Meet the Doctors

All professionals at Nu'uanu Dental Care - Dr. Suzuki, Dr. Fukumoto, Dr. Ochiai maintain the highest levels of accreditation and pursue ongoing education to stay abreast of the latest trends in the medical field. Read on to learn more about our staff's experience and training.

  • Dr.
    Laura A. Suzuki, DDS

    Aloha and welcome to our dental practice!  I am Laura A. Suzuki, DDS, the Dentist and Owner of our newly renovated office in the Kuakini Medical Plaza. For more than 35 years, I have enjoyed being able to help my patients achieve optimal form and function with their dental needs and concerns. Growing up, I was influenced by my father, who was an MD in Internal Medicine, into pursuing the health profession.  Science was my favorite subject and I also love art and being creative with my hands, so Dentistry was the logical choice for me. From the time I attended Roosevelt High School, I knew that I wanted to become a dentist. I earned my Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and then obtained my dental degree from the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. Throughout the years of practicing dentistry, I have been blessed with wonderful patients and an awesome dental team, some of whom have been with me for 30 years!  As far as my favorite pastimes, I love to travel and explore different destinations and cuisines. I also enjoy doing fun things with family and friends, playing with my cats, reading, and trying to live a healthy lifestyle.

    ASIRD

    Laura A. Suzuki, DDS

    American Society of Implant & Reconstructive Dentistry

  • Dr.
    Carla C. Fukumoto, DDS

    Hi my name Carla C. Fukumoto, DDS and I am a general dentist with over 30 years of experience. I joined Dr. Suzuki in the 90’s and have enjoyed the partnership with this office.  Dentistry encompasses my love of helping people, my interest in the sciences, and my love for creating things by hand. I graduated from the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, earning the distinction of being named a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon dental honor society. Continuing education includes learning from the R.V. Tucker gold study clubs, and studying with ASIRD Implant study group. I keep busy with family, and my interests include making haku lei and holiday wreaths, gardening, and being in nature, be it the ocean or the mountains. I volunteer my time serving on the Executive Council and the Board of Trustees of the Hawaii Dental Association, Co-Chairing the Membership Engagement Program, and being a member of the Dental Education Program.

    ASIRD

    Carla C. Fukumoto, DDS

    American Society of Implant & Reconstructive Dentistry


  • Dr. Alyssa Ochiai, DDS

    Aloha! I'm Alyssa Ochiai, and I am a General Dentist. I earned my D.D.S. from the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, where I was honored to receive the distinction of Valedictorian and was inducted into the honor societies of Omicron Kappa Upsilon, Phi Kappa Phi, and Tau Kappa Omega. Although I was born and raised in Hawaii, my career as a Dentist began in Los Angeles, California, where I worked prior to making my way back home to the people of Hawaii. I value the rewarding experiences and opportunities patients provide me to care for them. They inspire me to continually strive to make my best better, working together towards a shared goal of oral health through care customized to each individual. I enjoy talking with patients about their respective oral conditions, prevention techniques, and appropriate treatment if needed. During my free time, I love going on food adventures with my husband and family, in a constant quest for new favorite restaurants and cafes, and getting lost in a good book.

  • Dr.
    Bobby Kim, DMD

    I am Bobby Kim, a general dentist with a DMD degree from Roseman University of Health Sciences in Utah. Born in Honolulu, I am privileged to serve the vibrant community that shaped my upbringing. My passion lies in inspiring patients to understand and prioritize their oral health, drawing inspiration from their journeys to continually improve myself. I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to evolve alongside you, building lasting connections. Beyond dentistry, I indulge in playing basketball and piano, as well as immersing myself in diverse media and books that broaden my perspective. I am genuinely excited about the prospect of meeting you and am deeply grateful for the honor of being your dentist.


Meet the Hygiene Team

  • Cathy Yuen, RDH

    My name is Cathy Yuen and I am a graduate of the University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Dental Hygiene.  I have been working as a Registered Dental Hygienist with Dr. Laura Suzuki and Dr. Carla Fukumoto since 1990.  

    What I love most about my job is that I get to meet people from all walks of life and have developed lifelong friendships beyond the dental chair. 

     Around the office, I am known as the Pastry Chef as I will bake a dessert of choice for each employee’s birthday. I love Jesus, my hubby of 39 years, two grown sons, two lovable dogs and all things K-drama! A couple fun facts about me: I don’t know how to swim and I have never ridden on a Ferris Wheel (because I am afraid of being stuck at the top...lol).

  • Val Lum DeRego, RDH

    Hi My name is Val Lum DeRego and I am a Registered Dental Hygienist for Dr. Suzuki and Dr. Fukumoto. What I love most about my job would be the special friendships that I've made along the course of my career. 

    As a hygienist in college, we were taught to educate and promote good health. At Dr. Suzuki and Fukumoto's office, I’ve enjoyed meeting so many people from different walks of life whom I would never have met otherwise. They have taught me so many valuable life lessons that are absolutely priceless. And this is the reason why I love my job. CANDY is why I choose the dental field.  As a kid, I ate so much of it that I spent many hours in the dental chair so I thought hey wouldn’t it be better on the opposite side of the chair. So here I am 34 years and counting. By the way, I’m still eating sweets. 

    I graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa with a bachelor’s degree in dental Hygiene. I've been in dental field for 34 years and with Dr. Suzuki's practice for 32 years.

    I have 4 fur babies that I love to brag about. I have 2 Shihtzu Maltese, 1 crazy pug, and a sweet rescue Labrador named Honey. I love to craft in my spare time. You name it I've probably tried it. I’ve worked with clay, sewing, crocheting, jewelry making, and paper crafting. I love traveling and I hope to continue to travel once I retire.

  • Sandie Watanabe, RDH

    Aloha! My name is Sandie Watanabe. I received my Bachelorette in Dental Hygiene from the University of Hawaii Manoa in 2009. My love for dentistry first started here at this very office when Dr. Suzuki and Dr. Fukumoto trained me to be their dental assistant way back in 2002. What I love about this profession is the continuous learning, meeting new people, and sharing what I’ve learned with others. 

    Family is everything to me. I am driven and supported by my husband of 14 years, two beautiful
    daughters, and two shorty bull pups Biscuit and Oreo. We enjoy traveling, especially to Disneyland, and visiting with family on the mainland. Some of my personal enjoyments in life are skiing/snowboarding, crafting, and shopping!!! Guilty pleasures include CHOCOLATE and NETFLIX!!

    I find that providing care and serving our community is an honor and a privilege and I look forward to spending time together!

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Hours of Operation

Our Regular Schedule

Monday:

7:50 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

7:50 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

7:50 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

7:50 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

7:50 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

Sunday:

Closed