicious creations. 

But Hoyt said the best 

part about running a 

delicatessen is seeing the 

sheer enjoyment of the 

people who enjoy the 

food they make. 

DeaDline 

Space reservation and advertising copy deadline is 

Thursday by 4pm, 

one week prior to desired publication. 

Please phone or fax your order to 

Ph: 885-0507 • Fx: 885-0601 

For advertising info, call Lisa 930-8672 or Renee 930-8674

Best Building Supplies / Package Homes 

HPM 

HPM Waimea’s 25 owner-employees thank the readers of North Hawaii News for voting HPM “Best Building Supplies” and “Best Package Homes.” 

HPM celebrates its 90th anniversary this year. 

To have North Hawaii 

News delivered directly 

to your home in North 

Hawaii, call the West 

Hawaii Today’s Circulation 

Dept. 329-9311. 


If it can be produced 

on a local farm, chances 

are, it can be purchased 

at Waimea Homestead 

Farmer’s Market. 

Open from 7:00 a.m. to 

Noon every Saturday in 

Waimea near the 55-mile 

marker of Mamalahoa 

Highway, the market 

makes available fresh, 

local produce and unique 

products from nearly 40 

vendors. 

The market has 

become a weekly stop for 

shoppers, and it has been 

named the best outdoor 

market in North Hawaii 

for the second year. 

Visitors to the market 

can start their day with 

a delicious breakfast. 

French bakeries offer 

baguettes, cakes, 

pastries, tarts, pies 

and crepes. For those 

Best Outdoor Market 

Waimea Homestead Farmer’s Market 

who don’t have a sweet 

tooth, look for made-toorder 

omelets, Peruvian 

tamales or classic loco 

moco. Kona Coffee and 

tea grown in Ahualoa 

make a great complement 

to breakfast. 

Shoppers never go away 

hungry, and there are 

plenty of food items to 

take home, too. 

Fresh fruits and 

vegetables range from 

common produce like 

lettuce, spinach and 

those famous Waimea 

strawberries to hard-tofind 

watermelon radishes 

and many rarely-seen 

fruits. Organically grown 

foods include salad mix, 

arugula, cilantro, kale, 

chard, tomatoes, salsa, 

green onions, basil and 

more. 

Lamb and veal is sold 


by North Hawaii ranchers 

on the first Saturday of 

the month. Others go for 

the smoked fish, smoked 

meat or meat that comes 

marinated and ready to 

throw on the grill. 

The free-range eggs 

go fast, as do the vineripened 

organic tomatoes, 

and the freshly-made 

Waipio Valley poi is 

always a crowd pleaser. 

“That’s the first sale 

in the morning,” said 

Waimea Homestead 

Farmer’s Market treasurer 

Roen Hufford. “It’s always 

at the poi tent.” 

In addition to 

edibles, there are 

several nurseries selling 

landscape plants, orchids 

and fruit trees, lei, fresh 

cut flowers, homemade 

body care products, 

and a limited number 

of crafts. An herbalist 

offers Hawaiian medicinal 

herbs. 

Hufford was among 

five families that started 

the market in 1992, and 

the weekly gathering has 

grown into an event the 

community plans around. 

Visitors drive up from 

the Kohala Coast, those 

traveling between Hilo 

and Kona make a point to 

swing in. 

“They plan their 

Saturday mornings around 

the farmer’s market,” 

said Hufford. 

Consistency and quality 

in products and produce 

have led to the market’s 

success, and most of the 

vendors have participated 

in the market for five 

years or longer. New 

vendors go through an 

application process, and 

the board is selective. 

“We want them to 

provide good products 

and provide them 

consistently so our visitors 

will always have these 

choices,” she said. 

The vast majority of 

the products are grown 

or made locally, and this 

matters to Big Island 

consumers. 

“We’ve found that 

many who shop at the 

market like to know 

where their food comes 

from,” said Hufford. 

“They love to know the 

people who grow their 

food.” 

The market has been 

an essential outlet for 

farmers who have seen 

their businesses grow 

as a result of Waimea 

Homestead’s Farmer’s 

Market. 

