Congratulations Kona Community Hospital!
Kona Community Hospital (KCH) celebrated their recognition as the first hospital to become Blue Zones Project Approved™ on Hawai‘i Island and second in the state. Their approval is two-fold, as the hospital is being recognized as a Blue Zones Project Approved worksite and restaurant.
KCH employee group celebrating the Blue Zones Project achievement at Ginger Café, the hospital’s cafeteria and newest Blue Zones Project Approved Restaurant on April 11.
Kona Community Hospital is a full-service acute care hospital, proudly serving the West Hawaii community for over 100 years. KCH includes over 400 highly skilled employees and 100 medical staff practitioners, and is one of the largest employers in West Hawaii. Through the approval process, KCH encouraged employee engagement in four focus areas, including awareness, nutrition, activity and wellbeing, indicated Judy Donovan, Marketing and Strategic Planning Director. “The Blue Zones Project allows us to adopt best practices that are a great fit for KCH.”
Kona Community Hospital achieved Blue Zones Project Approved status by successfully adopting best practices that promote well-being, including: encouraging walking and/or standing meetings; hosting a Purpose Workshop and a health fair; offering employer-sanctioned fitness activities like yoga and hot hula; and improving food offerings for staff at Ginger Café.
KCH Leadership and Wellness Committee [From L to R: Front row: Lori Kunewa, Zee Knapp, Sue Little, Kathryn Salomon, Jay Kreuzer (CEO of Kona Community Hospital and the West Hawaii Region of Hawaii Health Systems Corporation), Judy Donovan, Lisa Downing, Janna Krauss Back row left to right: Stephanie Irwin, Lynn Reinert].
Ginger Café, a Blue Zones Project Approved restaurant, now features three Blue Zones Project Inspired Dishes - MaPou Tofu Vegetable Stew, Vegetable Quinoa and Tofu Vegetable Stir Fry. The Café has improved their menu by creating an electronic message board to better highlight healthy food options. Also new to Ginger Café is its new compostable dishes, as the hospital phased out all Styrofoam.
KCH strives to be a community leader by implementing initiatives that impact the health and well-being of employees and community members in a positive way. Achieving this accomplishment reflects the dedication of KCH to making changes that empower people to live healthier. “At Kona Community Hospital, we’re very proud to be the first hospital on Hawai‘i Island to be dual certified as a Blue Zones Project worksite and restaurant. Because we’re committed to promoting health and wellness of our employees and our community, we’ve embraced the Project’s philosophies to support a healthy on-campus environment,” says Jay Kreuzer, CEO of Kona Community Hospital and the West Hawaii Region of Hawaii Health Systems Corporation.
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Learn more at hawaii.bluezonesproject.com
