Hi Honolulu, hope you’re having a great weekend! In today's in-case-you-missed-it edition: New ER debut, flood map shake-up, and Cirque du Soleil 'auana + the top stories from this week & a sneak peek at next 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 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing Most popular stories this weekThe three top stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Updated care space debuts: Honolulu’s Straub Benioff Medical Center’s Emergency Department opened June 10 after a 14‑month renovation, adding over 20 treatment areas, over 10 private rooms and negative‑pressure rooms to improve safety and flow -- tour the renovated ER space.
Island flood risk shifts: FEMA’s new Oahu flood maps took effect in June 2026, moving over 8,000 properties into higher-risk A or V zones. Honolulu says homeowners and renters insurance doesn’t cover flooding -- see what the maps show.
Support for first-time buyers: With the Honolulu Board of Realtors reporting single-family sales up 8.5% and median prices near $1.5 million, the Hale Kamaaina Mortgage Program offers below-market rates for first-time Hawai‘i buyers -- learn more about the program.
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.*
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*. All the crowd favorites: |
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03 — On our radar
This week's top findsLocal spotlights your fellow readers loved last week.
Craving Coco Puffs?: Since 1950, Liliha Bakery has been holding it down for island-style breakfasts and comfort plates, plus those dangerously good Coco Puffs and chantilly-topped cakes. When you need counter-seat nostalgia, a warm butter roll with Liliha jelly, and an easy win for the week, this is your move.
Chinatown dinner upgrade: Fête turns the whole New American thing into something you actually crave, with seasonal plates, a brick-and-plant vibe, and cocktails that go down a little too easily. When you want a low-key flex that still feels special, this is the spot locals keep in their back pocket.
Classic night out: Hawaii Theatre is a restored 1920s landmark where live music, comedy, and community performances feel extra special in an ornate, mural-covered space. Peek the calendar this week, grab a friend, and enjoy culture without the parking-lot chaos of a giant arena.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
What if better balance was a few minutes away? You don't need a gym or a single piece of equipment to feel steadier on your feet. A few minutes a day of Tai Chi walking, slow, controlled steps paired with steady breathing, gently rebuilds the balance and leg strength that keep you stable. A short quiz shapes it into a routine that fits your day and grows with you over time. *See your plan →
Google your own name and you'll probably find your home address: It's sitting on a people-search site right now, next to your age, your relatives, and your phone number, free for anyone to look up. Incogni gets it taken down. It contacts 420+ data brokers on your behalf, uses privacy laws to legally demand deletion, and keeps resending requests so your information doesn't creep back online. No hours of opt-out forms, it runs quietly in the background. *Remove my data →
Your plastic cutting board sheds 100 to 300 microplastic particles per knife stroke. Half of them wash down the drain, but the other half end up in your food. And if you're thinking about switching to wood to avoid it, that grain soaks up bacteria you can't scrub out. We found a cleaner solution to tackle these two issues. *Check it out →
The card that pays you to pay down debt: Most balance-transfer cards skip the rewards. Most rewards cards skip the long 0% intro APR. This one has both: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, plus 5% cash back in rotating quarterly categories like grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations (up to the quarterly max, when you activate) and 1% on everything else. No annual fee, and the cash back you earn is automatically matched at the end of your first year. *Worth a look →
Premiums are up roughly 46% since 2021: Home insurance has outpaced inflation for years, and renewals rarely move in your favor. Rather than take the new number on faith, FinanceBuzz lets you match your home with top-rated insurers and compare quotes side by side — free, in about two minutes. Even if you decide to stay put, you'll know you checked. *See your options → |
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 Sneak peek at next weekPlan ahead for the next seven days. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🧵 Sewing for Kids Open Studio @ Art tent Studio | Monday (6/15) at 4:30 PM – Kid needs a screen break? Art Tent Studio is running an open sewing afternoon where beginners and pint-sized pros learn the basics, whip up something unique, and strut out proud. Chill vibe, real skills, and zero glitter in your carpet, which feels like a miracle.
🧶 Rag Rugs @ St. Luke's Episcopal Church | Tuesday (6/16) at 8:30 AM – Got a closet full of tired sheets? Turn them into a legit rag rug with longtime weaver Helen Rau, learn the floor loom from warp to weft, and leave with a roughly 2'x2 yards beauty. $25 supply fee, big satisfaction, very tidy linen closet.
🎷 Dave Koz @ Blue Note Hawaii | Tuesday (6/16) at 7:00 PM – Dave Koz & Friends are bringing the smooth stuff you pretend not to love, with a sax that sings and a band tighter than HOA rules. Communal seating, first come, $20 food or drink minimum, full bar, and no refunds for questionable shimmying.
⚖ Legal Aid Society of Hawaii @ Liliha Public Library | Wednesday (6/17) at 9:00 AM – Whether you vowed to tame the health insurance maze, or you want to stop pretending you understand it, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii offers free help enrolling families in Medicaid and ACA Marketplace plans. Skip the hold music, get real answers, and reclaim your afternoon.
🎉 2026 Juneteenth Block Party @ The Tom Moffat Waikiki Shell | Friday (6/19) at 2:00 PM – If you've been waiting for a sign to celebrate Juneteenth island-style, this is it. Waikīkī Shell becomes a free block party with live music, ono eats, and aloha, RSVP required. Bring the crew and a two-step, as we honor ancestors, culture, and resilience.
🎪 Cirque du Soleil - `Auana @ OUTRIGGER Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel | Saturday (6/20) at 8:00 PM – At the Waikiki Beachcomber, Cirque du Soleil's 'Auana brings the high-flying spectacle without the Vegas hangover. Expect world-class acrobatics, lush staging, and a tasteful island nod, plus blessed AC, so you can brave Kalakaua, grumble about parking, then still leave grinning.
🍽 Father's Day Brunch @ Hale Ikena | Sunday (6/21) at 9:00 AM – Grab Dad and head to Hale Ikena at Fort Shafter for a proper Father’s Day brunch. Think Kansas City ribs, an omelet station, and a malasada bar, because the man deserves choices, not chores. Seats go fast, so reserve at 808-787-4011.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — Announcement In case you missed itWe opened The Insiders’ Club last week and hundreds of folks have already joined (seriously… can’t thank you enough!!). For a few bucks a month, The Club gives you every newsletter ad-free on your schedule, plus members-only updates to help you stay connected to your community. The Weekly Events Roundup is my favorite feature. You get one email a week with all the best events and nothing else cluttering it up. Want only that? Skip the daily emails and turn the rest off. Join the club → |
07 — The Honolulu report Weather forecastToday — High: 85°F — Low: 74°F — Precip: 17%
Isolated rain showers before noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Northeast wind 8 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: Scattered rain showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Northeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tomorrow — High: 85°F — Low: 74°F — Precip: 38%
Scattered rain showers before noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. East northeast wind around 16 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Scattered rain showers after midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. East northeast wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Most popular house this weekThis European-style Gold Coast estate sits one block from the beach in one of Oahu’s most coveted neighborhoods. A waterfall, sparkling pool, and rooftop deck frame Diamond Head and ocean views, while tall windows and tropical indoor-outdoor spaces flood the home with light. Soaring ceilings, marble floors, a gourmet kitchen, and four ensuite bedrooms add polished island elegance.
Take a peek inside → |
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