This is a look back of my partial knee replacement of my right leg since 7 years ago. Although I…read morewas 69 years old, the recovery speed was quite good. I felt very weak on my first day and only able to walk about 20 feet. But I felt no pains on day 1 and spent first night in the Castle hospital with sound sleep. On second day I felt much better and continued to be pain free. Walk about 150 feet and attend the lunch meeting with other patients to share post op experiences. I worked with the resident physical therapist and easily reached ROM at 90 degree, then I made my first mistake to accept the urge from p. t. to continue increasing the bending angle to 98 degrees. I felt a sharp pain and injured something I thought. This injury might cause excessive swearing of my knee. At 3 pm, I was sent back to home. Since I did not feel much pains, I did not take pain medicine after returning home. This is my second mistake. I felt very sharp pains after mid night. Then I started taking pain medicine, but it was too late. Pains came like waves and I could not sleep anymore. My stomach got very upset from Oxycodone, so I switched to less effective drug tramadol which only partially block my pains. On day 5, the pains subsided a lot so that I stop taking prescribed pain medicine. Only took tylenol before knee bending exercises. The first two weeks I did not push myself too much as my leg excessive swelling was hard for me to bend too much. After 4 weeks p. t., my ROM was only 100. After 8 weeks, ROM was about 115 and I stopped going to p. t. sessions. I continued to do home exercises to bend my knees. Eventually I got ROM 120 after 5 years post op. A very long journey but I am very happy and grateful to Dr. Rasmussen. After 3 weeks post op, I could drive and walked without assistance to do my daily activities such as shopping or going to beaches. However, I experienced some pains deep inside my knee for a very long time if I walked more than one mile. Dr. Rasmussen thought this pain was caused by scar tissues inside my knee. Luckily the scar tissue problem suddenly disappeared after 5 years. Before the surgery, I asked Dr. Rasmussen, what is the success rate of a knee replacement? She replied to me, 100% success rate from me. Her confidence gave me comfort and calm feeling. Indeed, if you have a healthy body and prepare yourself with pre op exercises, you have nothing to worry about. Please trust Dr. Rasmussen and having a peaceful mind is also very important for a speedy recovery.

20 years ago Dr Rasmussen performed a full hip replacement on me, at the time I was a 50yo male in…read moregood physical shape. I recovered quite quickly and never had any problems. Circumstances returned me Happily to Oahu where I got the opportunity to see Linda again for the other hip. Absolutely changed my life at 69. It has been 8 weeks since my surgery and I am able to work out again, swim with no pain. I know it sounds silly, but just going for a walk without pain is beyond words for people who know. I would SO recommend Dr. Rasmussen (and her team at Castle). I know there are many Orthopedic Surgeons out there, but when you find one that is this good all I can say is THANK YOU.

