
pacificglow_96815 / sample2026
We mapped 18 med spas within a 15-mile radius of Pacific Glow MedSpa in Honolulu, HI — 12 in Honolulu proper. Your practice holds the strongest reputation among independent operators: 284 Google reviews at 4.9 stars. Only one competitor (Island Dermatology & Aesthetics at 312 reviews) has higher volume, and their rating is lower at 4.8.
However, our analysis surfaced critical gaps. You appear in only 2 of 7 tracked Local Pack keywords — meaning patients who search for your exact services are being routed to competitors. 2 competitors are running Google Ads for Honolulu med spa keywords, capturing the top paid positions. Your Instagram following (2,180) is mid-range but you have zero TikTok presence, missing the fastest-growing patient discovery channel.
We also identified a key-person concentration risk: Sarah Kamaka, APRN is mentioned in approximately 72% of your patient reviews. This is both your greatest differentiator and your single largest business vulnerability. Meanwhile, LaserAway has planted a flag in Waikiki with corporate marketing budgets, and the trending service gap — GLP-1/weight management — is being filled by 3 competitors while Pacific Glow has not entered the category.
Below are the twelve sections of your Complete Intelligence Package. Each section contains verified findings, competitive data, and strategic analysis.
The Google Local Pack (the top 3 map results) captures 42% of clicks for local service searches. When someone searches “botox honolulu” or “med spa waikiki,” they see your competitors — not you. Your outstanding reviews are being underutilized.
You rank #3 when patients search “Pacific Glow MedSpa” directly. Your Google Business Profile appears first, but the organic listing is pushed down by Island Dermatology’s ads and a Yelp page. For non-branded terms (“med spa honolulu,” “botox waikiki”), you do not appear in the top 10 organic results.
LaserAway Waikiki and Skin Rejuvenation Clinic are actively running Google Ads for “med spa honolulu,” “botox near me,” and “laser hair removal waikiki.” LaserAway bids aggressively on competitor brand names (including yours). Estimated monthly spend: LaserAway $4,200-6,800, Skin Rejuvenation $1,800-2,400.
You appear in the Local Pack for “med spa waikiki” (#2 position) and “facial honolulu” (#3 position). Missing from: “botox honolulu,” “laser hair removal honolulu,” “med spa honolulu,” “coolsculpting hawaii,” and “filler honolulu.”
Keyword rank matrix:
| Keyword | Local Pack | Organic | Top Competitor |
|---|---|---|---|
| med spa honolulu | Not shown | #14 | Island Derm (#1) |
| med spa waikiki | #2 | #7 | LaserAway (#1) |
| botox honolulu | Not shown | #18 | Skin Rejuv (#1) |
| laser hair removal honolulu | Not shown | #22 | LaserAway (#1) |
| facial honolulu | #3 | #9 | Aloha Med Spa (#1) |
| coolsculpting hawaii | Not shown | Not ranked | Skin Rejuv (#1) |
| filler honolulu | Not shown | #16 | Island Derm (#1) |
Your Google Business Profile is missing 4 of 8 recommended categories, has not posted in 47 days, and has only 38 photos (vs. Island Dermatology’s 156). The “Q&A” section has 0 entries. These are all ranking signals Google uses for Local Pack placement.
This is both your strongest asset and your single largest business risk. If Sarah were to leave, retire, or reduce her schedule, the majority of your patient relationships and review generation would be disrupted. The industry threshold for “dangerous concentration” is 50%.
Based on review attribution and appointment frequency signals, we estimate Sarah generates 65-75% of Pacific Glow’s aesthetic revenue. If she departed, the practice would likely lose 40-55% of revenue within 6 months based on industry attrition curves for provider departures.
Sarah’s reviews average 4.95 stars with keywords: “gentle,” “natural results,” “listens,” “no pressure.” Malia’s reviews average 4.85 with keywords: “friendly,” “efficient,” “great skin.” Dr. Nakamura’s few mentions focus on “consultation” and “knowledgeable.”
Island Dermatology has 2 named providers, each mentioned in ~40-45% of reviews — a balanced distribution. Aloha Med Spa has a similar single-provider concentration (owner mentioned in 81% of reviews). LaserAway’s reviews rarely mention specific providers, which is typical for chain models.
