Featured Refresh
Text & Image
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
Text & Image
How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
I love Rick Astley! Yesterday, when I was bored out of my mind, I poured over his music videos on YouTube. The songs helped me to momentarily return to the '80s when life was simpler, clothing styles were horrendous, and I was 20 pounds lighter. Then I read about the continued popularity of “rick-rolling”—when a seemingly innocent hyperlink to some relevant site or additional information instead leads to a link to Astley’s music video “Never Gonna Give You Up.” Suddenly, I realized that since March 2020, the whole world has been rick-rolled. Well, maybe not actually rick-rolled, but perhaps COVID-rolled. No matter where you wanted to go or what you wanted to do, an ominous, unwanted COVID-19 “link” would always pop up. A wedding? Sorry, you’ve been COVID-rolled. A birthday party? Again, COVID-rolled. How about a funeral? Family reunion? Haircut? Airline flight? An outing for groceries? Yup, COVID-rolled again. (In the interest of transparency, I might or might not have been joyously swigging after-Christmas wine while warbling along with Rick and cursing COVID.) I just wanna tell you how I’m feeling Gotta make you understand (It's) Never gonna go away Never gonna set you free Always gonna float around and infect you Always gonna make you cry Never gonna say goodbye Always gonna spread those germs that affect you.
January 7, 2021