TERRI AND ALAN BRACHE

KAILUA-KONA RESIDENTS

PHOTO ONE: In the midst of the pandemic, we moved our family and our household goods from the mainland to retire in Hawaii. There were periods of uncertainty and fear. When we disembarked the plane in Honolulu, our temperatures were taken and we answered questions about our health. The week before arrival, we both had intestinal and respiratory issues which were due to stress and allergies; what if we were detained?

PHOTO TWO: Since our household goods arrived on Day 7 of our quarantine, we could focus on moving into our new house rather than being tempted to run out to a hardware store or grocery store or restaurant.

PHOTO THREE: The love of friends, old and new, was comforting beyond words. I’m so very thankful for the ease of communication at this point in time. Connecting with friends across the ocean via Zoom and with new neighbors who came knocking on our door (masked, of course) filled up my soul.

PHOTO FOUR: Because we needed to stay on our property, we had an opportunity to experience and appreciate our surroundings.

PHOTO FIVE: Our 14-day quarantine passed fairly quickly and we were happy to do it. It put our minds at ease to know we’d not brought the virus to the island. It was surprising, however, how loosely we were monitored. At this point in time, it is definitely up to the individual to monitor themselves. We received two phone calls from the Department of Agriculture, one each at the beginning and end of our quarantine period. We checked in daily on our phones at a time of our choosing and allowed our location to be accessed at that time, and at that time only. Hopefully this system will be tightened up before more tourists return.

PHOTO SIX: The shared experience of living during the pandemic has created a bond with friends and neighbors. It has strengthened our sense of community