Pretty much anywhere you get stationed on the Mainland, you will not get any perks for becoming a resident of that area. On Oahu, because of the huge amount of tourists and visitors we get to the island, residents often receive discounts at stores, restaurants, and especially on recreational activities like helicopter tours and at most state parks and recreational facilities. This discount is called the Kama’aina (kah-mah-aye-nuh) discount – kama’aina referring to locals or residents.

In July 2018, Hawai'i lawmakers passed a bill that will prohibit the sale of over-the-counter sunscreens containing the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate. These chemicals have been found to contribute to the destruction of coral reefs and other ocean life. And if you know anything about Hawai'i ocean life, you know how vastly important it is to the life of the entire islands. The bill takes effect January 1, 2021, but many folks are already making the switch to reef-safe sunblock.

On the island of Oahu, condominiums come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes. On Oahu, the median condo price in February was $415,000, as opposed to a median price of $789,000 for a single-family home. Just because a home is a condo, does not mean that you have to sacrifice size, a yard, or even that your home will be attached to another! That's because on Oahu, developers have figure out how to condominium land instead of just units in a building. What might surprise you is that every home pictured below is considered a condo! With your VA loan benefit, you increase your buying power and potential greatly when you consider purchasing an Oahu condo.

When you are monitoring your credit, especially if you are working to improve your credit score, improvements can seem like they take forever. But if you are like many folks who monitor your credit with the multitude of apps and programs available to help you check your credit score daily for free, you might have noticed that your score actually changes quite a bit over short periods of time! Fluctuations of a few points are totally normal, and can be caused by a variety of your daily financial activities.

Murphy's Bar and Grill located on Merchant St. in downtown Honolulu raises thousands of dollars for Hawai'i charities with their annual St. Patrick's Day block party. But that's not all! Owner Don Murphy estimates the pub has raised about $3 million for charities over the past three decades. If you're looking for something to do this weekend to celebrate St. Patty's day, definitely pay a visit to Murphy's for some grub and drinks!

When you think of factory jobs (especially for military gear), you might picture a dirty, dark, loud warehouse filled with dangerous machines and deflated laborers. You might have an idea of factory jobs as becoming obsolete with the rise and evolution of new technologies. But one combat gear factory in Brooklyn's Navy Yard has big plans to change that by completely re-imagining the factory workplace and shaping a totally new type of manufacturing industry - one that is clean, cooperative, and puts workers first.

With the military VA loan, Hawaii's Veterans have a huge advantage in the real estate market. However, a lot of people don't utilize their benefit while they are stationed on the islands. A big reason I see for this is that people believe a number of myths about how VA loan works. As a Veteran myself, I'll admit I believed them when I was active duty too, but luckily I got educated about how VA loan works, and now as a VA lender I've made it my mission to help as many Veterans as possible understand their VA loan benefits so that they too can own a piece of paradise. If you are unfamiliar with the basics of the benefit and how to use it in Oahu, check out our VA loan info. 

New development does not always have to mean big business takeover. In fact, a lot of developers in Kapolei are making concerted efforts to include local business in their plans. One such effort is the Ka Makana Ali'i Farmers Market!

Every Wednesday and Sunday the Ka Makana Ali'i shopping center hosts the Farmers Market by Nalo Farms. They feature local vendors and farmers, as well as a host of live entertainment. There you can find fresh fruits and vegetables, prepared foods and delicious treats, tropical plants, and unique, hand crafted merchandise.

Photo: Ka Makana Alii

Daylight Saving Time ends this weekend for folks on the mainland, giving them an extra hour of daylight until the Fall. But because of Hawaii's proximity to the equator, the islands stay on the same time all year round. That's right, we are always on Hawaii Time! 

Sunrise at Kailua Beach, photo by Ryan Pernofski on Unsplash