HILO DOC PRESCRIBES WALKING FOR GOOD HEALTH

Dr. Craig Kadooka has prescribed walking to his patients for 35 years. At each routine office visit, he asks all patients about their exercise regimen, and whether it includes walking. The Hilo-based internist explains, “walking is, without doubt, the best exercise that almost everyone can do.” Walking offers great cardiovascular benefits, has a low attrition rate, is low impact, is accessible to most, and can be done nearly anywhere with minimal equipment.

Dr. Kadooka walks the talk every Sunday morning leading Hilo residents in a medical talk, stretch, and walk as part of the Walk with a Doc program. Since 2014, he has walked with more than 600 residents. 

On January 29 at Liliuokalani Park, Blue Zones Project^® partnered with Walk with a Doc, Hilo Health Co-op, and March for Babies to encourage even more residents to move naturally by joining a Moai^®. More than 100 residents participated at the launch event where 20 walking Moai Teams were formed. The term "moai" (pronounced mow-eye) comes from Okinawa, Japan. It means "meeting for a common purpose." Walking Moai Teams are groups of 5 to 8 people that meet at least once a week for 10 weeks to walk throughout the community and compete to win prizes.

We all know how difficult it can be to establish an exercise routine. Joining a Walking Moai Team makes it easier to stay healthier, happier, and more connected. “Walking with like-minded people is the most enjoyable way to exercise,” suggests Dr. Kadooka. “It's the social aspect of the Moai and the implicit desire not to be the one to let the others down that results in continuing the activity.” If you’re looking for a fun and sustainable way to move naturally, move more, consider joining a Walking Moai Team.

On May 6 at the March for Babies walk, Blue Zones Project will be forming new Walking Moai Teams. Teams launched on January 29 will also be celebrated for completing 10 weeks of walking together and winning teams will be presented with awards and prizes. More details for this event will be posted on our Facebook page and website.

If you are interested in joining a Walking Moai Team or would like to partner with us to host a Walking Moai Launch Event, please email Community Engagement Lead Jade Iokepa at Jade.Iokepa@healthways.com. 

Consider these final tips and words of encouragement from Dr. Kadooka:

For anyone who says they're too busy and cannot find time to exercise
Set out your walking gear each night (or even better, sleep in your walking clothing minus the shoes). Set your alarm 30 minutes earlier than you usually wake up. Walk 15 minutes away from home, turn around, and walk home. Now you've done your exercise and you're at the same point of the day that you'd be if you didn't exercise. Putting off exercise until the end of the day is the worst thing for busy people because you never get to the point that you have no other work to do and that means you don't get to exercise.

For anyone walking in Hilo and other places with inclement weather
Don't make excuses for rain. That's what umbrellas and raincoats were made for. If you don't walk when it rains heavy, it's too easy to not walk when it drizzles and pretty soon you'll make an excuse not to walk because “it looks like it's going to rain.” By the way, you do have an excuse if there's thunder and lightning but that's all!