“We’ve had farmers 

who started up with us 

and their businesses 

greatly expanded,” said 

Hufford. 

President Cynthia 

Spencer, Hufford, and the 

rest of the board would 

like to thank the vendors 

for their dedication, 

and also the Waimea 

community for supporting 

the farmer’s market and 

choosing it as the best 

outdoor market in the 

2011 North Hawaii New 

readers’ poll. 

“We really want to 

thank all our customers 

for coming over the 

years,” said Hufford. 

“We’re very thankful that 

they value us and do their 

shopping with us.”

Best Cup of Coffee 

Waimea Coffee Company 

Carolyn Riley & her Dynamic Staff. 


1

Law Offices of Ian 

Mattoch has gained a 

strong reputation of 

helping clients through 

personal injury cases in 

Hawaii for the past 35 

years. 

While many Hawaii 

law firms only have Oahu 

locations, Ian Mattoch 

has a strong presence on 

the Big Island with offices 

in Hilo, Kailua-Kona and 

Waimea, in addition to 

locations on Oahu and 

Maui. Mattoch believes 

this local presence gives 

his firm an advantage in 

North Hawaii, where the 

company was voted best 

law firm by the readers of 

North Hawaii News. 

“The Law Offices if 

Ian Mattoch is part of 

Best Law Office 

Law Offices of Ian Mattoch 

the community that we 

represent,” said Ian 

Mattoch. 

Among the types of 

cases Law Offices of Ian 

Mattoch handles are brain 

injury, spine or back 

injury, auto accidents, 

defective drugs, slip and 

fall injuries, recreational 

injuries, wrongful deaths, 

medical malpractice, 

produce liability, 

construction site injuries 

and dog bites. 

The firm boasts a 

specialized staff to 

assist with these cases, 

including medical case 

managers and nurse 

advocates who help 

severely brain injured 

and orthopedically 

injured clients. The firm’s 


continuing commitment 

program serves these 

clients long after the 

legal case is resolved. 

This ties into the firm’s 

philosophy that mandates 

close personal attention 

to client concerns as well 

as using world renowned 

experts to achieve the 

best results for each 

valued client. 

“Our law firm has 

resources that many of 

the comparable firms do 

not have,” said Mattoch. 

“We are willing to take 

challenging cases and 

back them with resources 

to successful outcomes. 

The relationships that 

have been formed over 

the years with worldrenowned 

experts in the 

fields of engineering and 

medicine gives our clients 

the cutting edge opinions 

that make a difference 

in valuation of the claim 

and damages.” 


Mattoch staff has 

contributed greatly to 

the success of the firm 

and the accolades it 

has received, including 

the prestigious “AV” 

rating, which is the 

highest rating for legal 

ability and professional 

standards awarded to 

attorneys and listed 

in the Bar Register of 

Preeminent Lawyers. 

“Our experience and 

expertise is seen in our 

staff,” said Mattoch. 

“Many have worked 

for the firm for over 

15 years. It is this 

commitment to the law 

firm in helping each of 

our clients that has led to 

our law firm’s success.” 

The best measure 

of this success is the 

testimony of the clients 

this firm represents. 

“The fact that the 

majority of our clients 

are from referrals from 

past clients, medical 

providers and other 

professionals is proof 

that our clients are 

satisfied with the way we 

have represented their 

individual claims,” said 

Mattoch. 


Mattoch offers free case 

evaluations and all costs 

associated with the case 

are covered while it is 

in progress. The firm is 

paid on a contingency fee 

basis, so the client owes 

nothing if a recovery 

is not won by the firm. 

Potential clients should 

call Ian Mattoch’s office 

to learn whether they 

have a case. Many claims 

succeed because of 

timely collection and 

preservation of evidence, 

so those considering legal 

action should call quickly. 

“If someone else has 

caused your injury, call 

us immediately so that 

we can help you through 

the process while you 

focus on healing,” said 

Mattoch.

