Navigating a Maui Move: COVID-19 Style

Navigating a Maui Move: COVID-19 Style {true story: the coconut pictured, from West Maui’s Farmers Market, came for the move to the new beach house’s kitchen!} photo: @iam.venusbravo

We were in the first weeks of our Stay-at-Home orders here on Maui, but I intuitively knew this home was not to be passed up. I would think, breathe, and thrive here. It was a little slice of Hana at home on West Maui. I moved in on May 1, 2020.

The perfect open-air, Old Napili-style beach house presented itself in early April. A beautiful property, close to nature, with breezes flowing through tropical palms right outside its 360 degrees of tall windows and glass doors. Sea air and winds dancing the verdant fronds would nearly be delicious enough…but the spacious sanctuary of an A-frame, complete with solar, is also in the Upper West Maui area I love. The classic beach home is near Napili Bay for sunset swims and Spa Montage Kapalua where I teach yoga (and enjoy a spa day from time to time). Kapalua Tennis and all things Kapalua Resort are moments away. Morning jog-walks along the coastal road are simply steps outside the door, leading either south to Kahana or north to Kapalua. And at a price I can easily afford.

As a young-ish, career-minded, single woman (and lifelong yogi), a quiet space for both work and meditative movement, near social and leisure outlets, is ideal. We were in the first weeks of our Stay-at-Home orders here on Maui, but I intuitively knew this home was not to be passed up. I would think, breathe, and thrive here. It was a little slice of Hana at home on West Maui. I moved in on May 1, 2020.

Although a move during COVID-19 added a very real physical risk factor, it was the right thing to do. From Santa Barbara down Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu, across an ocean to Hawaii, to locales beyond including Europe and Asia, the place we call home affects our well-being as well as productivity. In the long run, choosing to move would pay dividends both personally and professionally…as long as I did it correctly.

Although a move during COVID-19 added a very real physical risk factor, it was the right thing to do. From Santa Barbara down Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu, across an ocean to Hawaii, to locales beyond including Europe and Asia, the place we call home affects our well-being as well as productivity. In the long run, choosing to move would pay dividends both personally and professionally…as long as I did it correctly.

The space I was living prior was in a convenient location close to Kapalua, but didn’t quite suit how I use space. First, it felt closed-in. When living on a tropical island especially, I want to feel close to nature. The new home’s pitched natural wood ceilings, white-painted beams, large glass windows welcoming the green coconut palms outside, sliding glass doors entering a little patio for sunning, beach adjacent in Napili, and beach breezes throughout connected right to my beloved elements. A corner desk fits perfectly and has a beautiful view of those lush coconut palms (did you know green relaxes eye strain, according to Chinese Medicine?). As a yogi and ‘early adopter’ of working from home, yoga space and my home office set-up have also become non-negotiable. Plenty of room for the yoga mat and home office here. I’m now a happy girl.

As more and more of us now work from home, we are either grateful for the havens we’ve chosen, or we’re noticing flaws in our spaces. For many of us, the bottom line question is beyond lifestyle; bottom line has become “is my home conducive to work”? Homes are now not only the place we rest, they are the places we now earn our living. We have to feel safe, rested, and functional.

As more and more of us now work from home, we are either grateful for the havens we’ve chosen, or we’re noticing flaws in our spaces. For many of us, the bottom line question is beyond lifestyle; bottom line has become “is my home conducive to work”? Homes are now not only the place we rest, they are the places we now earn our living. We have to feel safe, rested, and functional.

I began working from home early on. Selling luxury jeans on eBay as a teen, then going into the print and on-camera business in college and shortly after. It has all been much like real estate. Either I’m out and about, or working from my home office. My work integrates into my lifestyle instead of being separate. It also happens I love what I do.

Tips for a Maui Move (or an anywhere Move) during COVID-19…

• Minimize as much as possible. This not only lightens your load, but you’ll have less for yourself and others to move…therefore, less contact. Things can be replaced; health is your real wealth. Compile donations to donate later. Prepare to sell.
• Sell safely. Facebook Marketplace is a great place to sell items while practicing local physical distancing and stay-home guidelines. Plus, you can view mutual friends with buyers, which I personally feel ups the feeling of safety anytime.
• Compile Donations. Donation sites seem to be closed. Honestly, I still have a few “to donate” and “to sell” items in the trunk of the car. Being a recovering perfectionist, my mantra has been ‘that’s okay right now’. At least no one got sick.
• Disinfect everything at front and back end of the move. Wipe down while packing up, wipe down while organizing your new space.
• You’ve Got a Friend. If possible, enlist close-by friends you’ve already been in socially-distanced touch with during this time. If they have a truck, all the better. You will still practice social distancing, but hiring outsiders we’ve had zero interaction with increases risk. One of the most cherished recent memories is of moving my bed with a best girlfriend. We bonded over it! I’m usually the hyper-independent type and would simply hire movers or local college boys with trucks. Having a friend volunteer made all the difference. It truly put me at ease during this time of social distancing and our collective heightened appreciation for staying well. Friends are a good thing. Likely my biggest takeaway of COVID-19 will be how my Maui community and circle of friends strengthened, loved, and supported one another. Maui feels like a family. Maui feels like home.

Our spaces truly can enhance our lives and moving to your perfect space should be easy, breezy as possible now, or anytime. Please do feel free to call, text, or e-mail me about finding your sanctuary here on Maui. It would be my pleasure to help you find your haven. I would love to help guide you home.

Our spaces truly can enhance our lives and moving to your perfect space should be easy, breezy as possible now, or anytime. Please do feel free to call, text, or e-mail me about finding your sanctuary here on Maui. It would be my pleasure to help you find your haven. I would love to help guide you home.