Diane Seo

Honolulu

Editorial Director at Honolulu Magazine

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Articles

Not What It Seems

3 weeks ago | honolulumagazine.com | Diane Seo

A takeaway from this issue: Things are not as they seem. It’s a phrase frequently iterated, and so true. We often assume things about people, circumstances, pretty much everything, then grip these views as truths. I’m constantly reminded, however, that assumptions are just that. This was the case with Sheldon Nagata (see story).
8 Places to Get Really Good Jook

1 month ago | honolulumagazine.com | Diane Seo |Melissa Chang |Andrea Lee |Thomas Obungen

Your don’t need to be under the weather—or chilled by the weather—to savor a good bowl of jook, especially with the countless options in Honolulu. From simmering Chinese congee with pork and century-old egg, to a Vietnamese version brimming with beef, herbs and a fried egg, rice porridge sheds its bland reputation with bold options. Here are eight of our faves. Aloha Manapua This is our hidden gem of jook.
Where Time Stands Still: Kim Chee II

1 month ago | honolulumagazine.com | Diane Seo

Open for 48 years, this legendary Kaimukī eatery still serves up big-bone kalbi, meat jun and fried mandoo the way lots of us know and love it. Step inside Kim Chee II, and it’s 1977 again. Walk down the aisle, and you’ll see the same diner-style vinyl booths, scenic oil paintings and Korean dolls in a glass case. The menu hasn’t changed either.
All in the Family: Dr. Christina Marzo Advocates for Her Patients

1 month ago | honolulumagazine.com | Diane Seo

As a young girl, Dr. Christina Marzo’s diabetic grandmother suffered a series of strokes that eventually left her wheelchair-bound and unable to communicate. No one in her family knew much about health care, and it frustrated her to see her grandfather, who immigrated from the Philippines, unable to navigate a complicated medical maze. Now as a family physician at The Queen’s Medical Center, the 39-year-old helps others struggling to advocate for sick loved ones.
Say Goodbye to Plastic Water Bottles With the Mananalu Water and Boomerang Partnership

1 month ago | honolulumagazine.com | Diane Seo

The battle against single-use plastic water bottles has gained significant momentum with technology fostering the use of recycled aluminum water bottles at several Hawai‘i hotels and Kamehameha Schools Kapālama. What’s pushed the aluminum bottles into the spotlight? Call it big-time star power.
No Pain, A Lot to Gain: Dr. Jerald Garcia Leads in Chronic Pain Management

1 month ago | honolulumagazine.com | Diane Seo

Dr. Jerald Garcia appeared destined for a career in medicine as a 5-year-old, when his favorite activity was playing with his doctor toys. Fast-forward a few decades, and Garcia’s childhood pastime has resulted in a successful career leading a rapidly growing chronic pain management operation. It’s been 15 years since he first started his practice, a small O‘ahu office where he was the doctor and his wife was his assistant.
Aligning with Your Ikigai

1 month ago | honolulumagazine.com | Diane Seo

I recently read the book Ikigai & Kaizen by Anthony Raymond. In it, Raymond describes various Japanese words that refer to philosophies or principles to live more intentionally. As its title suggests, one is ikigai, or discovering your life calling or primary source of intrinsic motivation. Raymond suggests thinking of various endeavors that pique interest, then assigning a numeric ranking to each of the following questions:Could this be my passion and how much do I love this skill?
World’s Greatest Dog

2 months ago | honolulumagazine.com | Diane Seo

I knew something was wrong as soon as I received the early morning text. Steve, a family friend who walked our 14-year-old dog, Ikaika, told me our boy was lying listless at Kapi‘olani Park. When we met at the vet, Ikaika could barely sit up, yet his tail wagged as it always did when he saw me. The vet informed us that Ikaika’s heart was enlarged from a tumorous cancer. Nothing could be done. He was suffering.
The Art of Dying: Jonathan Pascual Defies Terminal Cancer as a Triathlete

2 months ago | honolulumagazine.com | Diane Seo

Jonathan Pascual finished the Ironman while battling terminal cancer, an act that resonated around the globe. Last fall, on an excruciatingly humid day in Kona, Jonathan Pascual joined fellow Ironman competitors to attempt what most people couldn’t even imagine: a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike race and a 26.2-mile run.
Punahou Carnival’s Art Gallery Is a Fundraising Powerhouse

Jan 21, 2025 | honolulumagazine.com | Diane Seo

Punahou Carnival may be most famous for its malasadas, but that’s not what draws the biggest bucks. That distinction belongs to the art gallery—Hawai‘i’s largest pop-up art event, which raises hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for the school’s financial aid pot. Half of the proceeds of every art sale goes to Punahou; the other half to the respective artist.