Dr. Hatanaka is an amazing dentist. He offers quality dental care for the community and we are so appreciative for his service. The few times I've had dental issues he was able to squeeze me into his busy schedule. Thank you Dr. Hatanaka! read more

I've never had a dentist take care of every single step. Examination, x-rays and cleaning! No one else touched me. Every piece of equipment was modern and new! Don't let the look of the building fool you, this office is modern and clean. Doctor is very knowledgeable and kind. read more

Straight forward and efficient dentist and staff. Would recommend to any family looking for dentist.

Went In for my teeth cleaning & with Dr. Nelson Hatanaka and he took some X-rays first and then started cleaning my teeth. He did a great job and I was finished in 1/2 hour. Thank you read more

Ok really, I was just in a few weeks ago and of course, left a glowing review because of my great experience at the office. I made a small comment at the end of my review that I had previously went to a dental office that gave lip balm before the exam, since your lips get so so dry during the check up, and that it was such a thoughtful touch. Well, fast forward a couple weeks to my follow up appointment with Dr. Hatanaka and I was greeted with the cutest, nicest smelly lip balm! They not only took my comments into consideration, but acted on them immediately. I'm sure I have Adele to thank for this so thank you so much for being fantastic!! By the way, the flavor is Pear-adise and smells divine! I've had my share of bad dental experiences so I truly feel lucky to have found such a gem here! read more

Nelson Hatanaka, DDS - Door is to the right of the bank entrance - General Dentistry Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

I recently switched Dentists, cause of insurance changes, it can be quite unnerving, But I was so pleased with all aspects of my cleaning appointment and Dr Hatanaka exceeding all my expectations for an urgent tooth need today. Huge Mahalo :) read more

I wanted to find a new dentist for my brother who moved from Kaneohe to Hawaii Kai. After researching online, checking reviews and yelp, I decided on Nelson Hatanaka, DDS. I found him to be caring, calm and professional. He was very patient and kind to my brother who has dementia. After Dr. Hatanaka took xrays and did the examination, he simply and patiently discussed treatment plans for my brother's dental issues (includes 2 crowns that fell out the day before). I was impressed that Dr. Hatanaka personally contacted an oral surgeon's office and was able to schedule an appointment for the following morning! I sense Dr. Hatanaka goes above and beyond to care his patients. His receptionist was very kind and caring too. I feel the building looks a little run down but the quality of service and care you'll receive more than makes up for it. I highly recommend Nelson Hatanaka, DDS! read more

Nelson Hatanaka is an elite dentist! He is located in Hawaii Kai and was referred to me by another doctor whom I respect. Our family have been seeing him for couple years now and I couldn't be any happier switching from my previous dentists. The last 2 dentists I had ( one in Kahala, another in Hawaii Kai as well) made me actually doubt the integrity of these dentists that appear to want to up-charge their patients and encourage procedures that are completely unnecessary. Unfortunately these things really did happen to me and that is why I am more motivated to take the time to praise and acknowledge Dr Nelson Hatanaka! With these other dentists I had before, they both would say I had cavities that needed filling (which I didn't) and they were always painful after the procedures since I never needed these procedures to begin with and costly too! I even had to redo my root canal twice because the Kahala dentist didn't do the first one properly and I also had to pay twice as well. Kaching $$$$!! Essentially these things happen to people a lot more than you'd think from dentists. Sadly, you'd think you could trust someone to care more about your well being than be a little dishonest to make a little more money. That is the reason why my family and I are so pleased to have found a very honest and humble and excellent dentist. Just had a cleaning yesterday and both my son and I had no cavities, and was not suggested we needed fillings or were not told our gums were receding and we needed extra cleaning but our insurance will not pay so we need to pay out of pocket...... you get where I'm going with this, I hope! Dr Nelson Hatanaka is a no nonsense, truly genuine dentist that will be there for his patients whenever they need him. He will even come in on his off hours if you have an emergency. His wife works with him and is a pleasure to see and talk to as well at the front desk. While I was waiting for Dr Hatanaka to clean my son's teeth, I was so into reading this magazine they had in the waiting room.... Adele, his wife told me to just take it home. It's just these little special little gestures and kind acts that make you feel good inside. I think it's TRUST that I feel that makes me comfortable there. Simply, TRUST!! Highly recommended! He makes the most scaredy cat patient not have to feel anxious before going to the dentist! read more