For: Brandee Black, M.D. - Sports Medicine / Windward…read moreOrthopaedic Group Long post, but fractures are personal. Diagnosis: fractured ankle with 7mm mortise widening. Life lesson: learn to pause (or some kumbaya namaste ohm bs) If you ever find yourself in the unfortunate position of discovering that your ankle, foot, and leg have collectively decided to quit mid-week--because you're a great uncle, and maybe you were chasing children before bedtime-and honestly who doesn't love a Hump Day plot twist--let me save you some time: Dr. Brandee Black is the doctor you want. Here's the timeline. Wednesday: Foot fractured. Foot is dangling. It's bedtime and I'm old. Cut to 2:00am ER visit: I'm told to elevate for 24 hours, take Tylenol (not Advil...apparently Advil doesn't help bones heal, who knew. ) Then I was told to "call ortho." And they gave me Dr. Black as a referral. But, who doesn't love lying around with their foot dangling while their toes slowly transform into Vienna sausages? All the little piggies were absolutely not going to market tho...not on my watch. And there's nothing better than having your feet above your head ...so elevated rest and panic I did. What they don't mention is that even doctors have a work-life balance (as they should). So I spent the rest of the week and weekend marinating in swelling, fear, and Google searches until Monday, when calls were finally returned to schedule consults. Tuesday: I meet Dr. Black. Within minutes, she calmly confirmed all the things the ER didn't tell me (slash I didn't ask because it was 2am, I was in shock, and I just wanted to go home). Reality hit. Hard. I'll be honest--I was shopping around. Some doctors looked exhausted. Some looked like they were 12. Some couldn't or wouldn't take me. Some offices failed the receptionist vibe check (details matter). Dr. Black (and team) passed all of it. She was sharp, present, and human. I respected her immediately. By the end of the consult--a full week after my nephew chose chaos and my ankle doubled down--she confirmed I needed surgery. And then... I pulled out my list. Twenty-three questions. Yes, I counted. Yes, I gathered them from ChatGPT after I put everything in my Patient Portal from the ER and asked Chat to give me a list of questions I wouldn't know to ask about and questions their peers would ask too. No, she did not flinch. She answered every single one--clearly, patiently, without rushing me, without talking down to me, and without that tired, quota-driven energy you sometimes get in medical offices (no shade, it is a business). I cried during the Q&A. Not a full sob--but definitely more than a single dignified tear. (Also, shoutout to the movie Boys Don't Cry... respectfully, they're wrong.) It had been a full week of "hurry up and wait," and it finally caught up to me. Then she scheduled surgery for the very next day. Wednesday: Surgery day at Castle. I'm sitting there waiting for my knifing (jk), and Dr. Black comes in to check on me. Even then--even then--she made time to ask if I had any last-minute questions. I did. Of course I did. But it was more for post surgery. I asked about PEMF mats ( ChatGPT again asked me to look into it and ask her)...She gave me an honest answer: it couldn't hurt, there are studies, but she didn't have a fully formed opinion yet. That kind of grounded honesty matters to me. The surgery itself? About an hour long, yet somehow felt like a one-night stand where I woke up disoriented and immediately had to do the walk of shame. Shout-out to the whole surgical team: * the cute doctor who gave me a nerve block (while my ass was fully out because he asked me to flip over--sir, have you been watching Heated Rivalry because I'm obedient and blushing, call me Shane Hollander. * the nurses who asked me the same questions approximately 97 times...ONLY THE LEFT FOOT ANKLE (nurses were a little less impressed with me but I digress) * the moment I woke up to liquids being forced down my throat before being gently but firmly kicked out like, "Okay, you're alive, a hui ho. Malama your mama." All jokes aside: I trusted Dr. Black with a complicated foot with multiple issues surgery, and I'm a patient with a very anxious attachment style. She earned my trust completely. Skilled, direct, compassionate, and present when it counted--before surgery, during surgery, and in the moments where fear sneaks in. She's delightful and non fussy - not much of a hand holder...all things that spoke to me. Truly. If you need an orthopedic surgeon who listens, answers your questions (even the long list ones), respects your intelligence, and still has a soul--Dr. Brandee Black is it. 10/10. Would let her fix my foot again. Would prefer not to need to tho Thank you Dr.Black Also thanks to Bri (the Nurse at WOG)

Dr. Rasmussen recently did my whole knee replacement surgery. It's been one month & the knee has…read morehealed nicely with hardly any pain. I still have a ways to go but I'm so happy with the results. The office staff & nurses are so helpful & nice.

Dr Fowler is a BARIATRICS Doctor. He has big shoes to fill. Dr. Cywes was tough as nails but he…read morehelped me be accountable to what mattered most...ME! The office is located in Downtown Honolulu near Bethel. There's street parking available near N Beretania St.The receptionist, Megan is friendly and knowledgeable about all the services rendered. The rooms are small and quaint with resemblance of Hawaiian culture, photographs and art. Dr. Fowler is very cool! He reviewed my medical history with me and discussed all my possible options as it relates to my health. He specializes in healthy lifestyle changes, eating habits as well as nutritional supplements. He also specializes in Cosmetic Surgery and skin tightening after significant weight loss such as mine. Ill definitely be back to visit Aloha Surgery very soon!

