This week does not feel like a normal weekend edition. After the recent Kona low storms and flooding across Oʻahu, a lot of families, neighborhoods, and small businesses are still in cleanup mode. The City and County of Honolulu opened a Community Assistance Center at Waialua District Park on March 26 for storm-impacted residents, and the city has also urged Oʻahu residents to report home damage as recovery work continues. If you know a family, farm, small business, or neighborhood effort that needs more visibility, please hit reply and send it our way.
We still wanted to share a few grounded ideas for the days ahead, especially for readers looking for a little breathing room after a heavy week. So this edition keeps the structure familiar, but the spirit is more community-first: one east side beach highlight, four kamaʻāina offers that are not repeats from last week, two recent food openings worth your attention, a support-local stop with a stronger Hawaiʻi lens, and an Oʻahu-only weekend lineup for March 27 to 29.
❤️ Support Oʻahu: This Week’s Featured Relief Fund
This edition’s featured support partner is the 2026 Hawaiʻi Flood Relief Fund from GoFundMe.org. The fund says it is raising tax-deductible donations in response to the March 2026 Kona Low Storm, with grants intended for verified individuals and families affected, as well as some small businesses, community relief efforts, and vetted nonprofits. The fundraiser also says it is partnering with Help Maui Rise for statewide outreach and in-person verification. Oʻahu Insider does not collect, receive, or administer donations. Any contribution made through the link below goes directly through GoFundMe.org.
If you are able to help this week, this is the main fund we are pointing readers to. The fundraiser says donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law and that funds will be directed to verified charitable needs at GoFundMe.org’s discretion.
☀️ Makapuʻu Beach Park: Big Views, Cleaner Air, A Reset
Makapuʻu Beach Park is a strong choice when you want the beach to feel like a real change of scene. GoHawaii describes it as a windward Oʻahu beach backed by sea cliffs and popular for bodyboarding and bodysurfing, with the Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse nearby. The state trail page for Makapuʻu Point also highlights sweeping views of Oʻahu’s southeastern coastline, the lighthouse, and offshore islets, which gives this stop a bigger, more dramatic mood than a standard beach afternoon.
The point here is not to cram in a long East Side itinerary. It is to choose one place that instantly feels larger than the week you just had. Come for the shoreline, stay for the cliffs and open sky, and let the stop feel simple. That is probably the best version of this plan right now.
How to do it: bring water, go light on the bag, and give yourself time to actually look around instead of rushing in and out. If the weather cooperates, pairing beach time with the nearby lighthouse trail makes this one of the more memorable Oʻahu resets without asking for a full day.
Kamaʻāina Corner: Local Deals & Finds 🤙
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Halekulani (Waikīkī)
Halekulani’s kamaʻāina local resident special is the hotel’s featured resident offer, and it remains a strong fit if you want a staycation that feels polished and calm without going far.
View the full offer here
Holiday Inn Express Waikīkī
Its current kamaʻāina offer is built around preferred local rates in the heart of Waikīkī, making it an easy option if you want something central and lower-friction.
View the full offer here
Pacific Monarch (Waikīkī)
Pacific Monarch’s kamaʻāina page is live and listed as its Hawaii resident rate page, which keeps it in the mix for a more practical Waikīkī stay.
View the full offer here
ʻOno Picks: Best Food on the Island 🍽️
WESTMAN CAFE, New Kakaʻako Brunch Stop
Aloha State Daily reported on March 21 that WESTMAN CAFE is open for brunch in Kakaʻako. The opening brings the cafe into Ward Village and gives readers a fresh daytime stop if they want something new without overthinking it. Read more here.
What to get: the souffle pancakes are the obvious draw, but the brunch menu makes this feel like more than just a quick coffee stop.
📍Where: 1000 Auahi St., Honolulu
Banh Mi’licious, New Vietnamese Cafe in Kapālama
Aloha State Daily reported on March 23 that Banh Mi’licious recently opened in Honolulu as a new Vietnamese cafe. It is the kind of opening that feels immediately useful, especially if you want a casual stop that is quick, easy, and not built around a big occasion. Read more here.
What to get: start with the banh mi if you want the fastest read on the place, or go with the pho if you are in the mood to slow things down a little.
📍Where: Kapalama Shopping Center, Honolulu
(If you’ve spotted a new cafe or eatery opening this week, let us know!)
Support Local: Nā Mea Hawaiʻi
Founder story (short): Nā Mea Hawaiʻi, which translates to “all things Hawaiian,” was built around sharing and supporting the work of local artists and crafters from the Hawaiian Islands, especially Native Hawaiian artists. Its mission is rooted in pride and respect for Hawaiian culture, language, and traditions.
What they do: Nā Mea Hawaiʻi offers books, educational materials, and a wide range of locally made goods, including accessories, clothing, and Hawaiʻi-made favorites, all centered on Hawaiian culture and learning.
Why it matters to locals: This is the kind of local shop that feels deeper than a standard gift stop. It gives people on Oʻahu a place to support Native Hawaiian artists and makers while staying connected to the culture, stories, and everyday learning that make Hawaiʻi feel like home.
Link: https://www.nameahawaii.com/
IG: @nameahawaii
📍Where: 1200 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu, HI 96814
Pau Hana Plans: What’s On This Week 🎶
This weekend’s Oʻahu lineup feels more public and energetic than last week’s mix. Instead of another long list of random possibilities, it helps to think of it in four moods: one for eating and wandering, one for community energy, one for a real evening out, and one for a quieter Sunday close. The events below are all happening on Oʻahu from Friday, Mar. 27, through Sunday, Mar. 29.
🍽️ Hawaiʻi FoodieCon & Spring Expo, Sat, Mar. 28 and Sun, Mar. 29, Neal S. Blaisdell Exhibition Hall
If you want a weekend plan with movement, snacks, and plenty to browse, this is the easiest yes. GoHawaii says the expo runs Saturday, March 28 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with open food plate vendors each offering at least one $7 mini plate.
This is the pick if you want your Saturday to feel more rooted in Oʻahu itself. GoHawaii says the parade begins at 5:00 p.m. on Kapolei Parkway, starting from Kapolei Hale and concluding at Ka Makana Aliʻi Center.
If your weekend needs one real evening plan, this is the stronger indoor option. Mānoa Valley Theatre’s official site is the best direct link for tickets and current show information.
For a quieter finish, this one closes the weekend nicely. Bishop Museum lists two Sunday showings on March 29, with $20 general admission and reduced pricing for students, seniors, military, and children under 12.
Mahalo Nui 🌺
This week, more than anything, we wanted to use this space with a little more care. If there is someone on Oʻahu who still needs support, visibility, or a useful signal boost, please send it to us. And if you are in a position to help, we hope you’ll consider supporting the featured flood relief fund here.
If you’ve got a fresh event, deal, or opening we should feature next week, hit reply and send it our way.
Until next Friday, keep living aloha 🌺
