Manakai O Malama

My sister told me about her doctor and how he’s the most amazing guy. He’s travels onboard the Hokulea and how he practices integrated health.
I’m so glad I listened to her. When family recommends something/​someone it’s really because they care. So I’m doing the same because if this Unilocal review is the little I can do to pay it forward then I’ll do it. Thank you Pashyn and Wendy for the recommendation and thank you Dr. Zunin and staff for the wonderful care.

Dr. Ira Zunin, and Dr. Scott Acrees are my family doctors and taking care of me for quite a while recently I did not realize how much I appreciate them. I had a total knee replacement last Tuesday, 20 October at Queen’s and was released on Friday with with eight– nine days supply of pain medication. After contacting the surgeon who did my knee replacement on my seven days postop to get a refill on my pain medication (22 staples) he let me know that he would not be continuing any pain management for me and I need to seek my care from my family doctor. I appreciate so much the doctor/​patient care that was given to me from Manakai o Malama to make sure I wasn’t left alone during this postop. True Aloha style and mahalo for all their help!
I saw Dr. Zunin yesterday and he was able to redo my medications for my post-​op knee replacement, and last night was the first night I slept for 6 ½ hours I appreciate him taking the time to hear me as a whole person and you treat me as a whole person.

This is my 3^rd review as usual this place rocks, from the receptionist to the doctors, recently I had to go because my back was acting up, so I got the injections into my back plus the pain meds and next week I will start with the acupuncture twice a week for 4 weeks. When I went in I was sore, but when I came out I had some relief, now with the acupuncture I will have more relief. The best part of the acupuncture is that after they insert the needles I usually go right to sleep and get a little nap. I think that by now I am spoiled by the great service that I get from this facility. Keep up the excellent work.

staff are always polite and courteous. My appointment times are prompt. There is private protected parking, which gets validated parking.
A friend who i referred to Dr. Zunin had been homeless for several months with wife and sick toddler. When he told Dr. Zunin that he had been sleeping in the rain in Kakaako with tears in his eyes, Dr. Zunin took money out of his wallet and helped him get into a new appointment.
Zunin is a truly good guy. He is also esteemed in his profession. A Worldclass leader in western and Asian medicine.

Dr. Zunin and the staff that he has is great. I haven’t seen anyone’s office that has so many things. The few visits that I’ve had with Dr. Zunin have been great. He listened to what my problem was, had me take tests as soon as possible, and then got me physical and occupational therapy. Hillary for OT and Scott for PT. They’re awesome! Then he had me do a womanly check up with his assistant who is no longer there but she was great. He even had me do a blood test just to see if there was anything to know and he was the first person to tell me I have something that could possibly affect the baby if I were to have another one and if my partner had the same genetic thing.
Dr. Scott who is now the assistant doctor is great. He tells it like it is but does actually care and tries to find ways to help under any circumstance. He is the first doctor to ever tell me that there is a shot that could help me with my asthma, allergies, and eczema.
I sometimes think that I wouldn’t have known these things if I haven’t gone to them.
The staff in the front are usually always helpful and very nice.

Nobody «loves» going to the doctor’s office. We go because we are hurt or sick. I was hurting and Dr Opunui seriously listened. He is very humble and helpful like a true friend, although one that actually knows about medicine. He is a great resource, and has been more responsive than I would ever ask for or expect from a doctor. I feel very fortunate to have found someone that I trust and who seriously has my best interests in mind.
Thanks Doc!

First of all, I never have written a review In my life. But I am so upset this is all I can do. So… Doctor Zunin treated me for five months and made me see him every two weeks when all he did was refill my prescriptions and not once examined me. I asked him many times to help me find out the root of my problem and my chronic pain but he never even answered my questions. He literally ignored me as if I said nothing. At one time he did tell me that I talk too much. I was literally crying in his office and he never even looked up.
He had me spend a lot of money on a sleep lab which is in his office that he owns and the results were inconclusive. So I did it again and the second time they were also inconclusive. This is because they woke me up at 4 o’clock in the morning and told me to go home. The sleep reports said on both occasions that I did not have enough sleep time. He is of course charging me and my insurance every penny.
He did refer me to almost every specialist in his office even a geriatric doctor and I am in my 40s. However, I did get a lot of help from OT Hilary Valentine and loved Psych Aimee McCullough. They are wonderful ladies and unfortunately I will not be seeing them anymore because I refuse to give Dr Zunin my business.
The sad part is that he really won’t even know I’m gone! He never knew my name, Answered his cell phone while I was sitting in my 5 minute «exam» and literally ignored my questions about my health condition. His office is run like an assembly line, that he likes to call a one stop shop. I really felt like they were in the insurance scam business, focusing on automobile claims and workers compensation.
Dr. Zunin is so full of himself, with a God-​like complex and self-​proclaimed celebrity status it is heart breaking that he calls himself a doctor. His face is plastered all over his office In case you forget what he looks like. He is the Donald Trump of Medicine… except I believe that Donald Trump would have more compassion than this guy.
He never cared about my health. Never asked me how I felt. Never ran blood work, Probably because they don’t offer that service at his office. And as I said, he won’t even notice I’m gone because he never noticed I was there.

