PHENOMENAL TURNOUT AT BLUE ZONES PROJECT HAWAII LAUNCH PARTIES

"Epic..."

"...beyond spectacular."

"Everyone is asking when's the next 'party', it was that AWESOME!!"

Those are just some of the comments circulating after Blue Zones Project Hawaii launched three back-to-back kick-off events in just 24 hours on two islands this past weekend.

The turnout at each of the three community celebrations instantly filled the venues to capacity, with lines forming an hour before the kick-offs even started!

Check out the numbers:

Koolaupoko (Windward Oahu) 

• Attendance: 850
• Pledges: 210

East Hawaii & Mayor's Health Fest 

• Attendance: 1200
• Pledges: 315

North Hawaii 

• Attendance: 700
• Pledges: 297

The kick-off "tour" began on Friday, October 16 in Koolaupoko at Windward Community College, then in East Hawaii on Saturday morning, October 17, at Hilo's Civic Auditorium in partnership with Hawaii Island Mayor Billy Kenoi's annual Mayor's Health Fest, and ending in North Hawaii Saturday afternoon at Waimea's Kahilu Theatre and Kahilu Town Hall.

All three launch parties were free and family-friendly, with local entertainment, booths and activities centered around the Blue Zones Project Power 9 principles, from a Downshift Lounge with free massage, yoga, and meditation, to Move Naturally demos, a Keiki (child) Zone to promote Family First, Plant Slant healthy cooking demos, food tastings, garden demos, and more!

Blue Zones Founder and CEO Dan Buettner delivered a dynamic keynote presentation to standing room only crowds in the theatres where he took center stage and shared inspirational stories from the original Blue Zones areas where people reach age 100 at 10 times the average rate.

HMSA CEO Mike Gold and Elisa Yadao, Senior Vice President of HMSA's Consumer Experience Division, also took the stage to share some of HMSA's vision around a healthier state for everyone which is why they brought Blue Zones Project to Hawaii.

HIGHLIGHTS

In Koolaupoko, the spotlight was on Big City Diner in Kailua - the very first Blue Zones Project approved restaurant in Hawaii. Just a day before kick-off, the news made front page of the Money section in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

In East Hawaii, Dan Buettner and the traveling Blue Zones Project team were just seven miles away from the kick-off when a downed power line across Saddle Road stopped them in their tracks. That didn't stop the thrill-seeking professional explorer - Dan and the gang decided to leave the van and walk over the line. Their rescue squad - colleagues who were already at the event - picked them up and needless to say, they still made it to the event barely noticeably late - just 15 minutes! 

In North Hawaii, a group of very special kupuna stole the limelight with their CrossFit AllStar demonstration. Their fitness class, which is held in partnership with Ho`onani Place, featured regulars ranging from their late 80's to 101 years old!

WHAT'S NEXT

Although the kick-offs have ended, they actually signal just the beginning. The official launch of Blue Zones Project marks the start of the community work in Koolaupoko, East Hawaii and North Hawaii where friends, families, neighbors, schools, worksites, grocery stores, restaurants, faith-based organizations, and policy leaders come together to create a Healthier Hawaii.

Over the next two to three years, they'll collaborate to transform the environments where we live, work, and play to reach the goal of becoming a certified Blue Zones Community. And considering the extraordinary energy and enthusiastic turnout at the launch parties, Koolaupoko, East Hawaii and North Hawaii are undeniably off to an impressive strong start.

A sincere MAHALO to everyone who helped make the Blue Zones Project Kick-offs in Hawaii a success, especially to HMSA for bringing this incredible health and well-being initative to life in the Aloha State!