I have been living in New York for six years, and after eight months of a pandemic worldwide and 80% of New York City closed, along with the luck of being able to work from home, the opportunity arose for me to move to Hawaii for a few months. Considering that Hawaii is the U.S. state with the fewest coronavirus cases and is known as paradise on earth, I thought, why not?
Almost three weeks ago, I boarded a plane from New York to Hawaii (domestic flight) with no return date. However, in times of quarantine, not everything is rosy – literally, because due to the pandemic, the famous flower lei reception at the airport is no longer happening. Instead, you have to stand in line to present yourself to Hawaii authorities. I arrived over two weeks ago and had to stay home for 15 days, even though I had tested negative; the Hawaii government made me quarantine under intense government surveillance. They are no longer accepting tests; everyone arriving is required to stay home for 15 days. The fine for leaving quarantine is $5,000 and up to one year in prison. Remember that in the U.S., each state has different laws, and Hawaii has the most restrictions. At the airport, they asked for my phone number, email, and the address of the house where I would be staying, and they called the house to speak with the person who rented to me. Every morning, I received an email and a text message with a questionnaire from the Hawaii government to confirm that I was complying with the law. 
Three days after my arrival, they sent a justice official to my house unannounced to check if I was complying with the quarantine. I answered the door; he asked for my ID and asked routine questions. They were actually quite friendly, and I personally think they are right to do this, as Hawaii remains the state with the fewest virus cases in the United States. Since I came to live temporarily and have no set return date, I didn’t mind staying home for 15 days. But if you plan to come as a tourist, it’s definitely not a good time. Hawaii is one of the most expensive states in the world, even more expensive than New York, so it’s not worth it to spend 15 days paying for a hotel or Airbnb without being able to go out. Note: if you are quarantining in a hotel, you cannot leave your room. Not to mention that it’s torture to arrive in paradise and not even be able to take a walk outside. The house I’m in has a garden facing the mountains, and I spent 15 days in the garden looking at the mountains and dreaming of freedom. Along with this, several tourist activities remain closed, such as the famous Diamond Head crater, the Paradise Cove Luau, snorkeling, among others. To get informed, just visit the 
government website portal.ehawaii.gov However, to tell the truth – I forgot all this torture as soon as I was released. The Aloha spirit, which says it is “the breath of life and love that we share with each other,” exists and can be felt as soon as you arrive on the island. And the photos do not do justice to the perfect blend of wild nature, with forests, waterfalls, and deserted beaches. There, the best of both worlds coexist in harmony. And in just three days of freedom, I have already fallen in love. The island I chose to be my temporary home is called Oahu, where the average annual temperature is 27º C, a subtropical region with heavy soil of volcanic ash and home to a myriad of incredible plants and animals, from giant humpback whales and painted sea turtles to passion flowers, mountain apples, pineapples, and our famous papaya! VIVIANE FAVER Journalist vfaver@gmail.com