This year has brought challenges and heartaches like no other. As we move toward the end of 2020, most of us know someone who has been affected by COVID one way or another. At this point many have also suffered the loss of a friend or family member. I have great hope that things will get better, and that together we will be able to turn the corner on this pandemic.

We are blessed with a culture of kuleana and malama for each other, and this will help us get through these very difficult times. Although life is scary and challenging now, it is important to be thankful for those things that are good and going well.

I, like so many others, am incredibly thankful right now that my family and friends are all in good health and with no financial hardships. We try to do everything that is recommended to stay safe, and are looking forward to the time when we can get together again. Being separated from friends and family this year has been difficult, but we know that staying apart now means we’ll all be around to celebrate together next year.

I cannot begin to articulate how thankful I am for our first responders and medical professionals. They are truly on the front lines of this pandemic. I doubt anything in their training ever prepared them for what they are now doing every day. They work long hours under often adverse conditions, and away from their own families to keep us safe, and I will forever be thankful to them all.

I am also so, so thankful for all the front-line workers who have stepped up to ensure the safety and well-being of the rest of us. The folks at the grocery and drug stores, the wonderful postal workers who sort and deliver thousands of packages each day, the restaurant workers who help us with a break from our cooking, the teachers who have found unique and creative ways to teach remotely, the organizations who take pets that families can no longer care for, the bus drivers and others who help ensure people can accomplish essential travel, and so many more. They are truly the backbone of keeping daily life going as smoothly as possible.

I am thankful to live in this beautiful place where the sun shines every day, and the weather allows us to get out for exercise and to also check on our neighbors. The pandemic has brought us all closer in some ways, and I am thankful for everyone who calls to chat and ask how we are doing.

I additionally am very thankful for all the social service and other organizations who are working to assist those in need. With so many unemployed, the challenges are greater than ever, but these organizations have stepped up and are providing critical support. It is hard to believe that anyone in our state would have food insecurity, but it is very real.

The many organizations who are providing meals and other support are helping these families keep going. I am also thankful for the thousands of folks who continue to volunteer their time as well as those who have started since the pandemic.

To best assist these organizations in their efforts, everyone who is able needs to step up and donate what they can. Your assistance is sorely needed and every dollar donated will be used to support those who are struggling. With everyone’s assistance, we will get through this, and for that I am supremely thankful.