Planting the Seeds for a Longer Life
More than 70 East Hawaii residents joined Blue Zones Project® for a FREE gardening demonstration at Hilo's Liliuokalani Park with Master Gardener, Bill Miller, President of the East Hawaii Master Gardner Association at the University of Hawaii.
Guests learned how to build their own raised garden bed as well as how to best manage garden pests. They even received FREE plants to start their own vegetable gardens at home, courtesy of Mr. Miller.
More gardening demonstrations will be held in the near future. If there's a specific gardening topic that you would like us to focus on, we want to hear from you! Please send your topic requests to bluezonesprojecteasthawaii@healthways.com.
Hilo's Family Community Education (FCE) Club Honors Kupuna
FCE hosted a wonderful event to honor their East Hawaii seniors who are over the age of 80 and thriving in their golden years. Blue Zones Project colleague, Lisa Cabalis, was honored to be the guest speaker.
The program booklet highlighted what each honoree felt was their secret to longevity, and it was no surprise that all of them practiced at least one of the Blue Zones Project Power 9® - the nine healthy lifestyle habits shared by the people in the five original Blue Zones areas who've lived healthier and happier, longer.
Many of the kupuna shared that they drank a little red wine each day, ate a "Plant Slant" diet, had a strong sense of faith, found ways to stay active by walking, swimming or dancing hula, and they limited their stress by spending time with friends and having a good sense of humor.
Congratulations to FCE's outstanding seniors! We wish you many more years of health and happiness!
| (Left to right, top to bottom): Itsuko Kihara (85), Caridad Leyson (87), Beatrice Isemoto (86), Shimomi Araujo (90), Herbert Raposa (83), Flossie Fergerstrom (86), Phyllis Chong (84), George Ito (81), Lily Chow (88), Jen Laris (85), Betty Wung (90), Jane Kubo (86), Jacqueline Rapoza (84), Sue Nakamura (89), Marjorie Jeri Barlow (88). Not pictured: Barbara Hon (85), Marguerite Ferreira (92), Arlene Wrigley (93), Margaret Yamamoto (87), Chieko "Jane" Alatan (87), Miyoko "Blanche" Unoki (83), Harvey Chun (82), Ann Nathaniel (87), Mildred Winas (88), Frances Lee (86), Simplicio "Sam" Baldado (87), |
UH Hilo Health Fair
Blue Zones Project participated in the University of Hawaii Student Health & Wellness Program's inaugural Health Fair on March 15. The event promotes health and well-being among students, faculty and administration on campus.
UH Hilo has been working very closely with Blue Zones Project to integrate education and prevention efforts on campus, based on the Power 9® principles of longevity. At the event, Blue Zones Project hosted an information booth with fun activities that encouraged "Moving Naturally."
| (Left to Right) University of Hawaii at Hilo students Shaylyn Kahawai and Evonne Amantiad-Williams. |
NEW! "Plant Slant" Cooking Class Series by Abundant Life Natural Foods
Abundant Life Natural Foods owner, Malu Miki, is launching a series of FREE Cooking Classes for Blue Zones Project at the University of Hawaii Komohana Research Extension Center in Hilo. Join us to learn more about preparing tasty, plant-based recipes. Seats are limited so be sure to register today!
5:30 - 5:50 p.m. - Blue Zones Project Overview*
875 Komohana Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Updates from Team Sure Blue
Members of Team Sure Blue are just a few weeks away from reaching the 10-week finish line, and they sure have covered a lot more ground! The team walked together in their community near Pohaku Circle, at Lava Tree State Park, at the Panaewa Zoo, and even got up early for a sunrise walk along the beautiful coast of Hawaiian Paradise Park.
Team Sure Blue is the first Walking Moai that Sure Foundation Church in Puna launched in early February.
Moai® (pronounced "Mo Eye") Walking Groups are groups of 5 - 8 people that meet at least once a week for 10 weeks to walk throughout the community. The small size of the group allows the members to focus on building strong friendships—and those social connections are as vital to well-being as the exercise!
The word "moai" comes from Okinawa, Japan and means "meeting for a common purpose." In Okinawa, neighbors use moais as support systems to help those in need. Based on this tradition, Moai Walking Groups provide social interaction and support that are just as important to a person’s overall well-being as the benefits of walking.
