Best Assisted Living in East Honolulu, HI

Overview of One Kalakaua Senior Living

Located in Honolulu, Hawaii, One Kalakaua Senior Living is an assisted living community that has been serving older adults for 28 years. Led by Executive Director Michelle M. Kakazu, the community is designed for residents age 55 and older, with accessible living spaces that include wheelchair-friendly living rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, and bathrooms.

Residents have access to a broad range of support services, including 24-hour care from licensed nurses and certified nursing assistants, rehabilitation services, medication management, assistance with bathing, and meal support. An all-inclusive maintenance fee helps simplify expenses by covering a daily meal, weekly housekeeping, utilities, access to an on-site clinic, around-the-clock security, emergency medical assistance, and a dedicated parking space. Companion care, shopping outings, and transportation services are also available.

Lifestyle amenities include a heated swimming pool, spa, fitness facilities, dining room, library, game room, beauty salon, landscaped gardens, and multiple social gathering spaces. Wellness programs and recreational activities promote engagement, while the pet-friendly environment allows residents to keep companion animals.

The surrounding neighborhood is highly walkable, making it easy for residents to access many daily necessities and local destinations on foot. This accessibility can support an active and independent lifestyle within the community.

Inspections conducted by Hawaii’s Department of Health have primarily focused on maintaining accurate and current care-plan documentation as residents’ needs change. However, recent inspections found the community in compliance, with no deficiencies identified.

Overview of The Plaza at Waikiki

Operated on Kalakaua Avenue in the heart of Waikiki, The Plaza at Waikiki is a high-rise senior living community offering independent living, assisted living, Haliʻa Memory Care, and short-term respite care. Residents are within walking distance of Waikiki Beach as well as many restaurants, shops, and neighborhood attractions. The community’s Walk Score of 96 makes it one of the most walkable senior living locations in the area. Many daily errands and outings can be completed on foot.

The community has been serving residents for 14 years. It offers 153 beds with studio, suite, and one-bedroom residences. Its size and years of operation can support a wide range of care needs within a single community. Residents living with memory loss receive care through the Haliʻa Memory Care program, which follows the Best Friends Approach. This person-centered model focuses on each resident’s personal history, preferences, and daily routines instead of using a standard approach for everyone.

Residents have access to transportation services, fitness and recreation programs, locally inspired dining, and a full calendar of daily activities. Shared amenities include a movie theater and an outdoor grilling area. This gives residents additional places to relax, socialize, and spend time with family and friends. The community also welcomes pets, so residents can keep a companion animal during their stay.

State inspections conducted by the Hawaii Department of Health have most often focused on medication documentation. These included records for as-needed medications and medication administration, along with wound care monitoring, service plan follow-up, fall risk assessments, and environmental maintenance. Families touring The Plaza at Waikiki may want to ask how these areas are monitored and managed as part of the community’s daily care practices.

Overview of The Plaza at Moanalua

The Plaza at Moanalua is an assisted living community in Honolulu, Hawaii, that offers independent living, personal care, memory care, extended care, and respite services. With 16 years of operation, the community follows a continuum-of-care model that allows residents to transition between levels of support as their needs change while remaining in the same setting. Medicare is accepted, providing families with an additional option for managing care costs.

With the Haliʻa Memory Care program, the community provides memory support, which follows the Best Friends Approach, a care philosophy focused on dignity, connection, and individualized support for those living with memory loss. Meanwhile, residents requiring a higher level of assistance may receive services through the Lamakū Extended Care program. Accommodation options also include studio, one-bedroom, and companion suite floor plans.

Residents enjoy restaurant-style dining with locally inspired meals served three times daily, along with a variety of on-site and off-site activities, excursions, and exercise classes. Furthermore, the Plaza Life Protocol wellness program offers structured monthly wellness initiatives. Volunteer opportunities also encourage engagement with the wider community. Common areas include a billiards room, movie theater, and piano lounge for recreation and socializing.

Nurse call systems, walk-in showers with grab bars, fire-rated doors, smoke detectors, and sprinkler systems are among the safety features available. Visitation is welcomed, and children are encouraged to visit, helping residents maintain connections with family members across generations.

While Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center is located less than a quarter mile away, the immediate neighborhood is heavily car-dependent.