Honolulu · Salon directory · Updated July 2026

The best nail salons in Honolulu

A shortlist of the Honolulu salons that come up again and again in public reviews and local coverage — what each is known for, and where it sits on the map.

Nail work representative of Honolulu salons
Where to start in Honolulu — then use the checks below to pick.

The researched shortlist

How this list was built — and its limits. These salons were compiled in July 2026 from public reviews, booking-platform listings and local coverage. We have not personally visited every one, and salons change hands, techs move, and menus change — so treat this as a researched starting point, not a guarantee. Always confirm current hours and prices before booking, and run the five-minute sanitation check when you arrive. Nobody paid to be on this list; the only paid position on this site is one clearly labeled featured placement per city.

Kaka'ako

Nails by Tiffany

meticulous, gentle, fast work — durable gel full sets with designs finished in under 90 minutes.

627 South St, Unit 3, Honolulu, HI 96813

Downtown (Bishop St)

JJ Union Nails

downtown's top-rated nail salon, known for a cozy, family-like feel, detailed work and reasonable pricing.

1164 Bishop St, Ste 110, Honolulu, HI 96813

Waikiki

Naillabo

the pioneer of Hawaiian 'hibiscus' and 3D tropical nail art — the first nail salon in Waikiki, since 1995.

2255 Kalakaua Ave, Ste 22, Honolulu, HI 96815

Ala Moana

Moana Nails

a female- and veteran-owned luxury salon offering premium nail services in a serene, ocean-inspired setting.

435 Atkinson Dr, Honolulu, HI 96814

Hawaii Kai

Nailery Hawaii

custom nail art by an award-winning artist and team — a destination for detailed, artistic work on the east side.

333 Keahole St, Honolulu, HI 96825

Kaka'ako

The Beauty Bar Hawai'i

a local BYOB nail studio known for Japanese gel that lasts 3+ weeks, even through saltwater, at competitive prices.

856 Ilaniwai St, Ste 101, Honolulu, HI 96813

Kapahulu

Hawaii Nails

a neighborhood salon near Waikiki praised for clean, detailed gel and acrylic work, spa pedicures and nail art.

853 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, HI 96816

Downtown (Bishop St)

Hello Bombshell

a by-appointment beauty studio with near-perfect reviews offering nails alongside lashes, brows and waxing.

1188 Bishop St, Ste 1612, Honolulu, HI 96813

Black-owned nail salons in Honolulu

We haven't yet verified a Black-owned nail salon in Honolulu to our standard — an explicit statement from the salon, local press, or a Black-owned business directory. If you know one we should list, tell us and we'll add it.

How we verify this. A salon appears here only when a credible source explicitly identifies it as Black-owned — the business's own website or social account, local press, or an established Black-owned business directory. We never infer ownership from an owner's name, a salon's name, a neighborhood or a clientele. If we're missing your salon, or something here is wrong, tell us and we'll fix it: thenailguideco@gmail.com.

How to choose between them

A list gets you candidates, not a decision. The fastest way to narrow it: pick the service first, because the best custom-art studio and the best fast-gel shop are rarely the same business. Then check the salon's own photos for consistency across all ten nails, and ask how they remove a set — the full method is in our guide to finding a salon.

What you should expect to pay

Before you book, know the going rate so an upcharge doesn't surprise you at the register. Our Honolulu price guide lists 2026 ranges for gel manicures, Russian manicures, extensions, pedicures and art — plus what moves the price across the metro.

Where these salons sit on the map

Honolulu isn't one nail market, and neighborhood usually predicts both specialty and price. The Honolulu neighborhood guide breaks the city into pockets with $–$$$ signals, and the city overview ties it together.

Know a Honolulu salon that belongs here? Nominations genuinely shape our review queue — thenailguideco@gmail.com. Salon owners welcome.

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