The recommended approach is not to reduce Sarah’s patient volume, but to actively build Malia Torres’s review visibility. Specific tactics: have Malia take new patient consults 2 days/week, create Malia-focused Instagram content, and implement a review-ask protocol specifically for Malia’s patients. Target: Malia at 35%+ within 12 months.
You are the highest-rated independent med spa in Honolulu with significant volume. Your review velocity is strong: approximately 8-10 new Google reviews per month over the past 6 months, up from 5-6/month a year ago.
Last 90 days: 28 new reviews (9.3/month). Prior 90 days: 19 reviews (6.3/month). This 47% acceleration suggests your patients are increasingly motivated to leave feedback, likely driven by positive experiences and possibly a review-ask improvement.
Yelp’s filter has suppressed 18 legitimate reviews (28% filter rate). Your Yelp rating is 4.5 stars — good but below your Google quality. The filtered reviews include 3 five-star reviews from the past 60 days. Yelp’s algorithm disproportionately filters reviews from accounts with low Yelp activity.
Pacific Glow has no RealSelf profile. RealSelf is the #1 patient research platform for cosmetic procedures, with 10M+ monthly visitors. 3 of your competitors have active RealSelf profiles: Island Dermatology (42 reviews, 4.7), Skin Rejuvenation Clinic (28 reviews, 4.6), and Waikiki Skin Institute (15 reviews, 4.8). This is a significant discovery gap for patients researching specific procedures.
You respond to 89% of Google reviews, typically within 48 hours. This is above average (industry ~65%). However, responses are templated and generic. Competitors like Island Dermatology personalize every response with the patient’s name, the service received, and a specific follow-up mention. Personalized responses signal attentiveness to future patients reading reviews.
Reputation comparison:
| Practice | Rating | Yelp | RealSelf | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Glow (You) | 284 | 4.9 | 47 | — |
| Island Derm & Aesthetics | 312 | 4.8 | 89 | 42 |
| Skin Rejuvenation Clinic | 198 | 4.7 | 134 | 28 |
| LaserAway Waikiki | 156 | 4.6 | 67 | — |
| Aloha Med Spa | 89 | 5.0 | 22 | — |
| Waikiki Skin Institute | 67 | 4.9 | 31 | 15 |
We segmented the 18 mapped competitors into 6 strategic categories. Your positioning relative to each segment determines where competitive pressure originates.
Pacific Glow has the highest review volume and rating of any independent practice in Honolulu. Your primary competitive threats come from the Surgical/Physician-Led segment (clinical credibility) and National Chains (marketing spend). The Emerging segment is not yet a material threat but is growing.
LaserAway Waikiki is your closest competitor at 0.3 miles — essentially the same trade area. They opened 18 months ago and have already accumulated 156 Google reviews, suggesting strong patient volume. Their corporate marketing budget ($50K+/month nationally) gives them outsized digital visibility in your zip code.
Within 1 mile: 3 competitors (LaserAway, Island Derm + 1 wellness hybrid) • 1-3 miles: 5 competitors • 3-5 miles: 4 competitors • 5-15 miles: 6 competitors (includes Kailua, Pearl City, Aiea markets)
Your Instagram (@pacificglowhi) is active but underperforming relative to your reputation. Island Dermatology has 5,400 followers. LaserAway’s Waikiki location has 3,800. Even Aloha Med Spa, which opened 14 months ago, has 1,950 — nearly matching you with a fraction of your patient base.
You post approximately 2.8 times per week, which is slightly below the recommended 3-5 for med spas. Content is 60% before/after photos, 25% educational/tips, 15% team/behind-the-scenes. Before/afters generate the highest engagement (avg 84 likes), but your Reels usage is minimal — only 3 Reels in the past 90 days vs. Island Derm’s 24.
Pacific Glow has no TikTok account. TikTok is the fastest-growing patient discovery channel for aesthetics, with “botox” hashtag at 8.2B views and “medspa” at 2.1B views. Aloha Med Spa has 4,200 TikTok followers with organic reach that exceeds their Instagram. For patients under 40, TikTok is increasingly the first touchpoint.
Your website loads in 3.8 seconds (target: under 2.5s). Mobile experience scores 62/100 on Google PageSpeed. No online booking integration on the homepage — patients must call or navigate to a separate booking page. Island Dermatology and LaserAway both have one-click booking widgets on every service page.
