Best of HONOLULU 2026: Services on O‘ahu
You need pet grooming, travel planning, auto repairs or another service? Consult this list of businesses voted and selected as most reliable in their fields.
FOOD & DRINK | SHOPPING | HEALTH & WELLNESS
ENTERTAINMENT & LEISURE | SERVICES | BEAUTY & SELF CARE | FAMILY
Editor pick
Cooking Classes
There’s a reason, actually several reasons, why spots in Hana Kitchens’ cooking classes fill up so quickly (tickets sometimes sell out within a week of release). The setup, for one thing, is ideal. Classes are held in the company’s spacious 14,000-square-foot facility, located at Downtown’s Harbor Court, which features a modern show kitchen complete with a massive 20-foot chef’s table and individual prep stations. The instructors are also top tier. The other half of Hana Kitchens’ business is an incubator and communal kitchen for Hawai‘i’s rising chefs and restaurateurs.
That means Hana Kitchens has a killer network of talent to draw from. Instructors have included Andrea Onetti of Onda Pasta, Yuji Haraguchi of Okonomi/Yuji Ramen and Hatem Askar of Middle Eats. The featured cuisines have ranged from pasta, lumpia and sushi to Lebanese dishes, Chinese dumplings and Jewish pastry. Finally, the classes are just fun. Along with instruction on how to make the dish, you’ll glean a little bit of history and most lessons include a delicious multicourse meal with a wine or sake pairing. —BT
55 Merchant St., Suite 20, (808) 888-8886, hanakitchens.com, @hanakitchens
Reader pick
Pet Groomers
Live.Love.Pet! in Kaimukī calls itself a “zen” pet salon for good reason. It’s where every animal is treated warmly and compassionately as they’re being trimmed, washed and coiffed. Head-to-tail grooming services, including baths, haircuts and nail trims, are offered every day except Sunday. And the salon’s experienced groomers treat their dog, cat, rabbit and guinea pig clients like family, prioritizing safe handling and sanitation. Pups of all sizes, breeds and ages are welcome, and the signature Spaw Day package includes nail trimming and buffing, ear cleaning, a blueberry facial, teeth gel application, a bath with quality shampoos and conditioners tailored to each animal, fluff drying and deshedding.
“Our largest client is probably 165 pounds, all the way down to our 3-pound Chihuahua,” owner Krystal Hensley says of her 12-year-old business. “Every dog is a show dog here. They know they’re loved here, and they always go home with their tail wagging.”
For those with more than one furry friend, there’s a multi-pet discount, along with a kupuna discount on Mondays and a military discount on Thursdays. —EB
1126 12th Ave., Suite #103, (808) 734-8282, livelovepet.com, @livelovepet
Reader pick
Travel Agency
In this era of online booking and mobile and AI everything, you may be wondering why travel agencies still exist. But Non-Stop Travel, celebrating its 40th anniversary, is going strong, continuing to take Hawai‘i folks on whirlwind trips around the world. Its niche: organizing and leading group trips for Hawai‘i travelers who enjoy meeting and traveling with other locals.
Non-Stop offers more than 300 group tours and cruises each year, many with popular themes. Trips include seeing Japan’s cherry blossoms, visiting K-drama sites in South Korea, embarking on a Nile River cruise, checking out Egyptian treasures, and exploring the Peruvian Amazon rainforest. UH sports fans can also go on group trips to see the teams in action when they’re on the road.
“We always think about what’s best for our clients and always make decisions based on this,” says Non-Stop’s founder and managing director, Gene Miyake. “Not the cheapest hotel or meals. We choose the best quality and value.”
Every escorted tour has a tour manager who takes care of all the details and logistics, and when groups reach their destinations, they’re joined by a tour director who makes sure everything runs smoothly. The end result: less stress and more time to enjoy. —DS
615 Pi‘ikoi St., Suite 102, (808) 593-0700, nonstophawaii.com, @nonstophawaii
READER PICKS
Best Adult Day Care
WINNER: Arcadia Family of Companies
FINALIST: Kāhala Nui
Best Airline
WINNER: Southwest Airlines
FINALIST: Hawaiian Airlines
Best Auto Detailer
WINNER: Pristine Auto Detail
FINALIST: Honda Windward Auto Spa
Best Auto Insurance Company
WINNER: State Farm
FINALIST: Geico
Best Automotive Repair
WINNER: Sumida’s Auto Repair
FINALIST: Lex Brodie’s Tire, Brake & Service Co.
Best Bank
WINNER: American Savings Bank
FINALIST: First Hawaiian Bank
Best Coworking Space
WINNER: Hub Coworking Hawai‘i
FINALIST: Treehouse Coworking
Best Credit Union
WINNER: Hawai‘i State Federal Credit Union
FINALIST: Hawai‘iUSA Federal Credit Union
Best Employment/Staffing Company
WINNER: Altres Staffing
FINALIST: HiEmployment
Best Event/Wedding Venue
WINNER: The Kāhala Hotel & Resort
FINALIST: Halekūlani
Best Financial Advising Company
WINNER: Edward Jones
FINALIST: Morgan Stanley
Best Gas Station Convenience Store
WINNER: 7-Eleven Hawai‘i
FINALIST: Hele Gas
Best Laundromat
WINNER: Mānoa Laundry
FINALIST: Kapahulu Xpress Laundromat
Best Luxury Car Dealer
WINNER: Servco Lexus
FINALIST: BMW of Honolulu
Best Pet Groomers
WINNER: Live.Love.Pet!
FINALIST: Petco
Best Real Estate Firm
WINNER: REMAX Hawai‘i
FINALIST: Coldwell Banker
Best Retirement Community
WINNER: Arcadia Family of Companies
FINALIST: Kāhala Nui
Best Senior Assisted Living
WINNER: Arcadia Family of Companies
FINALIST: Kāhala Nui
Best Storage Company
WINNER: Hawai‘i Self Storage
FINALIST: Public Storage
Best Travel Agency
WINNER: Non-Stop Travel
FINALIST: TravelChic World
Best Urgent Care Clinic
WINNER: Queen’s Island Urgent Care
FINALIST: Straub Benioff Medical Center – Clinic & Urgent Care locations
Best Veterinarian
WINNER: Kaka‘ako Pet Hospital
FINALIST: PetVet Animal Hospital
EDITOR PICKS
Best Cooking Classes
WINNER: Hana Kitchens