I’ve been under the care of Dr. Zunin for over (2) years. Dr Zunin is the BEST doctor that I’ve come in contact with in a very very long time. He’s extremely caring & understanding! He listens to your concerns, which you rarely find in a doctor now a days. His staff has been always extremely friendly and treats you with the upmost respect! I highly recommend Dr. Zunin and the friendly staff of Manakai O’ Malama!

I had a really positive experience here. The staff was very friendly and explained everything that was happening.

UPGRADING this by a half-​star, because:
1. The office staff explained discrepancies in previously paid amounts and what was on the bill, fairly patiently. Their bills’ information is not at all listed in an intuitive way, and some critical facts are missing (such as what the date of the exact service you’re being billed for is; they will instead list the last service processed by insurance, not the service you’re being billed for – something about the process of the office getting billed by your insurance company), so you need to get a specific explanation to understand this paperwork, and also keep your co-​pay receipts, just in case. Appreciated the time taken at researching then giving an explanation, and the competent customer service here.
2. Response by Unilocal-​reading staff on this site, to my original review, and related offer to talk about problems. Took a few weeks, and I’ve since moved onto a new doctor and won’t be back (not related to the quality of this medical office’s services; had to find my own, long-​term doctor/​s, anyway), but at least, the staff made an effort.
3. They do have some good staff, but, again, do your due diligence, and ask around about the individual medical practitioners and particular service providers working here, because the general quality varies substantially, depending on who you see. It even varies from visit to visit, because the volume they do is so high, that sometimes, it feels disorganized more than other times. The average grade I’d give for the medical and healing practioners (not including the office staff), over dozens of visits up through my last, recent one, would be TWO AND A HALF stars (partly because, over time, I’ve learned which ones are good and stopped seeing the less-​than-​effective ones), so I’ve upgraded the Unilocal rating to three.
And also, if you originally came to this office from an auto accident, recommended by your provider to have the staff perform your intake evaluation for the adjuster, do understand that though they might perform the role of assessing your medical condition for insurance, you don’t have to go, automatically, with the services within their office that they recommend and will quickly try to book you for, but can go out to an outside office not related to them, so long as your insurance firm’s company has them in their network (e.g. the Corvel network, etc.).
They will make you jump through hoops — filling out additional paperwork — to go outside to other medical practitioners and service providers, and you might feel bad, because the staff consists of nice, personable local women who will try to get you to schedule appointments with the office’s practitioners/​providers on the spot. A lot of how this office makes its income is a «one stop shop» so that you don’t need to go outside for services (that is, they’re relying on the idea that Hawai’i people are too lazy or busy, to find the highest-​quality services for specific medical needs, for themselves, and don’t want to go to two or more places, if they can accomplish it with some competence, at one place). But it’s your right to choose the BEST medical practitioners and specialists for your healing, since it’s your insurance that’s paying for it. And honestly, since I’ve worked with many doctors and healers over the decades, especially with family elderly care, I have to say, if you short yourself with the needs of your injuries or illnesses now, it will come back to bite you, later. The body is nothing if not honest.
I’d get evaluated here, then take that paperwork of your injury and recommendations, tell them you’re going to find your own doctors and practitioners. Then go home to do your research ( Unilocal and other online reviews, and calling/​emailing friends/​colleagues who have good doctors, medical practitioners, massage therapists/​acupuncturists, occupational/​physical therapists, psychotherapists, and so on), find the MOST APPROPRIATE ones for you that fit in your insurance company’s networks, and then arrange for this office to send the paperwork to those offices. Some may be with this office, but some might not.
If this seems too difficult, then select a medical insurance evaluator whose arrangements make clear your basic right to go outside for medical/​healing services.

I’ve been going to Dr. Zunin for 3 years and recommend him to all my friends and family.
I was looking for a medical doctor that was open to complimentary or alternative healing methods such as vitamins and herbs, acupuncture, chiropractic, etc. and am so glad to find Dr. Zunin.
I told him what I wanted to try for my condition and he was open and supportive. He takes the time to explain my condition, interpret my blood results for me, and answer any questions I have. He even cleared up some misunderstandings
He’s very nice, knowledgeable (about both western and eastern medicine) and personable. He also looks at the whole person, not just the condition.

I will not be returning to Dr. Zunin’s office.
The nurse who checked my vitals was very nice and pleasant; however, the receptionists are horribly rude women. They have no business manning the front desk. While I was waiting, the two that were there were talking loudly and complaining about clients. Apparently, a client wanted to reschedule an appointment that had been difficult to schedule in the first place. I overheard the receptionist say that she flat-​out told the client «No» because it was going to be inconvenient for her (the receptionist). In addition to that, the receptionist was VERY rude on the phone to two other clients. She was having difficulty hearing them and was very impatient, did not use polite words and it was very clear that she was very irritated. I glanced over to another waiting client and she shook her head at me and gave me a shocked look as we listened to this receptionist deal so rudely with phone clients.
When I saw Dr. Zunin, he sat behind his desk the whole time and didn’t really say much. He didn’t examine me at all, made a recommendation for a different medication and therapy. He also answered his cell phone in the middle of my visit which was very rude. A doctor should take the time to examine their patients, offer care advice and make each patient feel important. Overall, he was just bleh. The receptionists are the real problem. Rude, horrible women.

