At Sail Maui we like to take a positive tone, and this pandemic is no exception. While what’s happening in our world is unnerving, we know it’s important to be mindful, helpful, and encouraging. Our hearts go out to those directly impacted by Covid-19, and to all of those who are fearful in the face of so much uncertainty. This message to our Ohana includes the best ways we know how to cope with the Coronavirus, and we hope you may find it helpful or inspiring.

Good hygiene is key! 

By now we all know we should be washing our hands and not touching our faces, but there are some excellent references going around that show us the best way to do so. Diagrams or video tutorials can be especially helpful for kids, and we even found a downloadable guide that you can personalize to your favorite song! The best way to stay clean and limit exposure is still to stay home, so make sure you’re stocked up on essentials so you can minimize the need to go out to the stores.

If you have to go out for either work or a grocery run, experts have been calling for people to shower and wash clothes immediately upon returning home. It’s also wise to adopt Hawaii’s long standing policy of removing your shoes at the door, so you can keep your space as clean as possible. When you’re out and about tie long hair back, wear gloves, and use a washable tote bag instead of bringing your purse along. If you’re taking your reusable bags to the market, be sure to launder them immediately afterwards, and sanitize things like credit cards and phone cases after handling them in public spaces.

Eat your greens!

We know it’s tempting, but try to resist the urge to park it in front of the tv with a bag of chips! It’s super important to have a healthy intake of vitamins and minerals, so make sure you’re eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. We’re super lucky on Maui in that we have access to so much that grows here. Our island just launched a website called the Common Ground Collective with a directory of all our awesome local food producers. Find out if there is anything similar in your area and if there are farmers you can support which will directly impact your community. In this case preventive measures are best, so stay very well hydrated and include lots of hot beverages like herbal tea. Supplement with immune boosters like zinc, vitamin C, and take some vitamin D if you’re not getting outside. 

Organic farm fresh offerings at Moku Roots in Lahaina. Skip the supermarket lines and opt for a produce box!

Get outside!

If it’s safe for you to get outdoors, do it. Not only is the exercise good for us, but getting out in nature is one of the best ways to reduce stress. If you have access to the beach, walking trails, nature hikes, or even your own backyard, make it a priority to get some fresh air. This can be especially important if you have children that aren’t used to being cooped up at home. Be sure to check the guidelines in your area to see what’s permissible and what’s not, and follow social distancing rules and steer clear of any groups or crowds.

Social Distancing on Maui.

Limit your news intake.

To say that things are evolving quickly is an understatement. It’s important to stay informed but it can get overwhelming pretty quickly just reading the headlines. Do what you need to do to protect your own sanity. If that means staying off of social media or muting / unfollowing accounts that are spiking your anxiety — that’s okay. Give yourself a break and set aside certain times you check specific sources like your favorite newspaper or websites like the CDC.

Be just as careful with the news you spread as the news you take in. There’s a lot of misinformation out there and it doesn’t serve anyone. Before you share things on facebook or even within your own circle, make sure what your sharing is well sourced, accurate, and has value. 

Words of wisdom from Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real.

Learn something new!

We can’t tell you how often guests come aboard our boats and tell us it has been their lifelong wish that they could learn how to sail. Taking to the high seas is a bit ambitious for a global pandemic, but there’s bound to be something you’ve always wanted to take up and this might just be the perfect opportunity. There are loads of online resources to teach you anything you’d like to know, whether that’s knitting, gardening, changing your oil, still life painting or learning guitar!

Sign up for the masterclass you keep seeing on your instagram feed, buy that book you’ve been meaning to read online from your local bookstore, or join your neighborhood yoga studio and take part in their live stream sessions. Lots of these resources are discounted right now if not outright free, so take advantage. If you’ve got kids, all the more reason to search for unique and exciting arts and crafts or DIY learning experiments. Get creative and be intentional with the time on your hands!

Guess you really can learn anything on YouTube!

Support your community! 

The economic hit from this is already huge, and is likely going to get a lot worse. One of the best things you can do is keep your money local and help those out in your own community. See if you can get signed up for a CSA (community supported agriculture), buy a gift card from your favorite local restaurant, or purchase online from a mom & pop store downtown. Make future appointments with your hairstylist, esthetician, and other small businesses that depend on bookings (like your favorite sailing charter company), and if you need to go out, shop at neighborhood grocers as much as possible and avoid huge chain retailers if you can. 

Buying gift cards is a great way to lend your support to small businesses taking a hit right now.

Help out if you’re able. 

We keep seeing the quote from Mr. Rogers about his mother telling him to “look for the helpers” when scary things happen in the news. We love this and it is super important for morale to acknowledge that there are beautiful humans rising to the occasion, but let’s take this a step further if we can.

Be a helper.

Are your neighbors elderly and more susceptible to exposure? Offer to help them get what they need. At the grocery store buying the essentials? Drop a few pantry items in the bin for your local food bank. Are you in a position to financially contribute? Give to non profits working to help the most vulnerable among us. Were you early to stock up on masks, hand sanitizer, or disinfectant? Share your stash with the hospitals and clinics that have dwindling supplies. Can you sew? Help make CDC compliant masks for our healthcare professionals on the front lines.

If you aren’t in a position to help, make sure you thank the ones that are. The heros of this story are our doctors and nurses working tirelessly to help people, and the essential workers fulfilling online orders, sanitizing public restrooms, stocking your supermarket shelves, and bagging your groceries. Let’s give them our gratitude and the support they need. 

Above all our message to our Ohana is share your Aloha and be kind. The world needs it right now. It also needs us to understand the severity of this threat, and to do what we can to “flatten the curve”. If you’re still not sure what that means, please check out this PBS video. It’s the best we’ve seen on how pandemics spread, and the necessity of social distancing to reduce the risk for everyone. None of this is easy, but we really all are in the same boat.