I had 7 doctors lined up for consultations on bbls. Dr Fowler was the fourth. The previous drs were…read morenot right for me. They focused on what they thought was "beautiful" rather than what i think is beautiful. I showed dr Fowler my wish pics and he said it was mainly doable and showed me all the fat he could harvest in order to make my dreams come true (not much but i already knew that). Dr Fowler was very thorough and is board certified and also has a board certified anesthesiologist which is important. I got lost looking for the building. For some reason i was looking for 923 and they are 928 Nuuanu. Parking sucks but thats the only thing. There are only about 7 street parking stalls. Id rather pay 17 dollars for parking and see Dr Fowler again than go to other doctors. He offered me more free consultations if i felt i needed them which was very generous. I called and megan answered promtly and professionally. She helped me quickly find the office without making me feel like an idiot. I came super early in the case of me getting lost and i didnt get too lost so i was really early. Megan said shed try to fit me in early which she did and dr Fowler came in straight away. The office is super clean and fresh feeling. It feels more like home than a surgical unit. Im really excited to get my bbl and even more excited that they have a groupon special for fat transfer. Highly recommend dr Fowler and Megan.

This is my 2nd round here for Derm issues, skin cancer etc...They are clean, friendly, and the docs…read moreare thorough and refer on for Moh's surgery when warranted. (thin slices to pathology; keep going until all skin cancer is pau) My only complaint is that the office referrals seem not quite...as my referral was lost, waiting near a month...Called the VA and they never received it so I had to make some calls here to get it re-fax'd so I can get this $#@! crap off of my body. Other than that faux pas--they are excellent. Aloha

Shout out to Dr. Ryan Apgar of Hawaii Dermatology in Kailua…read more My first visit and I was impressed! From the girls in the front, to Elisa(?), who did the questionnaire to Dr. Apgar. Everyone was so nice and accommodating. It was a quick 15 minute session and I was on my way. Definitely recommending them. Again thank you for your compassion and care.

I have lived here for 30 years and never had a single problem receiving medical care in the Castle…read moreER until after Covid when they started staffing the ER with visiting nurses from the mainland. Many stayed because they like the Hawaii lifestyle but they know nothing about Aloha. I will never go back there again unless I am unconscious. I don't like hospitals and get anxious when I have to go, and they were so rude to me they turned it into a full blown panic attack. I tried to leave and they physically restrained me after I said these words "You do not have permission to touch my body." They violated my space in a big way, and that is illegal. You don't have a right to hold a patient down who does not want to be touched. I was already out the door at that point. You're lucky you didn't get sued. Then when I was sitting on a bench waiting for my husband, and meditating to calm myself down, they threatened to call security and HPD to remove me. I'm thinking go ahead, maybe they will give me a ride. Then they did send a humongous security guard who told me I was trespassing on private property and had to leave right that moment. WTF? I'm a little old lady who didn't want to be manhandled either. He was my son's age and was polite and just doing the job they told him to do. I don't blame him. It was those nurses that caused the whole incident from beginning to end. None of them could seem to realize that all I was ever trying to do was leave peacefully. I was in the ER for a reason. Did they expect me to walk home? This was all kinds of wrong. Castle has gone way downhill. P.S. There were witnesses.

"Windward Side Aloha"…read more Castle Hospital, now named "Adventist Health Castle" is the Kailua/Kaneohe windward side of Oahu's, closest hospital services, without having to go over the Pali or Likelike. It's smaller that big brothers Queens, Straub or Kaiser but from what I've heard, people appreciate the service they were provided. Clean, pretty easy to maneuver, as you enter the main doors, a dedicated information desk manned by dedicated volunteers can help you get to where you need to go. But of course on a visit I focused on the dining options and I have to say the food was pretty good, just a simple scrambled eggs, rice and corned beef hash (canned) and a taste of their fried rice. All enough to satisfy a mornings craving for sure. Not spectacular, but satisfying. Service, like the rest of the hospital seems to be friendly, helpful and efficient. It shows in the way the employees interact with each other. Normally one does not specifically target to visit a hospital for their cafeteria offerings. This is not the case either. But if you are at this hospital on business and are hungry or thirsty, their cafeteria called the Bistro is definitely a resonable option.