I have been a patient of Dr. Zunin for 3 years and he’s provided me with the best care and attention of any primary care physician I have come across. I look forward to a long, healthy life due to his expertise and care.

From the moment I stepped into the office of Dr Ira Zunin accompanying my girlfriend Wendy for her appointment, I immediately wanted to have Dr Zunin as my doctor too.
The feeling here is one hard to describe in words. Peaceful, comfortable, and caring are the vibes. And not just from Dr Zunin but the other doctors and staff too.
I never experienced a doctor who truly cared, truly wanted to see me healthy in the best way suited for me until I met Dr Zunin, his beautiful wife Alia who does acupuncture here and the others members of the Manakai O Malama Ohana.
Like a tailor sewing a perfect fitted suit, I feel like this place was made just for me.

Great acupuncture! Very knowledgeable, specializes in fertility as well. Clean office and friendly staff.

After many frustrating days trying to schedule appointment here, I finally got in with Dr. Opunui. I must say from start to finish this was in my opinion The WORST treatment experience ever. It was so humbug to get appointment then I had to wait forever because doctor was late. Then he rushed through the visit while trying to push some homeopathic bs on me. He not even a real doctor. I will go somewhere else.

My experience with Dr. Zunin is very similar to Miss B posting, he does not like alot of discussion, and can be very condescending when asked for clarification. Dr. Zunin has that“God like complex” and assumes your complete trust in him therefore concludes you don’t require explanations or choice regarding medical assessments or treatments.
I was kept waiting one hour past my appointment time and when he finally did see me, he ate his lunch while treating me, talking with his mouth full.
Dr. Zunin also complained I asked too many questions at one time, definitely not a multitasker.
Dr. Zunin is a Jerk and should be avoided at all costs!!!

Absolute worst patient care from a medical practice I have ever received!
On a recent trip, I forgot to put my nasal mask in the bag when I packed my CPAP machine. I did not sleep well at all that first night without the CPAP since I started the CPAP therapy at the end of 2013. I found a San Diego office where I could purchase a replacement mask, but they needed a prescription, so I called Manakai O’Malama first thing in the morning (Hawaii time) to explain my situation and request a fax of the prescription to the San Diego office. I spoke to Keahi, and she said the Dr. had just arrived and she would have him sign the prescription. After repeated calls throughout the day, and false assurances that they would fax the prescription before the San Diego office closed at 5 (Pacific time), the fax was NEVER sent.
Here’s part of an email I then sent to Manakai that evening:
«If you cannot fax the prescription by Thursday morning, please let me know so I can move to alternate plans for getting my nasal mask.
I have to say that it was extremely frustrating for me today to keep waiting for the prescription to be faxed, and at the end of the day, to be put on hold for nearly 30 minutes when I last called your office at 2:00 HST today, while I was waiting in the Sleep Data office! The Sleep Data office closed at 5:00 PDT today, and stayed open late to keep waiting for the fax to arrive. I gave up and hung up at 5:27, tired of waiting for the person who put me on hold.
I do not understand what the problem is in your office to not have this prescription faxed today, when I first called at approximately 8:00 HST this morning, and as I kept calling throughout the day to no avail. «
No response received.
I will NEVER return to Manakai O’Malama and I will report this situation to HMSA and Tricare in hopes they will not refer new patients to them.

Dr Zunin has been my dr for over 10 years. I feel like he is apart of my extended family. His intentions and love is there at every visit! He always reassures me and my fiancé that we are always in great hands.
His dedication to his practice, helping others, and his experience with hawaiian culture is admirable. He truly is an inspiration to all doctors in Hawaii.
If you want a dr who truly cares about your long term health, who knows ur name, your story, and gives you the health care you need… Then Dr Zunin is the physician for you.

I’m seriously bummed about Manakai O’Malama… My husband broke his back and went to Manakai O’Malama, his primary care physician the following day after a visit to the orthopedic surgeon. The doctors looked up our insurance coverage on their computer, in front of both of us and told my husband that if they prescribed massage, acupuncture and PT through them that our insurance company would cover all services, 8 – 10 sessions depending on the service (except of course for the copay)… now they are billing us for the acupuncture and massage saying, OOPS! They got it wrong and we aren’t covered for massage and acupuncture!
When I called Denise in accounting to let her know that I found it an extremely unethical practice, borderline malpractice, to tell someone that the service that they offer is covered then charge them because it is not covered, she offered to set up a payment plan. When I asked her to put herself in our shoes — my husband broke his back (crushed vertebrae) and was in extreme pain when he went to them trusting that the medical staff knows what they are taking about when they look up the insurance information on their computer, she said she wouldn’t be in our shoes because she has read her insurance book and knows exactly what is offered and what isn’t. WHAT??? She must have a GREAT memory. I can’t even believe the dishonesty. Not very zen in my opinion.