Residents and associates at the Hawaii Kai Retirement Community will be among the first nationwide to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, according to its operator, Holiday Retirement.

Holiday Retirement, in a news release Friday, said those who volunteer to take the vaccine will have to register, but the vaccine will be free. All seven of its retirement communities nationwide have been approved to receive the vaccine, and its independent communities will receive the vaccine when they become prioritized through federal or state programs.

They were approved in the first round of the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care program.

“Hope is no longer just on the horizon; it’s here – not only in spirit, but in the form of the long- anticipated COVID-19 vaccine that will be offered to residents and associates at Holiday’s assisted senior living communities across the country, including Hawai’i Kai,” said Holiday Retirement CEO Lilly Donohue in a statement. “For the past nine months, I’ve been truly awestruck by the resilience, dedication, and adaptability of our residents and associates, and we’re so grateful that they will be among the first group being vaccinated in this historic milestone and what hopefully will help end the pandemic.”

The vaccine given to those at the Hawaii Kai Retirement Community, located in Kaalakei Valley, will be administered by a Longs team in two doses, taken a few weeks apart.