First Approved Restaurant in East Hawaii! 

Congratulations to Sweet Cane Café for being the FIRST Blue Zones Project Approved™ restaurant in East Hawaii! Serving healthy, local, organic ingredients, Sweet Cane Café is a family-run, farm-to-table restaurant that embraces the “Plant Slant” principals of Blue Zones Project^®. "We are excited to partner with Blue Zones Project to promote community health," said owner Cherub Silverstein. 

They celebrated by hosting a community celebration at their restaurant on Saturday, August 13th. Attendees enjoyed live music, Blue Zones Project Approved food samples, and natural movement activities like poi pounding.

Sweet Cane Café is known for its seasonal fruits smoothies, nutrient-dense soups and salads, taro and ‘ulu burgers, and powerful elixirs that promote good health and well-being. Majority of the restaurant’s produce are sourced from the family’s 20 acre organic farm in Onomea. Everything served is vegetarian and can be vegan and gluten-free by request. Their new restaurant location on 48 Kamana Street in Hilo allows the opportunity to host community events, which further promote health, well-being and community-building. 

Congratulations again to Cherub and her Sweet Cane Café 'ohana. Their hard work and dedication to health and community well-being is clearly represented in their top-quality ingredients and delicious, plant-based recipes. Below is just a sample of some of the delicious items available on their menu. Learn more about Sweet Cane Café by visiting their Facebook page. 

KTA Blue Zones Project inspired Lunches

Below are some Blue Zones inspired meals from previous Healthy Choice Wednesdays at KTA...yum!

Moving naturally with Hilo Meishoin's Bon Dance

Updates on Blue Zones Project Events in Pahala

On July 16, a Gardening Demonstration was hosted in Pahala with farmer Russell Nagata.  There was an abundance of information passed on to attendees, who received tips and tricks on how to start their own potted gardens, and keep them alive and thirving. Attendees were so excited to get their own gardens started, and even went home with little starter plants, such as red shallots, lemongrass, green onions and beans.

On July 20, Kau residents were ecstatic to learn more about plant-based recipes at a Cooking Demonstration with Gayle Yogi from Salad Masters. Gayle whipped up a Green Papaya & Mango Salad and a healthy Pancit. In addition to the yummy samples, Gayle and her daughter Cherise shared valuable health tips and information about nutrients of the food used and how best to prepare raw or cooked foods to receive the most nutrients.

On July 27, many residents in Pahala were excited to discover their purpose. Doug Connors, one of our Purpose Workshop facilitator's, encouraged residents to move around, raise their hands and get excited! Everyone left knowing their strengths, and feeling good about clarifying their purpose in life. We all want to know why we get out of bed in the morning and what drives us. For more purpose workshop dates in your area, please visit our website events page.