Support local businesses

Our world as we know it has changed and unfortunately something I never thought possible: shutting down an entire island of restaurants and businesses has become our reality.

A few weeks ago, we thought this virus was not something that was going to affect us heavily, but much has changed in the world, and our businesses as we know it will never be the same. This last week, we have taken on the monumental task of fully pivoting our entire company to pick-up and takeout-style services in hopes to weather this time of uncertainty and serve our community.

As we are rapidly remaking all of our businesses to meet this new reality, we want people to know what we are doing to better serve them. This pandemic has impacted ALL of the local businesses on Maui, and we want to support those that will continue to offer TAKEOUT. We all need to support one another. When you support local, 100 percent of those proceeds go back to local people working hard to continue to work and feed our community.

Call your local businesses and order takeout!

For now, we will continue to follow the orders of Mayor Victorino and only offer the services allowed. Our team members want to work to provide for their families, and we are following all safe practices in order to ensure that we have a clean, safe environment for them and our guests.

We encourage our community to come together to support one another in this time of need. We will continue to work for our community and continue to spread aloha and awareness each and every day to ensure that we put food on your table and that of our team members.

Mahalo for taking the time to read this; mahalo for your continued support and encouragement. Take care and takeout!

JAVIER BARBERI, Owner, Down The Hatch, Breakwall Shave Ice Co. and Mala Ocean Tavern

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Maui getting a well-deserved break

Quiet… listen… what do you hear?

It’s Maui breathing again!

SU CAMPOS, Napili

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Don’t be a hoarder

Watching hoarders as they empty the shelves of supermarkets, grocery stores and pharmacies as COVID 19, the Coronavirus pandemic, takes its toll on daily life in our communities, it is easy to assume that a crisis brings out the worst in people. But, the fact is it can bring out the best in us as well.

There are heartwarming stories of kindness that have begun to emerge throughout the country about neighbors helping neighbors. Many are taking to social media to rouse the good guys to act at this time of crisis.

One woman on Facebook posted a notice offering to shop for seniors in her community and neighboring communities who are house-bound as a result of the COVID epidemic. Caring messages and posts are showing up throughout the social media world. They offer to provide caregiver services for those who might need it and necessities such as medical supplies.

Here are a few things that you can do to help during the COVID crisis:

There are plenty of elderly neighbors in your communities – individuals and couples who might, for all intents and purposes, be shut-ins at a time like this. Check in on them and help them on a regular basis. Offer to help them with chores and shopping, for example.

If there are neighbors who need medical attention, offer to help them get in touch with a teledoctors via the Internet, as in-person visits to medical facilities are being discouraged.

Schools throughout the country are shutting down in order to contain the virus – schools that were providing meals for their students. Get together with your friends and neighbors to find ways to ensure the kids get something healthy to eat.

Help support local food banks and places in your community that provide shelter for the needy. You might also consider helping out neighbors whose employment has been disrupted as a result of the virus by helping them to purchase necessities.

In other words, become a good guy and come to the rescue if you are able. Don’t be a hoarder; be a helper.

REBECCA WEBER, CEO, Association of Mature American Citizens

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Surviving the Coronavirus

School closings, sports event cancellations, food hoarding… we live in a new Coronavirus-induced world. Yet some personal health facts remain unchanged.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offer good advice for preventing community spread and personal infection: apply social distancing, sanitize surfaces, wash your hands, don’t touch your face.

But there’s more… does anyone wonder why uncounted numbers of infected people develop no symptoms and only 20 percent of symptomatic people require hospitalization?

It’s because they have an effective immune system able to fight off the virus. But the CDC does not talk about that, perhaps for fear of offending powerful animal food industries.

Fortunately, good advice on boosting our immune system is readily available on the Internet from trusted sources like WebMD and Healthline. And the advice is always the same:

Increase consumption of fruits and vegetables, including citrus fruits and leafy greens;

Refrain from dairy, other fatty animal products, and sugar-laden foods;

Maintain daily exercise of 30-60 minutes;

Minimize your stress level and get adequate sleep.

Did I mention that this advice works great for all other nasty bugs as well?

LEX NAKAHARA, Lahaina