112 HAWAII PARENT July/August 2025 Sometimes losing something is the beginning of something wonderful. In Noe Takemoto's case, the beginning of his famous career in superstar hair design and salon management began with his being let go from a lucrative, important position in the tourism and travel industry, at the ripe young age of 20! And eventually led him to join his father, founder Charles Takemoto in Taki's Hairstyling in Pearlridge Center, and then assume the helm, a position he has held for 48 years now. He was young, only 20, and hadn't yet learned to listen, he says with a grin. With a powerful mother, famous in the Waikiki travel business--Harmony Chock--the young Takemoto started strong, learned business management from his mom and several travel and tourism firms where he worked, but "getting fired from one, I straightened up," he says. Being let go taught him to listen and grow and he went on to become top salesman in one of the largest national travel firms. He became teachable at a very young age. Then he left tourism and joined his father, watched and studied and learned hair styling from superstar hair designer mentors such as Robert Steurn of Utah, and of course, his father, the original Taki, Charles Takemoto. "Look up!" It's what his dad used to say to him, teaching him to style hair correctly. Meaning, it's not enough to look at the head of hair you're cutting, but look up, into the mirror and see how it's looking on the person, as you style. And see how the person really looks. It's a simple styling lesson but one that probably made a great difference in the Taki style. And why Taki's is so popular with local folks. To Noe, surfing is life. He began surfing as a boy of eight and has always challenged himself on the waves. Today, his idea of a perfect day is a perfect wave and the time to chase it. But a successful business practice also demands that attention to detail and commitment to excellence takes precedence in his every day.
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