Helping uninsured smile again: Waimanalo Smiles Dental Clinic

Video by Kent Nishimura/The Honolulu Advertiser

Ryan Kalama is among hundreds of thousands of Hawai'i residents without dental insurance, and one of the first patients to visit the new clinic, which is co-located with the Waimanalo Health Center.

Waimanalo Smiles charges patients based on ability to pay. Executive director May Akamine said it's the only dental clinic of its kind in Windward O'ahu.

The clinic opened in April and in two and a half weeks had booked patients for the next four weeks.