Blue Zones Project® named Big City Diner in Kailua as the first Blue Zones Project Approved™
restaurant in the state of Hawaii after its successful completion of the certification process, which
includes adding and promoting healthier menu options. Big City Diner is locally owned and operated
by Lane Muraoka, a Kailua native who opened his first restaurant in 1998.

In November, a recognition celebration was held at the Kailua diner where guests sampled
Big City Diner’s famous edamame and a Blue Zones Project dish, miso glazed tofu, which is featured in the restaurant's menu.

“Big City Diner is honored to be named the first Blue Zones Project Approved restaurant in Hawaii,”
said Muraoka. “We are committed to providing our customers with a variety of delicious, healthy food options and creating an atmosphere that celebrates community, innovation and well-being. Blue Zones Project is an excellent resource to further our mission to continually offer healthy options for our guests. We are proud to be a part of this initiative to make Hawaii a healthier place to live and work.”

The restaurant achieved Blue Zones Project Approved status by completing the Blue Zones Project
Restaurant Pledge, which includes adopting and supporting best practices for promoting well-being, including:

• Offering ‘not so big’ portions of their top-selling entrees.
• Allowing patrons to split plates at no extra cost.
• Sourcing foods and produce from local farms such as Aloha Tofu Factory, Aloun Farms, Kamiya Gold Inc., Green Growers, Hawaiian Miso & Soy Company and Hamakua Heritage Farms.
• Creating and promoting a monthly special from a recipe in “The Blue Zones Solution” book. The Miso Glazed Tofu dish is currently the featured entrée.
• Offering whole-grain alternatives, namely brown rice and wheat bread.
• Offering entrees that meet the Blue Zones Healthy Dish Guidelines, such as the Healthy BIG Breakfast, Island Papaya, Hot Oatmeal and Tofu-Veggie Scramble.

“We applaud Big City Diner for the innovation and creativity it has demonstrated to help make the healthy choice the easy choice for its customers,” said Heidi Kim, Vice President of Blue Zones Project, Hawaii. “The leadership of Big City Diner as a Blue Zones Project Approved restaurant is a milestone in Koolaupoko’s Blue Zones Project experience.”

Brought to Hawaii through an innovative sponsorship by HMSA in collaboration with Healthways, Inc. and Blue Zones, LLC, Blue Zones Project is a community-by-community well-being improvement initiative designed to make healthy choices easier through permanent changes to the environment, policy and social networks. Koolaupoko is one of three Blue Zones Project demonstration sites in Hawaii.

(L-R) Heidi Kim, Blue Zones Project Hawaii Statewide Well-Being Initiative Vice President, Cynthia Manley, Kailua Chamber of Commerce President and Kaneohe Business Group President, Lane Muraoka, Big City Diner Owner, Representative Cynthia Thielen (District 50 - Kailua, Kaneohe Bay), and Cherie Andrade, Blue Zones Project Hawaii Community Program Manager - Koolaupoko.

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Learn more at hawaii.bluezonesproject.com