The story behind Hawaii's daily news briefing โ and why we built it.
Keeping up with Hawaii news used to mean juggling a dozen tabs every morning โ Civil Beat for investigations, Pacific Business News for deals, Star-Advertiser for breaking news, Hawaii News Now for everything else.
We built Plate Lunch Digest because we wanted something better: a single, well-curated briefing that covers what matters without the noise. One email. Five minutes. Everything you need to know.
The name is a nod to Hawaii's most iconic meal โ diverse ingredients, brought together on one plate. That's what we do with news. Business, real estate, energy, tourism โ all in one place, every morning.
Diverse ingredients.
One plate.
Perfectly balanced.
The principles that guide our curation.
We read everything so we can surface what actually matters. No algorithms, no clickbait โ just thoughtful selection by people who understand Hawaii.
5 minutes is all it takes. We distill complex stories into clear summaries so you can stay informed without the information overload.
By locals, for locals. We know which stories matter here, which sources to trust, and what context you need to understand the bigger picture.
We skip the sensational and focus on the substantial. No crime blotters, no celebrity gossip โ just the stories that shape the future of the islands.
We write like we talk. No jargon, no filler. Every word earns its place in your inbox.
The core digest will always be free. We believe everyone deserves access to quality local news coverage.
We monitor the best local news sources so you don't have to.
Breaking news
Investigative
Business
Local news
Maui coverage
Kauai coverage
Big Island
Full coverage
Every weekday morning around 6:00 AM Hawaii time. It'll be waiting in your inbox before your first cup of coffee.
Yes. The daily digest is completely free and always will be. We may offer premium features in the future, but the core briefing stays free.
We focus on stories that have real impact โ business moves, policy changes, development projects, and trends that affect Hawaii's future. We skip crime blotters, celebrity news, and sensational headlines.
Absolutely! We love tips from readers. Send story ideas to hello@platelunchdigest.com and we'll check it out.
Every email has an unsubscribe link at the bottom. One click and you're out. No hard feelings โ we hope you come back someday.
Join 1,000+ Hawaii professionals who start their day with the Digest.