Local moai in 'Ewa Beach, Hawaii is still going strong despite COVID-19 pandemic. Not to mention, they were the first moai to get started in this Blue Zones Project community. They show up each Sunday afternoon on Zoom to "meet." Member Irene Chung mentions, "we are not just walking friends, we are FRIENDS." Some of the moai members do not use technology, yet they still keep in touch through phone calls to one another. Moai leaders, Teresa Sakurada and Flo Baruz call each member every week to check in with them, especially those who do not use technology.
Members continue to walk on their own or with their families (with a mask), garden, exchange recipes and how to improvise using different ingredients, and keep in touch. Every Sunday afternoon, they meet to share life stories. Teresa mentions, "breaking bread has a way of bringing people together." She implies that since they had their 10-week potluck and other potlucks to eat together, it had a way of bringing them close and keeps them a tight knit group.
Weslie Mills says, "we are not socially distant, we are just physically distant." She says this to show that there are still ways to keep in touch and to do things together, but just physically distant. Although they miss getting together in-person and they also wish that more than one person at a time can speak, Walk4'Ewa has shown that a worldwide pandemic will not stop them from getting together.
by: Crystal Robello, Engagement Lead, Blue Zones Project - Kapolei-Ewa