Attending Alcoholics Anonymous online

NAWILIWILI — There is an empty grouping of green picnic tables at 5 p.m. this afternoon in Nawiliwili Park.

Those tables have been empty from their usual occupants every evening since the Alcoholics Anonymous Happy Hour meetings have been moved.

Moved online, of course.

In times of social distancing and safer-at-home laws, in-person AA meetings were canceled in March on Kaua‘i.

Normally, the island has over 60 various meetings for those looking for support of alcohol addiction. Now, Kauaians can log into their homegroup meetings from the comfort of their home, join a meeting across the world or visit former residencies.

One member, who has been 15 years sober, normally attends the Happy Hour and the Hui ‘Ohana Alcoholics Anonymous meetings at 7 a.m. at Lydgate Park. Last Thursday, this meeting had over 61 participants on Zoom.

“I’ve seen people with one day now have two months (online),” he said, noting a few participants who have visited Kaua‘i on vacation in the past.

Worldwide, AA estimated there were over 2.1 million active members in over 125,000 groups in 2018. Many AA members are now logging into meetings across the globe.

“People from all over join in,” he said. “If you’re nervous, join a group 2,000 miles away.”

For years, AA has offered online chats and phone meetings, but not across the board made use of group video streaming. AA groups operate independently, and many opted to move their meetings online voluntarily when concerns of the coronavirus pandemic began.

Attendees are asked to be muted unless they are sharing, and screenshots and pictures are prohibited to preserve anonymity. Meeting goers don’t even need to turn on their cameras.

M is 31 years sober and attends four meetings on the island including the Koloa Aloha Group, which met on the beach. With the introduction of Zoom meetings, she’s able to attend between 10-12 meetings a week, including meetings friends or family are at in their respective hometowns.

“I get a lot out of them; we are even more connected than before the pandemic,” she said. “It’s nice to wake up and just log into a meeting.”

Losing in-person meetings have had its downside, like the loss of physical body language. At many meetings, a service collection is passed around to help groups meet needs like rent, travel and food costs. Zoom also has its own monthly subscription.

“Zoom is wonderful, but it does not replace (in-person meetings),” M said.

In-person meetings aren’t expected to start back up until the county allows for gatherings of upwards of 50 people at a time, a Kaua‘i AA District Committee Member said, since some active groups on the island may see up to 30-40 attendees at a given meeting.

For more information or to view a list of meetings, visit kauaiaa.org.

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Sabrina Bodon, public safety and government reporter, can be reached at 245-0441 or sbodon@thegardenisland.com.