Social media comparison:
| Practice | IG Followers | Posts/Wk | TikTok | Reels (90d) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Glow (You) | 2,180 | 2.8 | — | 3 |
| Island Derm & Aesthetics | 5,400 | 4.2 | 1,200 | 24 |
| Skin Rejuvenation Clinic | 3,100 | 3.5 | — | 12 |
| LaserAway Waikiki | 3,800 | 5.0+ | 12K (nat’l) | 30+ |
| Aloha Med Spa | 1,950 | 4.8 | 4,200 | 18 |
| Waikiki Skin Institute | 890 | 1.5 | — | 2 |
The highest-ROI digital action available: start creating 15-30 second Reels (before/after reveals, “day in the life,” patient testimonials with consent) and cross-post to a new TikTok account. Aloha Med Spa’s most viral TikTok (82K views) was a simple 20-second lip filler transformation. This requires zero ad spend.
We track service category growth across your competitive set. Three categories are accelerating in your market — and your positioning in each varies significantly.
Gap identified. GLP-1 weight management is the fastest-growing service category in aesthetics nationally (+340% YoY). In Honolulu, 3 competitors have added GLP-1 programs: Island Dermatology (medical weight loss clinic), Skin Rejuvenation (Semaglutide + body contouring bundle), and one wellness hybrid. Estimated revenue per GLP-1 patient: $300-500/month recurring. Patients who start GLP-1 frequently add body contouring and skin tightening — creating a downstream pipeline for your existing services.
Pacific Glow offers HALO, which only 2 other practices in Honolulu have. This is a genuine competitive moat. HALO searches in Hawaii have grown 85% YoY, driven by its appeal to skin types III-IV (prevalent in Hawaii’s diverse population). Your reviews mention HALO results 34 times, all positive.
Hawaii hosts approximately 24,000 weddings annually, with an average bridal beauty spend of $2,800-4,500. “Pre-wedding facial honolulu” and “bridal botox hawaii” searches are up 62% YoY. No competitor is aggressively targeting this niche with dedicated landing pages or packages. This is a unique Hawaii advantage that mainland markets cannot replicate.
Sculptra and Radiesse (biostimulators) are seeing growing demand in Hawaii, particularly among patients 45+ seeking gradual, natural-looking volumization. Exosome facials are emerging but not yet established in the Honolulu market. First-mover advantage is available.
Private equity-backed chains are the single largest structural threat to independent med spas nationally. In Honolulu, the threat is moderate but increasing.
LaserAway has 300+ locations nationally and is backed by Ares Management (PE). Their Waikiki location opened 18 months ago and is performing above their chain average (156 reviews in 18 months = 8.7/month). They offer aggressive intro pricing ($99 Botox events, $199 laser sessions) that undercuts independents on acquisition. Their weakness: 4.6 stars (lowest in market) and reviews cite “high pressure upsells” and “different injectors each visit.”
SkinSpirit (PE-backed by Gryphon Investors) is actively expanding in the Pacific region. They opened in San Diego, Portland, and Seattle in the past 12 months. Hawaii is on their expansion map per job postings and commercial real estate inquiries in Honolulu. If they enter, they will be a more premium competitor than LaserAway — targeting your exact patient demographic.
Chains cannot replicate: (1) Sarah Kamaka’s personal patient relationships (72% review attribution), (2) your 4.9-star reputation built over years, (3) provider continuity (chains rotate staff), (4) Hawaii market knowledge and community ties. These are real moats — but only if you maintain digital visibility to compete for new patient acquisition.
Ideal Image has a Honolulu location (2.8 miles from you) with 78 Google reviews at 4.3 stars. They are focused on body contouring and laser, not injectables. Their low rating and narrow service menu make them a secondary threat.
How patients find med spas in Honolulu — and where Pacific Glow is winning or losing.
| Channel | Market Share | Your Strength | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Search (organic + maps) | 38% | Weak | Losing: Local Pack gaps |
| Word of Mouth / Referral | 25% | Strong | Winning: Sarah’s reputation |
| Instagram Discovery | 15% | Moderate | Flat: mid-range following |
| Google Ads (paid) | 10% | None | Not participating |
| TikTok / Short Video | 6% | None | Not participating |
| Yelp | 4% | Moderate | 47 reviews but filtered |
| RealSelf | 2% | None | No profile |
Google Ads, TikTok, and RealSelf represent approximately 18% of new patient discovery in the Honolulu market. You have zero presence in all three. This means ~1 in 5 potential patients cannot find you through the channel where they are actively searching.
