June 15, 2020

#AlohaAtHome with Mariko Strickland Lum

How are you and your family staying positive during quarantine?

We are focusing on maintain good health by getting outside in the sun and eating from the ‘aina (land and sea).

How have you found your #AlohaAtHome?

More experimenting in the kitchen cooking, tackling the list of home project and more love in the garden.

What are you most looking forward to doing after quarantine?

Hugging and kissing my 1 year old nephew.

What acts of kindness have you witnessed recently in your community?

People sharing their resources and positive energy. We made it through Hurricane Iniki by everyone coming together and helping one another out; this is no different.

What does Aloha mean to you?

Aloha is an exchange or selflessly giving of your energy, your whole spirit. Most times in Hawai’i this is outwardly shown by exchanging breath, giving a hug & honi (kiss). Ironically, during this time the real act of aloha is refraining from doing this, which has been a challenging adjustment for many of us especially when it comes to ‘Ohana and close friends. I am finding other ways of sharing my aloha, even taking it remotely, which has been surprisingly fun and meaningful.

Have you been able to stay active during quarantine?

Yes! We are extremely fortunate that we are still allowed to access the outdoors and enjoy the ocean. We’ve been blessed with some swell and beautiful ocean conditions, so I’ve been surfing a lot, fishing and diving to gather resources and escape the crowds.

What’s the last adventure you had pre-quarantine?

Right before covid-19 broke out we were in Utah & Wyoming snowboarding. It was amazing.