Temporary Normal & Thunderstorm Artis

Moody shot of Hanalei pier last week following a night's heavy rain

A phased reopening of Kauai has begun with a new cautious attitude expressed by Mayor Derek Kawakami.

He calls it "the new temporary normal."

He says the "people of Kauai deserve and have earned it." Kauai is in its fifth week of no new Covid case on the island.

The beaches have reopened with some restrictions. All new arrivals on the island will continue to be under 14-day quarantine through June. Kawakami secured permission to reopen beaches from Governor David Ige and the state of Hawaii, which continues to enforce beach closure.

Several stores on the north shore have reopened and are trying to figure out new business models.

Small groups of employees are returning to the nearby Westin Resort, which remains closed.

In Lihue, several of the large resorts, including the Marriott at Kalapaki Beach, have enlisted volunteers to prepare and distribute food and meals to people in need. Thousands of meals have gone to needy residents who pick-up their allotments at drive-up stations, maintaining social distance.

Many of the recipients are furloughed resort employees and their families.

Unemployment on Kauai remains in the 30-percent range, with similar numbers throughout the islands.

Serious attention is being given to changing the economic model for the islands, especially on Kauai. Locals are looking at self-sustaining alternatives to the heavy dependence on tourism, or at least controls on the number of visitors.

A "shop local" marketing campaign is gaining traction.

A second wave of Covid is inevitable, says the Mayor, who believes Kauai's health-care system has learned from the first wave. "We still have to gather more data," he says. Next steps depend on what the wave looks like.

"There's a big difference between a knee-high wave at Kalapaki and a 20-foot wave at Hanalei Bay."
                                                               
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A local from Hawaii has hit the big time and created a buzz coming from the island's media center in Honolulu.

Thunderstorm Artis, a musician and singer from Hawaii, will be a finalist on The Voice, a national television program to be broadcast Monday evening.

Not only does the young man  possess a sweet voice, he represents grounded humility and a unique sense of presence -- being in the moment -- when interviewed by local media.

No doubt many islanders will tune in Monday.

Hawaii takes great pride in the achievement of their residents, especially those who have grown up in the islands. It happens all the time. Thunderstorm represents the 50th State's greatest export:

Spreading of aloha.