Business Monday: Groomer in Pāhoa makes pets look good while promoting health

A white poodle named Kailua puts his tongue out and closes his eyes on a hot Saturday afternoon as he gets a bath. Getting his curly hair clean was nothing new for him.

However, this was Kailua’s first visit to an outdoor salon in Pāhoa to be groomed by Kim Romano.

Romano initially planned to become a veterinarian. But while pursuing a degree in animal science at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, she changed her mind after discovering a passion for helping animals look and feel their best. On Oʻahu, she became a pet groomer.

“One thing I found missing in the veterinary field was not every animal gets to go home happy, but grooming is almost the opposite,” Romano said. “Animals are dirty and sometimes come to me with anxiety, but they always leave happier.”

In 2020, 32-year-old Romano moved to Pāhoa, where pet owners had to drive at least 45 minutes to Hilo for the nearest pet groomer. She decided to fill the niche and founded Pāhoa Pet Grooming & Boarding.

She began her business by making house calls, relying largely on word of mouth and social media for marketing. Eventually, Romano and her girlfriend built their own salon at their home in Pāhoa.

“I think one unique aspect is that the salon is outdoors, which provides a peaceful setup for dogs,” Romano said. “We aren’t overcrowded. High-volume shops can increase animals’ anxiety, so I try to focus on each dog individually and give them the care they need.”

Romano said her educational background in animal care and experience as a groomer and veterinary assistant has equipped her to work with a variety of canine and feline personalities and needs. The job requires patience and a love for animals.

“I think my connection to animals stems from my personality,” she said. “I’ve also learned they pick up on our energy. If you are frustrated or feeling negative, dogs detect that. I approach grooming calmly and gently to ease the process for the dogs and their humans.”

Pāhoa Pet Grooming offers full grooming or just baths for dogs and cats. The full groom includes a bath, nail trim with buffing, ear cleaning, teeth brushing and breath refresh, a full-body haircut, and gland expression – which is manually expelling the contents from the anal glands – when needed.

While Romano primarily grooms dogs, she also specializes in cats, which can be more diffcult to deal with than poochies.

“I think a lot of groomers avoid cats because they are unpredictable and harder to read,” Romano said. “I love grooming cats personally. Once they get used to you, they are pretty happy to be pampered.”

Romano’s grooming skills also include creative grooming where she can express her artistry and a pet’s personality. She can make fur colorful on pets with safe dyes and shampoos as long as the owner is interested in trying it out.

Boarding is also available for pet owners, however, Romano is selective since she has dogs of her own. A meet-and-greet is required before boarding.

In April 2024, Romano purchased a van to offer mobile grooming services across the east side of the island. With the van, she can complete five to eight grooming sessions a day, depending on the size and needs of the animals.

“The van has been great, allowing me to serve people living north of Hilo, to Volcano and Kalapana,” Romano said. “Many households on the east side have multiple pets, and mobile grooming is much easier than loading them into a car for a salon trip. Plus, the van is excellent mobile advertising.”

Through Pāhoa Pet Grooming, Romano stresses the importance of regularly grooming pets and provides tips on keeping their teeth, ears and nails healthy.

According to Romano, dogs and cats should have their nails trimmed every couple of months to prevent pain and discomfort.

“I don’t know if a lot of people know how necessary baths and nail trims are for pets. Nails can curl into paw pads, and unclean ears can cause ear infections in some breeds,” Romano said. “I save haircuts for long-haired breeds because many owners forget that unbrushed hair can get matted and pull on their skin. Normal grooming should be done every two months.”

Once time allows, Romano hopes to expand by creating gatherings for pets and their families to come together, have fun and strengthen their bonds. Last Christmas, she organized free family photos with Santa Claus for her customers and their pets.

“Since we don’t have a dog park or anything, I think it would be fun to have more pet-friendly community events,” Romano said. “When I have more time and good ideas, I want to organize more events to provide a sense of togetherness. Plus, the photos were fun and turned out great.”

Regardless of where her business goes, Romano plans to keep grooming and helping animals feel good in her own way.

“What I love most about this job is the transformation. It is the best part of grooming,” Romano said. “You get to make pets happy and it’s how I do my part for pets across East Hawaiʻi.”

To learn more about Romano’s mobile and salon prices for dogs and cats, visit the Pāhoa Pet Grooming website or call 808-300-8566.