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We know that COVID-19 is hitting some racial/ethnic communities harder than others. Is this something you think about? If so, share some of your thoughts.
If you spend any time in Hawaii, you'll most likely pick up a few words here and there, like aloha, mahalo, and ohana Kuleana is an important concept in Hawaiian culture. It roughly correlates to responsibility, and is also tied to land rights in specific historic ways In any case I was glad to see the term used to communicate to local people, especially since Native Hawaiians, like other Native Americans, had high per capita death rates from Covid The state government is ending Covid prevention measures in March 2022. Next week the tests, proof of vaccination, and quarantines for U.S. visitors will end. Indoor mask mandates are also ending next week, on the 25th. It's been almost two years since the mask mandates were put in place, in April 2020 If, as some people predict, we have future variants of concern, hope that Hawaii can continue to use what we've learned about prevention. Don't throw out the banners and flyers just yet!
March 13, 2022
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Many of us have experienced restrictions on movement and social contact during the pandemic. Talk about any restrictions that have especially affected you.
I kind of touched on this in my last entry but I'll elaborate a little more. I started dating a woman about 7 weeks ago and just before we were landed in to Level 5 again (severe lockdown), I asked her to be my girlfriend. At the time, level 5 was a possibility but not a certainty. Anyway even if it was a certainty, I don't think it would have changed my actions, she is a wonderful person. But it has been hard. We are still getting to know each other and want to spend time together. But at the moment, all restaurants and cafes are closed. Cinemas and museums are closed. No household visits, indoor or outdoor are allowed. And its winter!! In rainy Ireland!! So we picnic in the cold, we walk in the cold, we go to the supermarket together in the hopefully not cold and we get by. But it's hard and there is a great sense of longing for both of us to just do normal things. I dream of the day I will hold her hand across a restaurant table or cuddle in close as we watch a movie on a couch. I suppose it will be ever more the sweeter once it happens.
November 20, 2020