HONOLULU, Hawaiʻi – The tight-knit health and wellness community of Honolulu is in a state of profound shock and grief today following the sudden and unexpected death of Dr. Anapuni Coleman, a renowned chiropractor and the beloved owner of Nuʻuanu Chiropractic Clinic. Dr. Coleman, who passed away unexpectedly on Thursday night, was widely regarded as one of the highest-ranked and most respected chiropractors in Hawaiʻi. For more than two decades, he was a cornerstone of healing for thousands of patients, a cherished colleague, and a devoted father of four.
Dr. Coleman’s passing leaves a significant void in the community he served with unwavering dedication. He was a man whose approach to healing was deeply rooted in his own personal experiences and in the traditions of his family and his island home. Patients and colleagues are remembering him not only for his exceptional skill and professionalism but for his immense kindness, gentle spirit, and the genuine sense of aloha he extended to everyone who walked through his clinic doors.
His journey from a young McKinley High School athlete sidelined by injury to one of the state’s most sought-after healers is a story of passion, perseverance, and an unbreakable commitment to serving the people of Hawaiʻi. As his devastated family navigates this tragic loss, a community mourns a man who dedicated his life to putting others back on their feet.
A Legacy of Healing: The Nuʻuanu Chiropractic Clinic
For over 20 years, the Nuʻuanu Chiropractic Clinic was more than just a medical office; it was a sanctuary of healing shaped by Dr. Coleman’s unique vision and compassionate touch. His practice was built on a foundation of individualized care, where he took the time to listen, to understand, and to treat the whole person, not just the ailment.
Patients from all walks of life—from athletes and office workers to kūpuna (elders) and their families—sought out his care. Testimonials and reviews across various platforms consistently ranked him at the top of his profession in Hawaiʻi, a reputation earned one patient at a time. They speak of a doctor with “magic hands” and an intuitive understanding of the human body.
“I came to Dr. Coleman after a car accident left me with chronic pain that other doctors just wanted to manage with pills,” one longtime patient shared online after learning of his passing. “He was the first person who gave me hope. He didn’t just adjust my spine; he taught me about my body. He was patient, he was kind, and he genuinely cared. He gave me my life back. The thought of him being gone is just devastating.”
His approach was famously gentle. While chiropractic care can sometimes be intimidating for new patients, Dr. Coleman was known for techniques that were both subtle and profoundly effective. He blended traditional chiropractic adjustments with a soft-tissue approach that was influenced by the bodywork traditions he learned from his father, creating a unique style that was all his own. He believed in empowering his patients through education, often spending extra time to explain the mechanics of their injuries and the path to their recovery.
This dedication to his patients created a fierce loyalty. It was common for him to treat multiple generations of the same family, becoming a trusted healthcare provider who was woven into the fabric of their lives. He treated his patients not as clients, but as ohana (family), a principle that defined his practice and his life.
The Path to Chiropractic: A Personal Journey of Pain and Purpose
Anapuni Coleman’s journey to becoming a healer was not one he planned, but one that found him through his own experience with debilitating pain. Born and raised in Honolulu and a proud alumnus of President William McKinley High School, the young Coleman was a dedicated athlete. His life was active and full of motion until, as a teenager, a series of sports-related injuries culminated in a morning where he found himself physically unable to get out of bed.
The pain was excruciating, and the prognosis from conventional medical doctors was grim: they recommended surgery as the likely path forward, a daunting prospect for a young man in his prime. Unwilling to accept this as his only option, his family sought an alternative. They took him to a local chiropractor.
What happened in that treatment room would change the course of his life forever. With a single, precise adjustment, the chiropractor was able to provide immediate and almost miraculous relief. He could stand, he could walk, and the intense pain that had paralyzed him was gone. For Dr. Coleman, this was a profound epiphany. He had experienced, firsthand, the incredible power of chiropractic care to restore function and alleviate suffering without invasive procedures. That moment ignited a passion that would become his life’s work.
This newfound calling was layered upon a foundation of healing that had been laid in his childhood. His father was skilled in massage and bodywork, passing down traditions of touch and healing that were a part of their family life. This early exposure gave him a deep, intuitive respect for the body’s innate ability to heal itself.
Inspired and with a clear purpose, he pursued his formal education on the mainland, enrolling at Palmer College of Chiropractic West in San Jose, California, one of the most prestigious chiropractic schools in the country. He earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree in 1998. While he excelled in his studies in California, his heart remained in Hawaiʻi. He returned home almost immediately after graduation, driven by a powerful desire to bring his skills back to the community that had raised him.
More Than a Doctor: A Father and a Pillar of the Community
While Dr. Coleman was a celebrated professional, his most cherished role was that of a father. He was a loving and caring father to four children, who are now left devastated by the sudden loss of their dad. Those who knew him personally said that his gentle and supportive nature was most evident when he spoke of his children.
His sense of family extended to his entire community. The concept of ohana was central to his identity. This was reflected in the atmosphere of his clinic, where patients were always greeted with warmth and genuine kindness. He remembered details about their lives, asked about their children, and celebrated their successes. This deep sense of connection is what set him apart and is what his patients will remember most.
His commitment to the community was evident beyond his practice. He was known to support local youth sports teams, understanding from his own experience how important it was for young athletes to have access to proper care. He was a mentor to aspiring chiropractors and a respected colleague who was always willing to share his knowledge and collaborate with other healthcare professionals to ensure the best outcomes for patients.
His integrity, humility, and unwavering positivity left a lasting impression on everyone he met. He embodied the spirit of aloha—not just as a greeting, but as a way of life defined by love, compassion, and mutual respect.
A Community in Mourning
The news of Dr. Coleman’s unexpected passing has sent a wave of grief through Honolulu and the wider chiropractic community across the islands. His clinic’s phone has been ringing incessantly with calls from heartbroken patients, and social media has been flooded with tributes.
“I am in absolute shock,” wrote a fellow Honolulu-based physician. “Dr. Coleman was a true professional and a man of immense integrity. When I had patients who could benefit from chiropractic care, he was always my first and only referral. He was a master of his craft and, more importantly, a truly good man. Our community has lost one of its best.”
The outpouring of love is a testament to the thousands of lives he touched. Patients are sharing stories of how he helped them heal from car accidents, recover from sports injuries, or simply live with less pain. He was, for many, the provider of last resort who gave them hope when they had none.
His passing leaves a profound void. For his four children, it is the loss of a loving father. For his patients, it is the loss of a trusted healer. And for Hawaiʻi, it is the loss of a dedicated son who committed his life to the well-being of his people. His legacy, however, will undoubtedly live on in the countless lives he improved and in the high standard of compassionate care he set for all who follow in his footsteps.
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