Best Grocery Store 

KTA Super Stores 

KTA Waimea associates and store manager, Colin Miura (kneeling, center) take a quick break from their busy day to send a big “Mahalo” to North Hawaii Readers for their 

patronage, loyalty and support. 


Best Internet Provider / Television Service 

Oceanic Time Warner Cable 

Oceanic Time Warner Cable staff is pleased to be named best internet & television service in North Hawaii. 


Those looking for 

innovative Japanese 

cuisine served in a lively 

atmosphere shall look 

no further than Sansei 

Seafood Restaurant & 

Sushi Bar in Queens’ 

MarketPlace at Waikoloa 

Beach Resort. 

Restaurant staff can 

boast a long list of awards 

and accolades. Travel 

& Leisure called Sansei, 

“One of America’s eight 

best sushi restaurants.” 

Bon Appetite praised 

founder D.K. Kodama’s, 

“inventive handiwork,” 

and the list continues. 

The restaurant is often 

packed with local 

Best Japanese Food / Karaoke 

Sansei Seafood, Steak & Sushi Bar 

residents who have 

named Sansei the best 

Japanese restaurant in 

the annual North Hawaii 

News readers’ poll. Sansei 

also serves discriminating 

diners on Maui and Oahu. 

The first Sansei 

restaurant opened in 1996 

on Maui, and the name 

Sansei, which means 

“third generation” in 

Japanese was chosen. 

Kodama found this a 

fitting name for his 

restaurant that is inspired 

by Japanese tradition, 

but incorporates 

contemporary 

interpretations of sushi 

and Asian cuisine. The 

name also refers to 

Kodama’s background as a 

third generation Japanese 

American. 

Sansei Seafood 

Restaurant & Sushi Bar 

found immediate success. 

The Big Island location 

premiered on February 

25, 2008. 

Sansei serves 

contemporary sushi and 

new wave Asian inspired 

dishes that are unlike any 

others. Signature dishes 

include the panko crusted 

ahi sashimi roll served 

with soy wasabi butter 

sauce, the mango crab 

salad hand roll with sweet 

Thai chili vinaigrette and 

Best Real Estate Company 

Lava Rock Realty 

Supporting the community and working hard to be your best. “Mahalo!” 

roasted peanuts, and 

DK’s crab ramen with 

Asian truffle broth and 

sweet Thai basil and 

red jalapenos. A diverse 

menu also includes 

selections of fresh catch, 

chicken, filet of beef, 

pork chops, pasta, shrimp 

and lobster. Executive 

Chef Eric Rouelle selects 

only the best available 

ingredients, such has 

organic and locally 

grown greens, tomatoes, 

mushrooms, cucumbers, 

sprouts, Daikon, ginger, 

eggplant, onions and local 

seafood. 

“We have a huge 

selection that offers so 

many different varieties 

of foods,” said Rouelle. 

Many first time Sansei 

diners come to try daily 

early bird specials. Those 

who are 21 and older 

come after 10:00 p.m. 

on Fridays and Saturdays 

to experience one of 

the hottest spots on 

the Kohala Coast. Free 

karaoke is offered from 

10:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. 

Half priced appetizers 

and sushi bar menus, 

draft beer and sake 

specials contribute to 

a memorable evening. 

Even in the day time 

hours, Sansei provides 

an exciting and fun 

Best Carpet Cleaning 

Stanley Steemer 

atmosphere with casual, 

family style dining and 

a private dining room 

available for large groups. 

Rouelle is pleased 

to be named the best 

Japanese restaurant in 

North Hawaii, but perhaps 

his best reward comes 

from each customer who 

appreciates his culinary 

craftmanship. 

“I love to cook,” he 

said. “I enjoy working 

with my culinary team 

on creating new menu 

dishes for our guests and 

sometimes I’m blown 

away on what they create 

and I’ll say, ‘Wow, that’s 

a great dish.’” 

Mahalo North Hawaii for voting us as “Best Carpet Cleaning” for 2 years in the row! 


Best Snorkel Cruise / Sunset Sail 

Ocean Sports 

The Ocean Sports Ohana.

The readershavespoken… - West Hawaii Today

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?