Best of HONOLULU 2026: Health & Wellness on O‘ahu
The best personal trainer, fitness studio, naturopath, pilates instructor and more places and ways to help you live well.
FOOD & DRINK | SHOPPING | HEALTH & WELLNESS
ENTERTAINMENT & LEISURE | SERVICES | BEAUTY & SELF CARE | FAMILY
Reader pick
Personal Trainer
As a personal trainer, Karolay “Karo” Ochoa’s mission is to help clients achieve realistic goals as they become healthier, stronger and more confident. “I mainly focus on lifestyle changes, training at the gym, and I also work to make small adjustments that can be added to a routine,” she says. “Rather than just a one-time thing of losing weight, I try to make it more long-term. Every month, we readjust. I work with my clients and never against them. I think it’s my approach to training and nutrition that feels doable.”
Along with one-on-one sessions in Kaka‘ako, Ochoa offers partner and online training. And as a diabetic fitness specialist (she has Type 1 diabetes), she supports other diabetics with specialized fitness and nutritional regimens. “I primarily focus on prediabetic or Type 2 diabetes because it’s a common problem,” she says. “Diabetes is so preventable, and so the mission is preventing that.” —EB
815 Waimanu St., (808) 400-0480, sites.google.com/galacticfitness.org/karo-galactic-fitness, @galactic_fitness
Reader pick
Fitness Studio (not including Pilates or yoga)
Two words often come up when regulars describe their Heated workouts: effective and addictive. And after trying a class and seeing the fit and sculpted women of all ages around me, it’s clear why they are believers in the Heated method.
All classes take place in an infrared heated studio and are designed to build muscle and burn fat through structured sets and reps. There’s a lot of talk these days about the importance of strength training to build bone density, and Heated offers it in its lineup of classes at its three studios, in Hale‘iwa, Kaka‘ako and Kāhala.
Students are provided with a mat, hand and ankle weights, resistance bands and other equipment, and are encouraged to use both heavier and lighter weights depending on the exercise. For those familiar with yoga sculpt classes, it’s similar, but without the yoga. All in all, a Heated workout keeps regulars coming with top-notch instruction, fun music, a cool studio vibe, and of course, the promise of a great full-body burn. —DS
Multiple locations, joinheated.com, @heatedhonolulu
Reader pick
Naturopath
Naturopathic doctors are trained as primary care physicians, says Dr. Alysa Nguyen, whose integrative medicine practice focuses on nutrition, targeted supplementation and other therapies, but also incorporates conventional treatment options when appropriate. She’s also a licensed acupuncturist. Since 2007, she’s seen a broad range of concerns, from pain and musculoskeletal issues to gut problems, hormone imbalances and chronic illnesses. Some of the most common concerns of her patients center on hormones, digestive issues, skin conditions and chronic metabolic issues.
“What I find is that people seek me out because they don’t just want to rely on medications if there are other options. They’re looking for a more comprehensive approach—one that not only addresses symptoms but also looks at underlying causes,” Nguyen says. “Naturopathic and Chinese medicine have been around for a long time, and many patients recognize that there’s more that can be done to improve their health.” —KV
Appointments via telehealth, in person on Maui and occasional availability on O‘ahu, dralysa.com
Reader pick
Place to Play Pickleball
If you’re a pickleball player, you know how hard it can be to find unoccupied court space at public parks around the island. That’s why Pickles at Forté downtown is a boon for many—and it’s air-conditioned to boot. Members get unlimited daily open play from 6:30 a.m. to midnight (until 10 p.m. on weekends), plus other perks depending on tier, with the ability to reserve court times in advance. If you’re new to the sport, join a clinic or sign up for a lesson with a pro. Drop-in rates start at $10. —KV
1032 Fort St. Mall, (808) 758-4683, picklesatforte.com, @picklesatforte
Reader pick
Acupuncture
Moon Gate is not your traditional acupuncture spot. At the corner of Monsarrat Avenue and Diamond Head Circle, Dr. Diana Ho’s workplace feels like a friend’s house, with her chihuahua mix Bubba relaxing on the checkered rug and music curated by DJ Tittahbyte playing on speakers. But while the space feels modern, with cute Chinese lion pillows, the techniques used here are ancient.