I have been coming to Kailua Physical Therapy for the past few weeks in preparation for a total…read moreknee replacement and my experience has been outstanding. . Janet and Chris are both EXCELLENT therapists- knowledgeable, attentive and genuinely caring. Over the past 15 years, I've been to 3 other physical therapy clinics, and I can honestly say the quality of care varies greatly. At some clinics, patients were double-booked and left to do exercises on their own, sometimes without knowing whether they were performing them correctly. At one clinic, I even had a therapist spend part of our scheduled session watching TV. At Kailua Physical Therapy, the experience has been completely different. The therapists provide personalized attention and make sure exercises are done correctly and safely. The entire staff creates a warm, supportive environment that makes you feel comfortable and confident in your recovery. I highly recommend them.

I have been coming to Kailua Physical Therapy for about 6 weeks now. I have been through physical…read moretherapy many times due to injuries I sustained in the Marine Corps...this place is BY FAR the most experienced, knowledgeable, accommodating, and friendly! Abigail is EXCELLENT!!! I have dealt with neck pain, bulging discs, tears, degenerative disc disease, etc. for 8 years. It progressed into severe pain and almost constant numbness down my arm. After 3 sessions that numbness went away! She is incredibly helpful and adapts very quickly offering various education, exercises, stretches, etc. to ensure I am comfortable. She truly is a lifesaver! HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend Abigail! Also to note, the assistants are so friendly and helpful with appointment reminders and the traction setups they do for me! 100 stars!

At the recommendation of another orthopedic surgeon/friend of mine, I scheduled an appointment to…read moresee Dr. Wakatsuki about an ankle injury that was bothering me. He is very busy (clearly has a lot of happy clients), but found the time to listen to what was going on, asses the injury and recommend an xray and then an MRI before concluding any more aggressive action. His treatment and care are unrivaled and I appreciated his time to diagnose my ankle injury.

this fine orthopedic surgeon sadly passed away. aloharead more

I've been going to Dr Chui's office for various procedures (cosmetic and medical) for years. The…read morestaff is very friendly and efficient and the office with all of Dr Chiu's collectibles from travel, friends and otherwise makes any sort of wait pass quickly. Dr Chui's professionalism, experience in various procedures and approach to care is appreciated indeed. Never felt rushed and always felt taken care off. The septoplasty/turbinate reduction she recently performed on me was painless and the setup for outpatient surgery and follow up went smooth.

I called the office to schedule an appointment with Dr. Chiu. The office manager/receptionist was…read moreproblematic from the start, including questioning why I would call Dr. Chiu about auditory processing. I gave her a number of reasons including a severe ear infection, as their website says that Dr. Chiu is an audiologist. After a couple of hours she called me back. She said the doctor says we don't treat or test for the majority of what is listed on the website and definitely not vestibular issues (see enclosed photo.) Perhaps its time to take down or update your website then?

Starting in January of this year (2026) I had PRP (Stem Cell) treatment for my lower back pain at…read morethis facility. This was after 2 1/2 years of multiple types of therapies that didn't give me long term relief. The 1st injection worked well and seven weeks later I had a 2nd injection, as previously discussed, as part of my treatment plan. After the second procedure I have had great results. I highly recommend Dr Carlson and his wonderful support team at Hawaii Pain & Spine. I will gladly return for help with any other pain issues and I've already recommended this location to others.

I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Carlson and the team at Hawaii Pain and Spine. From the…read morevery beginning, the office staff showed incredible patience and kindness during visits when I was in severe pain -- that alone meant more than they probably know. Dr. Carlson truly listens. He takes the time to understand the whole picture and then creates a treatment plan that is thoughtful, solution-oriented, and tailored to the individual. Over the course of my care, I received steroid injections and PRP, and after a 10-month ordeal, I finally feel like I got my life back. Appointments can sometimes run a little long -- but that's because Dr. Carlson takes his time with his patients. I never feel rushed, dismissed, or talked over. It is absolutely worth the wait. If you are dealing with chronic pain and want a physician who is skilled, compassionate, and genuinely invested in outcomes, I highly recommend Dr. Carlson and this practice.