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Hey Big Island, hope your week’s off to a good start! In today’s edition: New support center, Team USA track star, and Hawaiian arts festival + fun things to do for free & local fundraisers worth checking out this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's $150 off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Expanded support in Hilo: Child and Family Service celebrated the blessing of a new 6,000-square-foot Hilo center, expanding domestic violence support, sexual abuse treatment, and mental health counseling after raising over $6 million -- read the full story.
Expanding cargo connections: Alaska Airlines will add four 737-800 freighters, expanding cargo fleet to nine and dedicating lift to Hawai‘i communities. Service will begin in the first half of 2027, aiding local businesses -- read the full story.
Rising star on the track: Destiny Look will represent Team USA at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Oregon this week. Hawaii’s three-time Gatorade Player of the Year seeks PR after heptathlon silver last month -- read the full story.
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
Watch your credit card balance drop. Here's a rare one: this card lets you skip interest charges until nearly 2028, and you won't pay a cent in annual fees to do it. On top of that, every purchase earns at least 1.5% cash back, with some categories as high as 5%. Spend a little early on and there's up to a $200 bonus waiting too -- take a look.*
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial walk-in-the-door fee to x-rays, surgery, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could save thousands on your next vet bill with Lemonade*. Highlights this week: |
02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's $150 off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Beachfront sushi fix: When you want a low-key treat with serious craft, Shipwreck Bar delivers playful cocktails and artfully made sushi by Chef Kim, all in a fairytale setting centered on a restored schooner, perfect for an after-work sunset or a sneaky midweek reward you definitely earned.
Island caffeine upgrade: If your morning routine needs a nudge, HiCO Hawaiian Coffee pours 100% Hawaiian brews and cult favorites like the Ube Latte, The Lily Special, and Ube Sweet Cream Cold Brew. Grab a loaded spam musubi or avocado toast, feel-good fuel sourced from local makers, then get on with your Big Island day feeling oddly accomplished.
Cake cravings, solved: Made-to-order creations from Kona Sweets Bakeshop mean you get exactly what you’re dreaming up, from elegant wedding tiers to the design you sketched on a napkin. Not planning a party this week? Grab their pastries at Gypsea Gelato and call it quality control.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
Shop for new floors without ever needing to leave the house: No showroom, no second-guessing. All from the comfort of your own home. Empire Today® has flooring experts that will bring you samples and provide you with a free in-home estimate. Trusted and backed by over 3 million satisfied customers and over 65 years of quality service. *Check out their current offers today →
Stiff necks start on flat pillows: You've slept on both arms, both sides, stacked two pillows, thrown one on the floor, and the stiffness keeps finding you, because every position ends on the same pillow that can't hold your neck. This one can: shaped to keep your neck in line however you sleep, with gentle traction through the night. If it doesn't earn its spot in 30 nights, it goes back free. *Take the 30-night test, 50% off →
Home insurance premiums jumped 12% last year alone: That's on top of years of increases that have outpaced inflation. Before you blindly renew with your current insurer, a free comparison tool matches your home with top-rated insurers so you can see quotes side by side, in about two minutes. Some homeowners find hundreds in savings, and if you don't find a better policy, you stay put knowing you checked. *See your options →
The slower you walk, the more it works: Tai Chi walking is trending online. Turns out it's centuries old — slow deliberate steps, paced breath, attention on the body. Thirty minutes a day burns fat, lifts your mood, and builds balance. No gym, no treadmill, no pounding on the joints. Take the quick quiz to see if it fits, then use code BASELOCAL for a discount on the coaching plan. *See how it works →
The upgrades that make your home feel new again start here: You don't need a full remodel to fall back in love with your space. New fixtures, a fresh coat of paint, updated hardware, the small changes that make a room feel different. It's all in one place, so a weekend is all it takes to give a tired room a fresh start. *Shop the refresh → |
Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Free events worth checking outFree things to do in the coming days and weeks. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
📖 Family Story Time @ Pahoa Public Library (Pāhoa) | Tuesday (8/4) at 10:30 AM – Tuesday mornings mean Family Story Time, where the kids wiggle, sing, and you get to sip coffee while pretending that counts as cardio. Expect sweet stories, silly dances, and songs, and you leave with a free, new book for the home library.
📚 Family Story Time @ Laupahoehoe Public & School Library | Wednesday (8/5) at 10:00 AM – Wednesday means keiki story time, no screens, just good books and giggles. Bring the littles and your lukewarm coffee for lively tales, songs, and wiggles, while the grownups enjoy ten blessed minutes of sitting, community, and plausible quiet.
🎨 Youth Arts Saturdays (YAS²) @ East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center (Hilo) | Saturday (8/8) at 10:00 AM – Second Saturdays call for keiki art time at EHCC, free, hands-on, and safely messy on the front lanai or out back at the Annex. Guest artists and local orgs rotate in, the projects change monthly, your fridge door gets a promotion.
🎬 Movie Monday @ Laupahoehoe Public & School Library | Monday (8/24) at 12:00 PM – If your living room has become a snack-crumb theater, Movie Monday gives it a break. After school, kids 5 and up watch a thoughtfully chosen flick each week, you reclaim the couch, and everyone debates whether popcorn counts as dinner on school nights.
🃏 Big Island Breaks 1st Annual Card Show @ Sangha Hall (Hilo) | Saturday (8/29) at 10:00 AM – If your shoebox of childhood heroes is gathering dust, take it to Sangha Hall in Hilo for Big Island Breaks' first annual card show. Expect cards, collectibles, trades, and deals, plus free admission, prizes, giveaways, and a live DJ. Basically your youth, with better parking.
🕊 20th Annual Peace Day Parade and Festival in Honoka'a Town @ Honoka'a Hongwanji Buddhist Temple (Honokaa) | Saturday (9/19) at 8:00 AM – Honoka'a is celebrating 20 years of Peace Day with a town-wide parade and festival, lovingly wrangled by the Hongwanji peace crew. Expect community vibes, local grinds, and plenty of aloha, then linger in town because leaving early feels borderline rude. ✨ Upcoming local fundraisers🍺 Oktoberfest @ Sangha Hall (Hilo) | Saturday (10/3) at 6:00 PM – Pull on your lederhosen and wander over for Oktoberfest, where steins, brats, and oompah beats pair nicely with doing some good. Every pour helps fund local projects and the global fight to end polio, so your second pretzel counts as philanthropy. Prost.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — Big Island report Weather forecastToday — High: 86°F — Low: 74°F — Precip: 16%
Isolated rain showers after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. West wind 1 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: Isolated rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. West northwest wind around 2 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tomorrow — High: 86°F — Low: 74°F — Precip: 13%
Partly sunny, with a high near 86. West wind 1 to 6 mph. Later: Isolated rain showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. West northwest wind around 3 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. This house is wildOnalani is a rare 5.43-acre oceanfront estate with 560 feet of Pacific coastline, shaped by Old Hawaiʻi beauty and artist-built charm. The Bamboo Living home features 25-foot open-beam ceilings, eucalyptus hardwood, travertine, quartzite, and wide pocket doors framing sunrise and moonrise views. A studio, finished barn, screened pavilion, pasture, and gardens round it out.
Take a peek inside → |
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