Your review analysis suggests approximately 25-30% of new patients come via word of mouth or direct referral, driven by Sarah’s patient relationships. This is above the industry average of 18-22%. However, this channel is inherently limited in growth and entirely dependent on Sarah’s continued presence.
Based on your strong review volume (284) and rating (4.9), GBP optimization has the highest projected ROI. If you moved from 2/7 to 5/7 Local Pack keywords, estimated additional monthly patient inquiries: 35-55. At a $1,200 average patient value, that’s $42K-66K/month in potential revenue. Cost to implement: $0 (DIY) to $500/month (managed).
Honolulu’s cost of living index is 192 (92% above national average). This creates both a hiring challenge and a retention risk. Aesthetic providers must earn significantly more to maintain mainland-equivalent purchasing power.
We identified 7 open aesthetic positions within 15 miles: 2 aesthetic nurse practitioners (Island Derm, LaserAway), 3 aesthetic RNs (Skin Rejuvenation, LaserAway, wellness hybrid), 1 laser technician (LaserAway), 1 front desk/patient coordinator (Aloha Med Spa). LaserAway is the most aggressive recruiter with 3 open positions.
Aesthetic NP in Honolulu: $135K-165K base + production bonuses. Aesthetic RN: $95K-120K. Laser tech: $65K-85K. Front desk/coordinator: $42K-55K. LaserAway’s postings show sign-on bonuses of $5,000-10,000 for NPs, indicating difficulty filling positions. Island Dermatology is offering relocation assistance for mainland candidates.
Hawaii-trained aesthetic providers are highly valued on the mainland due to their experience with diverse skin types (Fitzpatrick III-VI). We’ve seen 3 Honolulu aesthetic NPs relocate to California and Arizona in the past 18 months, where purchasing power is 30-40% higher. This is a structural headwind for Hawaii practices.
Given cost-of-living constraints, the most effective retention levers for Hawaii practices are: (1) equity or profit-sharing arrangements, (2) flexible scheduling (Hawaii lifestyle is a draw), (3) continuing education sponsorship, (4) brand-building (providers want their own following). Sarah Kamaka’s 72% review attribution is itself a retention tool — she has built a personal brand that is tied to Pacific Glow.
Honolulu’s demographic profile is highly favorable for aesthetics: high household income, educated population, and cultural emphasis on appearance. Market saturation is lower than comparable mainland markets.
Zip code breakdown:
| Zip | Area | Women 30-65 | Median HHI | Bachelor’s+ | Med Spas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 96815 | Waikiki (you) | 6,200 | $142,000 | 62% | 4 |
| 96814 | Downtown/Ala Moana | 5,800 | $128,000 | 58% | 3 |
| 96816 | Kaimuki/Kahala | 7,100 | $156,000 | 64% | 2 |
| 96821 | Hawaii Kai | 5,400 | $138,000 | 61% | 1 |
| 96822 | Manoa/Moiliili | 4,900 | $118,000 | 72% | 1 |
| 96825 | Hawaii Kai East | 3,800 | $145,000 | 59% | 0 |
| 96817 | Kalihi/Liliha | 6,100 | $82,000 | 38% | 2 |
| 96818 | Salt Lake/Moanalua | 4,200 | $95,000 | 44% | 1 |
| 96813 | Downtown Core | 4,700 | $108,000 | 55% | 2 |
This is less saturated than comparable mainland markets. For reference: Scottsdale AZ is 1 per ~2,800, Beverly Hills is 1 per ~1,900, and Chicago North Shore is 1 per ~3,200. Honolulu has room for existing practices to grow before saturation becomes a constraint.
Zero med spas serving 3,800 target women with a $145,000 median HHI. These patients currently drive 15-25 minutes west to Waikiki or Kahala for aesthetics services. This zip code represents a potential satellite location or a targeted digital marketing opportunity (geo-targeted Google Ads, Instagram ads).
With 7,100 target women, $156,000 median HHI, 64% bachelor’s+, and only 2 med spas, Kahala is the most attractive demographic concentration. It’s 2.8 miles from Pacific Glow. Targeted marketing to this zip would have high ROI, especially given your 4.9-star reputation.
Honolulu’s population is 42% Asian, 25% mixed race, 18% White, and 15% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander. Practices that can demonstrate expertise across skin types III-VI have a significant competitive advantage. Your reviews mention “great with my skin type” 18 times — this is a marketable differentiator.
