Don L. Balao

This review is solely based on my 90 minute massage from Don, which I did not get at NZ Salon, but at the Massage Specialists. Jumping on here to do my review, I realized that he has a dedicated set of reviews, which he totally deserves! So, while I have a couple of issues with the establishment (none of which had anything to do with Don), my massage was freaking amazing. I finally caved and made an appointment after I spent the last 24 hours with a horrible tension headache that wouldn’t quit, and feeling like my shoulders were permanently tensed up around my ears. I was hesitant to go to the Massage Specialists because it tends to be hit-​or-​miss, but the rates were good and I was in a lot of pain. Now, I’m the kind of client who dislikes elbows and fingers being jammed into my body — it only makes me tense up even more. With that said, Don was amazing at relaxing my muscles and working out all the knots in my shoulders.

Don is an awesome massage therapist,
He is very nice and caring. He is worth more than he charges. If you need a massage or just wanna treat someone, call DON ! You wont regret it
I even hired him for a father’s day special last year for all the fathers in my family.
He was so accomadating and such a hard worker.
The salon he’s in is great too! very nice.

Everyone gets stressed out around this time of the year. All the potlucks, parties, shopping, gift wrapping, traffic, Zumba, and holiday hustle takes a toll on my body. My tension likes to park itself in my upper and lower back, rhomboids, and neck. I normally just live with it but this year I treated myself to the most wonderful massage EVER.
For $ 40, I got one super long hour of the best deep tissue massage.
This is not your fu-​fu massage. There is no iced tea, no bathrobes, no water falling, and no new-​age music playing. There might even be someone getting their hair done in the surrounding salon, so it may not even be quiet, but I don’t care about those kinds of things and neither does my back.
Don really knows how to find my «problem» areas and works all the knots out. The bonus at the end is that really deep football players’ stretch for my lower back.
LOCATION: NZ Salon on the corner of 8^th and Waialae in Kaimuki by appointment only.
PARKING: a few metered 1hr stalls outside, or street parking on 8^th Ave.
I used cash. I think he takes checks.
PURE AWESOMENESS. I feel so much better.