[HAWAII AT WORK]
AYUMI NAKANISHI / ANAKANISHI@STARBULLETIN.COM
Beverly Hartig Lum, Skin therapist
Skin therapist not just beauty
Matchmaking is a sideline for Beverly Hartig Lum
Many people ask me if I do facials, and I immediately tell them no -- I do skin correction therapy. I treat the causes of cosmetic skin disorders as well as the conditions. I use estrogen, vitamins, minerals and a unique skin layering process with natural enzymes to diminish wrinkles, discoloration, scar tissue, enlarged pores, stretch marks, pits and acne-type conditions.My customers run the range from teens to grandmas, men and women, and from construction workers to celebrities. During their relaxing treatments, which last about one and a half hours, I really get to know them all, and that is one of the reasons I love coming to work. Never a dull moment. I have come to know the children of some of my first customers, their spouses, family, friends, everyone ends up coming to "Aunty Bev!"
Born and raised in Hawaii to a Chinese father from Hilo and a German mother from Bremen, Germany, I went to school at Roosevelt and attended UH for the first 2 years of college. I then moved with my family to Germany where I finished my schooling and eventually received my international license in skin therapy. When I finally returned to Hawaii with my own two children in 1979, I bought the Jeneal International franchise and opened my first office on King Street, with only one client per week. I persevered because I knew I was doing something that was really helping people, and business grew. I moved to my present location on Kapiolani Boulevard in 1982.
I have so many interesting stories to share over the years, but I'll just share one. I have two chairs in my treatment room, and an Italian guy from the Navy and a Filipino girl from here just happened to schedule their appointments at the same time each week. Talking story with their masks on blossomed into an attraction, and Aunty Bev nudged him to ask her out. Today they're happily married with a 3 year old son. And the couple still come in together.
It's sad that so much emphasis is placed on how we look these days, but I like to think that I'm making people feel better about themselves. Inner beauty is the most important thing to me. I realize this when I volunteer at the River of Life Mission and take care of my 94-year-old grand aunt. I see the true beauty inside.
Hawaii At Work features tells what people do for a living in their own words. Send submissions to: business@starbulletin.com
