North Kohala and Waimea Eating Healthy Together
North Kohala and Waimea communities have started a new round of Potluck Moais! A Moai®, or hui, is a group of five to eight people who meet at least once a week for 10 weeks. Paticipants bring a "Plant Slant" dish to share, talk story and have a great time learning about each other and exchanging recipes.
North Kohala started its Potluck Moai at Donna Maltz's hale. The group meets every other Sunday afternoon for a cooking demo, themed meals, plus a little fun with the Power 9® - "Wine @ Five."
There was so much interest during the start of their Potluck Moai, that it doubled in size. North Kohala has since formed another Moai. Their next themed meal? Caribbean!
Waimea's second Potluck Moai began April 29 at Tina Stuart's house. They meet every Friday at noon, sharing their favorite "Plant Slant" dish while talking about ways they enjoy volunteering in the community. 
(Pictured left to right) Fran Sanford, Tina Stuart, Teresa Wagner, Darlene Montgomery, Karyn Clay and Kris Miller.
"It's exciting to have two potlucks going on simultaneously," says Landry Fuller, Blue Zones Project, North Hawaii Engagement Committee co-chair and Potluck Moai Chair. "It drew an interesting group of people who live close to each other but didn't know each other. Bringing people/neighbors together is what Potluck Moais are all about."
In the Little Town with Big Aloha - WE GOT IT!
Honokaa now has the bragging rights for having the very first Blue Zones Project Approved™ restaurant on the Big Island of Hawaii, all thanks to Sea DandeLion Cafe! Owners Eden Smith and Suelang Watson celebrated their achievement with family, friends, community, and Blue Zones Project colleagues on Saturday, May 14 at their restaurant.
Sea DandeLion Cafe achieved Blue Zones Project Approved status by successfully completing the Blue Zones Project restaurant pledge, a free tool that provides research-backed guidance on how to improve the dining experience. the pledge process involves adopting and supporting a selection of best practices for promoting well-being, including:
- Sourcing foods and produce from local farms such as Real Farms, Ano Ano Farms, Pu`u O Hoku, and the Kohala Center demonstration farm in Honokaa.
- Offering half-size portions of their top-selling "Veggie BLT minus the B&L" by subsituting full size buns with locally-made slider buns, and replacing bacon and lettuce with smoked chipotle taro spread and salty sea asparagus.
- Providing a highly-nutritious vegetarian menu that entirely meets the Blue Zones Healthy Dish Guidelines.
- Offering mini-size 100-calorie "nice bites" versions of their popular Macadamia Nut Balls, made with local apple bananaa, shredded coconut, roasted cocoa, and macadeamia nuts.
Besides restaruant tours and samples of their popluar "ChocolaTea", the Blue Zones Project blender bike was on hand to make Suelang's special creations - a Poi Berry Smoothie, as well as tomato soup.
Suelang and Eden, along with their boys, Aiden and Tristan, were presented with a Certificate of Approval by Dena Smith Ellis, Blue Zones Project-North Hawaii Organization Lead, and Carol Ignacio, Blue Zones Project Community Program Manager - Hawaii Island.
Lanakila Mangauil from the Hawaiian Cultural Center of Hamakua gave the Blessing and Pule. Hula Me Ka Honua along with Sea DandeLion Cafe ohana also graced guests with song and dance.
"We feel Blue Zones Project is important because it promotes healthier living for all living beings - humans and the Earth,'" says Watson. "We are a loving family unit that works together symbiotically, similar to our namesake - the beautiful ocean dandelion."
If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Blue Zones Project Approved restaurant, please contact Dena Smith Ellis at Dena.Ellis@healthways.com or call (808) 564-4761.
GOT BLUE?
It was a beautiful "blue" night on Friday, May 5th, for the Hawaii Island Food Basket at Mauna Lani Bay Resort. We were honored to see Blue Zones Project chosen as the theme for its 1st Annual
"Blue Hawaii" event - a fundraiser for the Hawaii Island Food Basket. Tom Whittemore was honored as a special guest.
Guests enjoyed an ono spread inspired by recipes featured in Dan Buettner's book, "The Blue Zones Solution," with an array of dishes mirroring foods found in the five original Blue Zones areas - Ikaria, Greece; Sardinia, Italy; Loma Linda, California; Okinawa, Japan; and Nicoya, Costa Rica.
The night also featured some of the Power 9: "Wine @ Five," "Plant Slant," "80% Rule" (smaller dinner plates), "Moving Naturally" (had to walk to the food stations and use the blender bike to make smoothies), and "Belong" (coming together for a great cause). From the ambience to the food, Blue Zones Project was weaved into every piece of the planning.
Our very own Carol Ignacio, Blue Zones Project Community Program Manager for Hawaii Island, had the honor of introducing Mr. Whittemore, retired Senior Vice President of First Hawaiian Bank, whose work and dedication to the community includes serving on The Food Basket board, Habitat for Humanity West Hawaii, and past Board of Governors for the Hawaii Community Foundation. Mr. Whittemore is a Blue Zones Project role model - living with purpose and volunteering. As Carol mentioned, "he's adding years to his life."
It was a fun night for all who attended, helped and volunteered. "It was a great event, and all LOVED the food, setup, venue, the program, and truly enjoyed Ka`ea and Jazz's live auction and emceeing," said Tricia Buskirk, President/CEO of Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union. "Both Mauna Lani and The Food Basket staff were amazing, and it was a great being able to work alongside them and in meeting them."
HERE WE COME!
Be on the lookout for us in your neighborhood! Blue Zones Project is on the road, on tour in North Hawaii:
HONOKAA: Saturday, May 28 at Hamakua-Kohala Health's 50th Celebration in the Honokaa Sports Complex Gym, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
WAIKOLOA: Saturday, June 4, at the Waikoloa Village Ohana FunFest at the Waikoloa Stables, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
NORTH KOHALA: Saturday, July 30 Blue Zones Project Community Celebration, at Hawi Jodo Mission Hall, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
At each of these events, Blue Zones Project will launch Walking Moais, and have either a gardening or cooking demonstration, plus our popular smoothie-making blender bike - ALL FREE! Come talk story with us - we'd love to share the Blue Zones story with you!
If you want to participate or volunteer in any or all of these events, contact Blue Zones Project North Hawaii Engagement Lead Sue Dela Cruz at susan.delacruz@healthways.com or call 808.564.4762
