First photo: Hana High School junior Seth Victorine-Dyment, 16, does a backflip off Hana Pier on Thursday afternoon as Hana 9th-grader Ikua Peters, 14, looks on. Ikua’s dad, Ioane Peters, said Hana folks are doing their best to get through these challenging times. “We’re hanging in there,” he said. “Everybody’s trying to live their normal lives.” The downturn in tourism and restricted access to East Maui has had some plus sides. “It’s quiet,” Ioane said. “It’s been nice.” On Thursday, Hana and Piilani highways reopened to nonresident traffic for the first time in four months.

Second photo: Hasegawa General Store clerk Don Wilbanks stocks cans of coconut milk at the landmark Hana store Thursday afternoon. He said the town has had a good break from the crowds. “We were getting really congested out here,” he said. “It was wonderful. Here at the store at least, it’s nice to see new faces again. As long as they follow the rules and don’t come out and start acting silly.”

The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photos