I had 12 cavities & he just kept saying "All good, keep flossing!" members as well as friends. Since leaving his services, we have all faced countless dental issues, costing us thousands of dollars, pain and suffering. Together we are unsure what to do? We all understand that just most all issues could have been avoided. Maybe ask: What might you suggest we do? Maybe you should take responsibility for assisting us with what this has costed us? Perhaps you have insurance for this? ~ If you'd like him to call me, you can ask him to call me. I'd be happy to discuss. read more

Gentle, Respectful, non-Judgmental. I'm not great at flossing n have had other dentists "tsk, tsk". I even had one tell me, "yah right" after I said I would try to do better. I have paralysis n can't feel my mouth and jaw and food get stuck there unless I am hyper vigilant. He never makes me feel small or ashamed. read more

Thank you Dr. Nelson Hatanaka and staff for being super nice, efficient and caring. My teeth feel so clean!

Great dentist, he's really good and he's friendly and at home feel. Since I don't have cavity so I just go for cleaning but he does such a great job. read more

The best dentist on the island or probably Hawai'i! Painless dentistry. Very matter of fact and tells you what work needs to be done.. He is a very unassuming man who speaks few words while working. Gets the job done and professionally. I, highly recommend him. He's a 10 star in my book! read more

Great dentist, I have only had cleanings so far as my teeth usually don't have too many issues but I would trust Dr. Hatanaka to do more advanced work that will eventually be needed. read more

I've been going to Dr. Hatanaka for over a year now, and have nothing but the best things to say about him, his practice, his office and his location. Where should I start? Dr. Hatanaka is gentle, caring, thorough and conscientious. His wife, Adele, who runs the office is also always very friendly and helpful. In addition to my 'regular' maintenance, Dr. Hatanaka recently completed the final stages of my implant, which resulted in a perfectly integrated crown which is indistinguishable from my other teeth. He's very attentive to the patient's comfort, and his attention to detail is reassuring. My wife and I both go to him for all of our dental care, and love the accessibility, both in terms of his schedule and the ease of parking at and accessing his office. He explains what he's doing, and patiently answers all questions directed at him. His conscientiousness even carries over to his calls, following a visit to make certain everything's okay and welcoming return calls with any questions or issues. We are so happy to have him as our primary dentist. read more

I'm terrified of the dentist, I haven't been in about four years because I hate going so much; however, this visit exceeded my expectations. Great dentIst. Removed my fear. Highly recommend. read more

I used to go to a dentist in Waikiki, and after a couple of less than average experiences (which included a dental hygienist rushing though my cleaning and harshly poking my gums multiple times) I decided to look around again. I found Dr. Hatanaka on yelp, and after reading though his reviews I made an appointment for a check up and cleaning. The check in process was really quick and Dr. Hatanaka was able to see me right away, even though I arrived half an hour early. He did the cleaning himself, and he was very gentle. After about 10 min I knew I could relax. He then explained my teeth and didn't try to sell me any extra procedures. I still have my wisdom teeth, and he even said that though he can pull teeth out, he didn't feel comfortable doing the procedure because of the way the teeth were growing, and recommended I see a specialist. I'm so grateful that I found a dentist I could trust, and would recommend him to anyone looking for a dentist. read more

Terrific DDS who has great attention to detail and your care plan. 1st time visit and will return. He has done the best cleaning on my teeth and I don't believe I've have any hygienist or dentist use so many tools for my cleaning lol. A very gentile fellow who is easy to communicate with and is a very low key vibe type of family practice. read more

Wanted to find a good dentist for my kids near our home in Hawaii Kai and chose Dr. Nelson based on the Yelp reviews. Coming from the D.C. area where the dentists compete heavily by incorporating new, high tech amenities in their offices, I was a little disconcerted by the small, plain waiting room but figured it reflects an older, established practice. Also surprised when Dr. Hatanaka came out and said he be doing the cleanings and exams himself - back in VA you wouldn't see the dentist until the very end when he/she would inspect the work of their dental technicians. He was quiet but authoritative when he talked about the condition of my kids' teeth, which inspires confidence that he knows what he's doing and isn't trying to upsell you on services. read more

