The air shifts on the narrow, winding road from El Limón to Playa Estillero, growing richer and slightly earthier with the smell of damp soil and sun-warmed wood. Tucked behind a veil of fruit trees and tropical plants is a kit building, originally imported from Brazil in 2003, that was once a reception center for a tight-knit sailor’s club before it was converted into a private home. The three-bedroom beachside cottage has more recently been revamped by Jennifer and Kenard Bunkley to serve as a getaway for themselves, their three children, and their relatives, including Jennifer’s mother, aunts, uncles, and cousins in Santo Domingo. For Jennifer, a social worker, and Kenard, who manages programs for an anti-violence nonprofit, having a place on the island was a way to honor their cultural roots and family bonds. “I’m Dominican, and even though we live in New York, it was important for us to preserve that connection—and for our kids to have something here that’s truly ours,” Jennifer e...