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.*

Support for local recovery: The SBA Business Recovery Center is now open in Hilo, offering help to Big Island small businesses, nonprofits, and residents hit by March storms with disaster loan applications and guidance -- see how to get help.

Charting a historic coastline's future: NPS seeks input on plans for Kauleoli on the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail in South Kona. Comments run through May 15, with a meeting at Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden -- see how and when to comment.

Structurally deficient span gets help: State DOT has awarded Maui’s Alpha Inc. $21.7 million to replace Waimea’s 94-year-old Waiaka Stream Bridge with a two-lane span, raised sidewalk, and a roundabout. No start date set -- read the full story.

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.*

Flip for free play: HI Score is a locally run pinball and retro arcade where you pay once, then play nonstop on well maintained machines, BYO snacks and drinks, and even hop into IFPA sanctioned tournaments if you’re feeling spicy, making it a low stress, high score kind of weeknight.

Meet your nighttime neighbors: Slip into Kona waters after sunset with Manta Ray Night Snorkel, where lifeguard-certified crew set up light boards that draw mantas right to you. It’s a chill, goosebumps kind of Big Island reset… a reminder this backyard is still wild.

Morning upgrade, unlocked: Short N Sweet in Hilo bakes from-scratch croissants, ono desserts, breakfast bites, and custom cakes, all alongside coffee from Big Island Roasters. Start the day with something flaky, sweet, and warm... a little pick-me-up that tastes like sunshine.

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 →

🎨 Spring Storytime & Craft @ Keaau Public/School Library | Wednesday (4/29) at 10:30 AM – Spring Storytime & Craft is serving up picture books, giggles, and a low-stakes glue stick situation. Bring the kids or grandkids, let someone else do the character voices, and watch them fall for reading while you sip coffee, supervise, and dodge glitter.

🎨 Paint & Chill Party @ Sunset Kai Lanai (Kailua Kona) | Wednesday (4/29) at 5:00 PM – If your fridge needs art that is not from the preschool era, come paint honu at Sunset Kai Lanai, watch the Kona sunset, and sip a drink on the house. Beginners welcome, canvas or tote options, kamaaina keiki deals, all supplies included. Register at mariasingletonart.com.

🌿 Weed & Walk @ 'Awapuhi Labyrinth (Keaau) | Friday (5/1) at 5:00 AM – Whether you’ve walked that spiral a hundred times or just waved at it from the car, help tidy the ʻAwapuhi Labyrinth, then linger for a mellow wander. Light weeding, shared laughs, and Christy’s stewardship so the path shines for World Labyrinth Day, no experience required.

🎨 Art & Craft Show @ Hilo Bay Pottery | Friday (5/1) at 8:00 AM – Hilo Art & Craft Show is your one-stop browse for island-made art, lauhala, koa knickknacks, and the kind of pottery that makes your shelf look intentional. Real makers, real talk, not a trinkety tourist trap. Bring cash, a tote, and your best small talk with Auntie.

🤝 May Donation Drive @ Island of Hawaii YMCA (Hilo) | Friday (5/1) – Hilo is rallying to build 1,000 period product kits, and they need one-gallon Ziploc bags and a few steady hands. Clean out that Costco stash, then swing by to roll, pack, and talk story with folks who actually get things done.

🎨 First Saturday Community Art Class @ Thelma Parker Memorial Public and School Library (Waimea) | Saturday (5/2) at 10:00 AM – First Saturdays get creative as Waimea Arts Council and Thelma Parker Library host a hands-on community art class. No pressure, no critiques, just company, supplies on the table, and a surprise I-can-actually-do-this feeling. Trade the Costco run for a brush, and call it self care.

🛹 Kahuku Grind Skatepark Grand Opening @ Kahuku Park (Hawaiian Ocean View) | Saturday (5/2) at 11:00 AM – Ocean View finally got its skatepark, and they’re christening it with a full-on festival, free entry included. Think live bands, mini skate clinics, black light fun, swing dancing, free tie-dye, shave ice, and a family-friendly, substance-free vibe that tires the kids, not your wallet.

Hale ʻAlani 23 is a 4-bed, 4.5-bath, 3,826-square-foot home on the 7th fairway, catching sunrise views of Hualālai and Mauna Loa. A gourmet kitchen with bar seating and Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances flows to a vaulted great room and 468 square feet of lanai. The home sits near pickleball, tennis, Golf Hale #7, and the ʻOhana Pool and Beach Bar.