Monday, April 27, 2026

Heads up for pet parents: An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.*

Island utility expands workforce: Hawaiʻi Gas is accepting applications for temporary summer jobs, with spots in Kahului and statewide. Positions run from May 26 to Aug. 24. Applicants must be 18 with reliable transportation -- see locations and requirements.

What visitors should know: ʻIao Valley State Monument closes today through June 26 for critical safety renovations, including higher railings, anti-climb fencing, and bridge repainting, affecting access to a favorite Central Maui spot -- see the timeline and upgrades.

Nonprofit boosts college dreams: Friends of Haleakalā National Park is offering three $2,000 scholarships to Maui County graduating seniors and continuing undergrads. Applications are open, with the 2026 Memorial Scholarship deadline May 15 -- get eligibility and deadline details.

The bill everyone over 50 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.*

Retirees are making moves: After gold's best year in nearly five decades, more folks than ever are moving part of their savings into precious metals. Not all of it... just enough to hedge against inflation. AHG put together a free guide that explains how it works -- grab your copy here.*

Ramen craving, solved: After pau hana hits and the stove gives you side-eye, Lono Blue Kitchen comes through with slurpable ramen, fresh sushi rolls, and snacky bites for sharing. Reliable, tasty, and local, it’s an easy add to your week when you want comfort without the heavy food coma.

Local Thai go-to: Skip the usual this week and hit My Thai Maui, the no-frills, warehouse-style spot serving modern Thai classics with Northern Thai twists and daily specials. Big, bold flavors and portions that don't skimp, perfect for a quick Kahului refuel before soccer practice or a beach sunset.

Cold plunge, big mood: If your body’s been negotiating with the couch all week, Scape Maui makes a reset easy with private sauna-and-cold-plunge contrast therapy and thoughtful bodywork in a mellow Paia nook. You’ll leave clear‑headed, less creaky, and pleasantly smug about your sharpened wellness routine.

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 →

Your homeowners insurance has a blind spot: It covers your house if a tree falls on it. It doesn’t cover your furnace when it quits in January, your AC when it dies in July, or your water heater when it starts leaking on a Tuesday. Those are all classified as "normal wear and tear," and they're 100% on you. American Home Shield can help fill that gap for ~$1/day (even if your appliances and systems are really old).*See what it covers →

Selling your house doesn't have to take months: If you need to sell quickly — because you're downsizing, relocating, or just ready to close this chapter — Liz helps seniors sell their houses fast. As-is. No repairs, no showings, no drawn-out back-and-forth. You pick the closing date. *See how it works →

Unknown-number calls aren't random: Scammers don't just pick numbers out of a hat. They pay data brokers a few bucks and get everything they need to harass you, trick you, rob you, or steal your identity outright. Incogni removes all of your personal info from these data broker sites and keeps an eye out to make sure it stays gone for good. *Get protected →

For women who've been feeling off for years: The fatigue, the weight creeping up, the mood swings, the sleep that won't hold. Turns out most of those "it's just aging" problems are actually caused by hormones, and proper HRT can get you back to feeling like yourself. The catch? You can't get it without a full hormone panel and a doctor who understands what those numbers mean. Most women never get either, but Hone Health gives you both. *See how it works →

♻ Art of Trash @ Maui Mall Village (Kahului) | Monday (4/27) at 10:00 AM – Trash, but make it fashion, returns to Maui Mall Village, where local artists turn recyclables into gallery pieces and runway looks, courtesy of Mālama Maui Nui. Proof that your auntie’s stash of bread ties was visionary. Come for the creativity, community, and guilt-free bragging rights.

🕊 Path to Peace: Organizing, Caring and Planning for Seniors & their 'Ohana @ Kalama Heights (Kihei) | Tuesday (4/28) at 5:00 PM – Skip the scramble and catch a quick, free session at Kalama Heights in Kihei on organizing care for our kupuna and their ‘ohana. Belia Paul shares practical ways to plan ahead, support independence, and dodge ER waiting-room decisions, which we can all live without.

🌺 Lei Day Heritage Festival @ Hale Hōʻikeʻike at the Bailey House (Wailuku) | Friday (5/1) at 10:00 AM – Lei Day is blooming at Hale Hōʻikeʻike in Wailuku with live music, ono grinds, and a lei contest mixing fresh foliage, natural treasures, and recycled genius. No cover, just culture, so bring the keiki, flex those lei-making brag rights, and linger with your favorite aunties.

🌺 Celebrate Lei Day @ Māla Ocean Tavern (Lahaina) | Friday (5/1) at 3:00 PM – Lei Day at Māla means fresh blooms, salty breeze, and zero tourist kitsch. Lolo Blossom is popping up out front with leis that actually smell like something. Grab one, wander Front Street, then settle in for happy hour or dinner, and pretend you planned this.

🚀 Lego 'Star Wars' Build Event @ Maui Marketplace (Kahului) | Friday (5/1) – Consider this your permission slip to relive childhood, no jar of spare bricks needed. The store is hosting a Star Wars LEGO build, ideal for ages 10 and up, but all are welcome, including grown-ups who know Wookiees, lightsabers, and joy of snapping pieces together.

🌱 Monthly Seedling Giveaway @ Kahului Public Library | Saturday (5/2) at 10:00 AM – Think you can resist free plants? Swing by the library on the first Saturday each month for a free seedling, while supplies last, the only checkout you won’t have to return, then go home and pretend you always planned a garden this year.

🎺 Citrus City Brass Quintet @ Maui Coffee Attic (Wailuku) | Saturday (5/2) at 11:00 AM – Citrus City Brass Quintet is filling the downstairs concert hall with a free concert, mixing classical polish, jazz swagger, and big, shiny sound. Come for the virtuosity, stay for the goosebumps, and leave pretending you might finally oil that instrument in the closet.

This 5-bed, 5.5-bath, 5,863-sq-ft Launiupoko estate crowns 45 acres with sweeping ocean, outer-island, and sunset views. Dual primary suites anchor a plan with multiple lanais that blur indoor and outdoor living, and an 80-foot infinity pool traces the horizon. A 3-car garage turned high-end gym and two 14,999-gallon gravity-fed water tanks plus a 3,800-sq-ft barn add rare versatility.