Central Maui, including the towns of Kahului and Wailuku, has been named a Certified Blue Zones Community^®. 

“The transformative work of Blue Zones Project positively impacted the people of Central Maui. The project was warmly embraced by the community and as a result, future generations will enjoy lower healthcare costs, improved productivity, and recognition as a great place to live, work, learn, and play.” – Laksmi Abraham, Community Program Manager for Blue Zones Project - Central Maui

Launched in 2017, Blue Zones Project - Central Maui’s residents, schools, employers, restaurants, grocery stores, and community leaders collaborated on policies and programs that improved health and well-being by fulfilling the following requirements in a three-year period: 

• Over 18,000 Central Maui residents signed the Blue Zones Personal Pledge and completed one Power 9^® action
• Ten of the top twenty community-identified Central Maui employers became a Blue Zones Project Approved™ worksite
• Nine locally-owned Central Maui restaurants became a Blue Zones Project Approved restaurant
• Five Central Maui public schools became a Blue Zones Project Approved school
• Three Central Maui grocery stores became a Blue Zones Project Approved grocery store

Maui Fair Parade in 2018

Blue Zones Project focused on making the healthy choice the easy choice in Central Maui by addressing the environment, not just the individual, resulting in long-term impacts. In 2018 Blue Zones Project advocated for the construction of the Maui Lani Roundabout to ensure safe and efficient movement of traffic and pedestrians at the intersection of Maui Lani Parkway and Kamehameha Avenue. The Roundabout was completed in 2020.
 
Volunteers sign-waving for the Maui Lani Roundabout construction

“Pōmaikaʻi has always been guided by its mission to educate the whole child. But it wasn’t until we partnered with Blue Zones Project that we were finally able to add the missing piece of wellness into our work at Pōmaikaʻi. BZP changed our school not just to the benefit of our students but also our staff and community.” – Rae Takemoto, administrator at Pōmaikaʻi Elementary School

Girl scouts and volunteers at the Central Maui Kickoff in 2017

Data from Sharecare’s Community Well-Being Index, a large-scale survey with over 600 elements of Social Determinants of Health data, shows positive trends in the health and well-being of Central Maui residents since 2017 when the program started:

• Central Maui holds steady on 19 of 20 key Well-Being Metrics amidst national declines

• Those “thriving” increased by 5.4% in Life Evaluation since 2017

• Community Well-Being improved by more than 6.4% since 2017 and more people feel that Central Maui is the perfect place to live

• Purpose has improved where more residents are using their strengths and learning to do something interesting daily 

• Obesity and those overweight decreased since 2017

• Smoking decreased by 8.5% since 2017

• Residents are exercising more since 2017 

• Stress, worry, and physical pain has decreased since 2017 

• Engagement and awareness of Blue Zones Project and well-being principles continues to increase 

• Those who “experienced enjoyment” improved by 4.6% since 2017

• Since 2017, 40% of residents were aware of BZP

• Since 2017, 18% of residents were highly engaged

• Since 2017, 15% of residents agreed that BZP has had a positive impact on their life

• Since 2017, 22% of residents agreed that BZP has had a positive impact on their community

Teachers, staff, and volunteers cheering on students at a Walking School Bus event

To celebrate this achievement, Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino presented program leaders a proclamation commending them on their outstanding service, leadership, and commitment to supporting healthy initiatives.

Mahalo to everyone who supported and volunteered with Blue Zones Project over the past few years! Central Maui is a happier and healthier place thanks to you.

Ho‘omaika‘i Central Maui!