Best of HONOLULU 2026: Beauty & Self-Care on O‘ahu

Reader pick

Med Spa, Place for Laser Skin Treatments/Botox

Finalist

Cosmetic Surgery

When you arrive at Nauru Tower for your appointment at Asia Pacific Aesthetics, take a private elevator to the fourth floor and see the ocean views at the artfully designed med spa and plastic surgery center, you know you’re in for a top-of-the-line experience.

As Hawai‘i’s largest aesthetics center, with 16 rooms and more than 12,000 square feet of space, Asia Pacific Aesthetics’ offerings are vast—facials, peels, IV therapy, laser treatments, injectables, fillers, body contouring, skin tightening and more. There’s also a surgical center where all surgeries take place. Plastic surgeon Dr. Shim Ching oversees the entire operation, which he believes sets Asia Pacific Aesthetics apart from many other med spas.

Ching is a strong proponent of staff development and continuously invests in new technology and equipment so his 50-member team can provide clients with the latest procedures and services. “We’re always improving and trying to do things better,” Ching says. —DS

1330 Ala Moana Blvd., fourth floor, (808) 207-7345, drshimching.com, @shimchingmd

Editor pick

Place to Get a Massage Without an Appointment

When you’re achy, stiff and need a massage to work out the kinks, it’s not easy to get same-day service. But at Popoki Massage, you don’t need an appointment. You simply show up at its convenient Ala Moana Center location, pick the type of massage (regular or deep tissue/shiatsu) and length of the session, and relief is on its way.

There’s also a kama‘āina special: $53 for 30 minutes; $69 for 45 minutes; $79 for an hour; and $105 for 90 minutes. Deep tissue/shiatsu is $10 more for massages up to an hour and $16 extra for 90-minute sessions.

Open since 2017, Popoki is far more functional than luxurious. Its small, no-frills massage stations are separated simply by a maze of simple cloth curtains, which can be challenging to walk through. But it’s clean and efficient, and the polite massage therapists—primarily Japanese women who speak English as a second language—are skilled and strong. In fact, if you opt for the deep tissue add-on, brace yourself. These therapists get right to the knots, and their hand and elbow strength may surprise you. —DS

1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Level 1, (808) 304-8038, popokimassage.com, @popokimassage_hawaii

Editor pick

Place to Buy Korean Skin Care

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been tormented by pimples, blackheads and acne scars. Even now, as an adult, my skin can’t catch a break from frequent breakouts. But Korean skin care helps, and Beauty Touch with its broad selection at reasonable prices is my go-to for face wash, masks, moisturizer, toners, serums and more.

With three locations across the island, the locally owned Beauty Touch sells popular Korean brands like Beauty of Joseon, Babai, Marine Farm SKIN1004, Anua and Kahi, along with trendy hair products and even scented car fresheners. My favorite items are the Anua Heartleaf Quercentinol Pore Deep Cleansing Foam, which is good for acne-prone skin, and Beauty of Joseon’s Daily Relief Sunscreen, which leaves little to no white casting.

In August, Beauty Touch plans to open a luxury Korean spa at Ala Moana Center, offering facials and eyelash services. —EB

Multiple locations, beautytouchhawaii.com, @beautytouchhawaii