Pricing benchmarks for the Honolulu market. Hawaii commands a 15-25% premium over national averages due to cost of living, limited provider supply, and high-income demographics.
| Service | Honolulu Range | National Avg | Hawaii Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Botox (per unit) | $16 - $22 | $12 - $18 | +22% |
| Juvederm Ultra (syringe) | $750 - $950 | $600 - $800 | +19% |
| HALO Hybrid Fractional | $1,200 - $1,800 | $1,000 - $1,500 | +20% |
| CoolSculpting (per area) | $800 - $1,200 | $600 - $1,000 | +25% |
| Chemical Peel (medical) | $250 - $450 | $200 - $350 | +21% |
| Microneedling + PRP | $550 - $850 | $400 - $700 | +23% |
| Laser Hair Removal (pkg) | $1,400 - $2,200 | $1,000 - $1,800 | +18% |
| GLP-1 Program (monthly) | $350 - $550 | $300 - $500 | +15% |
Based on publicly available pricing and review mentions, Pacific Glow prices in the upper-mid range of the Honolulu market. This is appropriate for your reputation tier. LaserAway’s intro pricing ($99 Botox events) undercuts significantly on acquisition, but their per-unit pricing normalizes after the introductory visit.
Island Dermatology and Skin Rejuvenation both offer membership programs ($199-349/month) that include monthly treatments and discounts on add-ons. Membership patients have 3.2x higher annual spend and 85% retention rates vs. non-members. Pacific Glow does not currently offer a membership program based on our research.
Tourist patients are less price-sensitive (vacation spending psychology) and do not comparison-shop local competitors. Practices near Waikiki (like Pacific Glow) can offer “vacation glow” packages at premium pricing. Estimated addressable tourist aesthetic spend in Waikiki: $8-12M annually.
Based on our complete analysis, here are the 5 highest-impact strategic recommendations for Pacific Glow MedSpa, ranked by estimated ROI.
You have 284 reviews at 4.9 stars but appear in only 2/7 Local Pack keywords. The fix: add all relevant GBP categories, post weekly updates, upload 50+ new photos (especially interior and before/after), populate Q&A with 10+ pre-seeded questions, and ensure NAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistency across all directories. Expected impact: 35-55 additional monthly inquiries at $0 cost. This is the single highest-ROI action available.
High Impact / Zero CostSarah Kamaka at 72% review attribution is a critical vulnerability. Begin actively building Malia Torres’s visibility: assign new patient consults 2 days/week, create Malia-focused Instagram content, implement a review-ask protocol for her patients, and feature her in TikTok/Reels content. Target: Malia at 35%+ review attribution within 12 months, reducing Sarah from 72% to under 55%.
High Impact / Risk Reduction3 competitors have already entered this category. GLP-1 patients generate $300-500/month recurring revenue AND create a downstream pipeline for body contouring, skin tightening, and facial rejuvenation as they lose weight. The Hawaii market (high HHI, health-conscious) is ideal for this service line. Estimated revenue potential: $15K-25K/month within 6 months at 30-50 active patients.
High Impact / Revenue GrowthThis is a unique Hawaii advantage no mainland competitor can replicate. Create dedicated landing pages for “Honolulu bridal botox,” “Hawaii wedding glow package,” and “vacation facial waikiki.” Bundle 2-3 services at a slight premium. Partner with 3-5 wedding planners for referral pipeline. Estimated addressable market: $200K-400K annually from tourism/wedding clients alone.
Medium Impact / DifferentiationYou have zero TikTok presence while Aloha Med Spa (14 months old, fewer patients) has 4,200 TikTok followers with organic reach exceeding their Instagram. Start with 3 Reels/week: before/after reveals, “what does X cost in Hawaii,” provider day-in-the-life, and patient testimonials (with consent). Cross-post to TikTok. Expected impact: 1,500-3,000 TikTok followers in 90 days, establishing a new patient acquisition channel at zero ad spend.
Medium Impact / Zero CostImplementing all 5 recommendations has an estimated combined impact of $65K-120K in additional monthly revenue within 12 months. The GBP optimization (#1) and GLP-1 launch (#3) alone account for approximately 70% of this estimate. Total implementation cost for all 5: $2,000-5,000 (primarily GLP-1 program setup and initial content creation).
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