Ho, who received her doctoral degree from Hawai‘i’s Institute of Clinical Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, aims to “tonify your qi” over time—just one session or ginseng supplement won’t fix all your problems, she says. She and Dr. Courtney Wexler, also a doctor of acupuncture, try to understand the root causes of issues instead of simply treating their symptoms. Each new patient is required to complete a health assessment for a first appointment, except for aesthetic services like the popular Shen Lift.
The signature facial rejuvenation acupuncture treatment that I choose is said to boost qi and blood in the face to create more lift and elasticity. The 75-minute treatment starts with a look at my tongue, followed by dozens of needles being inserted at specific points on my face, hands and my right foot. Ho covers my eyes for about 20 minutes of red light therapy to help with collagen production and cell regeneration, though she uses different color settings for other benefits, too. My favorite part comes next: the facial cupping and gua sha, which melt away any lingering tension. —KV
3608 Diamond Head Circle, moongatehawaii.com, @moongate.acupuncture
Reader pick
Pilates Instructor
Pilates may be having a viral moment with celebrities and influencers touting its strengthening and lengthening benefits. But the popular low-impact exercise has been around longer than most realize, created by Joseph Pilates more than a century ago.
Emphasizing proper postural alignment on either a Reformer machine or a mat, Pilates builds core strength, muscle and flexibility through precise movements coordinated to the breath.
I’ve taken Pilates Reformer classes on and off for almost three decades, with many different teachers, and I’ve come to understand the importance of expert instruction.
One Honolulu instructor who stands out is Rick Burke, owner of Master Pilates & Wellness. Burke, a former arena football player, has taught Pilates since 1998. He’s also worked as a personal trainer, and is intricately aware of how the body works, and what movements stretch and build which muscles.
Tucked on the fifth floor of a Kapi‘olani Boulevard office building in Kaka‘ako, Burke offers private and group Pilates sessions on six Reformer machines. Even in the group class, everyone gets personalized adjustments to ensure proper form. Following Burke’s calm, steady and clear prompts, the hourlong class goes by fast and flows from movement to movement seamlessly. By the end, you’ve worked your entire body: shoulders, arms, glutes, hamstrings, calves and of course, the all-important core. —DS
770 Kapi‘olani Blvd., fifth floor, (808) 497-4977
READER PICKS
Best Acupuncture
WINNER: Moon Gate
FINALIST: Kama‘āina Acupuncture
Best Chiropractor
WINNER: Dr. Chad Sato
FINALIST: Turning Point Chiropractic
Best Fitness Instructor
WINNER: Chien Jardine-Winter
FINALIST: Moani Hara
Best Fitness Studio (not including Pilates or yoga)
WINNER: Heated
FINALIST: Still & Moving Center
Best Gym
WINNER: Planet Fitness
FINALIST: 24 Hour Fitness
Best Naturopath
WINNER: Dr. Alysa Nguyen
FINALIST: Hawai‘i Natural Medicine
Best Personal Trainer
WINNER: Karolay Ochoa
FINALIST: Alyssa Chang
Best Pilates Studio
WINNER: Club Pilates
FINALIST: Beyond Pilates Studio Hawai‘i
Best Place to Play Pickleball
WINNER: Pickles at Forté
FINALIST: Diamond Head Tennis Center
Best Running/Walking Event
WINNER: Honolulu Marathon
FINALIST: Kaiwi Coast Run & Walk
Best Yoga Studio
WINNER: Yoga Room Hawai‘i
FINALIST: Bella Kai Hot Yoga
EDITOR PICKS
Best Pilates Instructor
WINNER: Rick Burke (Master Pilates)