We have been patients of Dr. Hatanaka for more than 10 years and have been more than pleased with the dental care we have received from him. A few times, either my husband or I had dental emergencies, and he was kind enough to fit us into his busy schedule. His wife, Adele, who works for him is an absolute sweetheart, and half the joy of going there, is that I get to " talk story" with her. Plus that, they have the BEST magazines to read while waiting for your appointment if you get there early. read more

Dr Hatanaka describes problems clearly and presents alternative solutions clearly. He is quick, painless, and effective. The best dentist that I have ever worked with. read more

Excellent. Took my whole family there and got cleaning done. No pressure and candid suggestions. Explained things clearly. Friendly staff and very helpful. Highly recommended. - Lawrence read more

Nelson Hatanaka was recommended by friends, and after our family moved from Manoa to HI Kai we wanted to find a dentist nearby, so we gave him a try. Our kids (14 and 16) like him, and I do too. He's hands on, kind, and I'm glad we found him. read more

Day or night, weekend, holidays you name it, Dr. Hatanaka makes time for you. He has been taking care of my entire family for going on... wait I can't even say how long cause it's been a very long time. He is gentle, kind and always available. His wife Adele is super sweet and accommodating. The best part is he is an awesome dentist and we will keep on going as long as he'll have us. Thank you for always being there for us. read more

Dr Hatanaka is great! Many dentists have others clean your teeth or do the X-rays. He does everything and is the first dentist I've had in a long time that really knows what going on with my teeth. He gives pain free cleanings, lightening fast X-rays, has fitted me for a mouth guard, diagnosed I needed a root canal, and did the follow up filling. Want a very experienced dentist? I highly recommend Dr Hatanaka! read more

Excellent family dentist. We've used Nelson since we've moved back to Hawaii, over 25 years ago. He's helped both our two children and my wife and me. He's thorough, friendly, caring and makes himself available for consultation or emergency visits. read more

Had a dental emergency for the last couple of days. My regular dentist went MIA so I had to call around and see if I could get someone to help me as soon as possible, not only was I able to get seen within 20 minutes of calling, Dr. Hatanaka was able to refer me to an endodontist who got my tooth taken care of the very same day.Everyone was friendly and very helpful. Would definitely recommend. Some other dentist offices I called couldn't see me for at least 3-4 weeks. read more

Lost a crown the day before flying to Hawaii. Dr. Hatanaka saw me on short notice and after hours. Can't ask for more than that from any doctor. Very professional, kind and gentle, explained everything to me and had no issue with my insurance. Took his time and even gave my mouth a quick check before sending me on my way. Easy to find location with plenty of parking in the back. My only regret is I can't see him except on visits. read more

I went to Dr. Hatanaka as a new patient and really liked that he is a hands-on dentist. He did the exam, x-rays and cleaning himself; no dental hygienist. He uses modern equipment such as the digital x-ray but doesn't use the modern tech that really isn't necessary, like flat screen t.v.s in the ceilings, big clunky, ugly plastic glasses, etc. Everything was clean and sanitary but not glaringly white and stark. Dr. Hatanaka is not very talkative but asked me the pertinent questions needed, made sure I was comfortable and did a great job. I am glad I chose Dr. Hatanka and that he takes my insurance! read more

Dr. Hatanaka is a great dentist who is very knowledgeable and responsive. My husband and I have been going to him for a few years now and have recommended many friends who need dental care. read more

I have been a patient of Dr. Hatanaka since he opened his practice. I will say I have no complaints. Excellant dentist, takes his time and is very thorough. I have never had to wait more then 5 minutes for my appointment and he fit me into the schedule when I cracked a tooth. Office staff very friendly and accomodating. And you get a new toothbrush/floss at the end of you appointment. I would highly recommend Dr. Hatanaka read more

I have been Dr. Hatanaka patient for 30 years. It started when I first move to Hawaii and live in Hawaii Kai. He is our family dentist. Then I had to move to the West side of the island, and I still go to him for my dental needs. He is a hands on dentist, and will answer all the questions you ask patiently. No dental assistant needed....did everything himself, including calling you back after a procedure to make sure you are OK. I would recommend him to everybody who needs a no-frill, family style dentist. read more