Meet Blue Zones Project Champion, KEHAU MAKAILA
Meet Waimanalo resident, Kehau Makaila. She joined a Walking Moai at her work Waimanalo Elementary & Intermediate School and lost more than 60 lbs. She credits Blue Zones Project® for helping her live happier and healthier!
Kehau Makaila is an Educational Aide (EA) and co-coordinator for after school program at Waimanalo Elementary & Intermediate School. She participated in the ‘New Year, New You’ Walking Moai Challenge at her school when it launched January-April 2018. Waimanalo was one of the schools who won one of the grand prizes which was a catered healthy pupus for their faculty and staff. Since May she has lost 62 lbs. and credits Blue Zones Project - Koolaupoko in helping her live a healthier and happier life.
Being part of this Walking Moai
“For me I started this journey with the Blue Zones Project through a friend, a co-worker that encouraged me to kind of join because she knew that I had started this bet with friend to lose weight, and I need to exercise more. We figured walking was a good start, it was a good kick-off for me. So, I started in January walking 7 times a week for an hour at least sometimes on the weekend it would be more. From there it progressed, we incorporated running, now I try to lift weights…For me, Blue Zones Project was very instrumental in getting me to change my lifestyle to healthier living.”
What drew you in to participate with Blue Zones Project?
“When the moai came up, I thought well this is easy I can walk, walking is beneficial, this is something that I could do, and even though I hate exercising I don’t like to sweat, I hate the outdoors, it was here in my comfort zone walking around the school that really helped me to get out of my shell and then it also helped the school because we were kind of like security, night patrol and it encouraged me to keep an eye out not only for my community but also benefitting me to be a more healthier person.”
What are your results so far?
“From January, prior to the bet, I weighed 340 lbs. and that’s one of my heaviest times in my life due to a lot of different things, but now today May 10, I’m down to 278 lbs.”
“For me, walking is something I have chosen to maintain even though the Blue Zones Project Moai challenge is over, it’s something that my co-worker and I have committed to doing, it’s something I’m not going to give up because it’s opened new doors and avenues for me things that I never woud’ve done like the Great Aloha Run for 2018, I actually did and that was a BIG accomplishment for me. From there I’ve also branched out and did the Ford Island Bridge Run a couple months ago, so it’s opened different avenues, I’ve met a lot of new people and build relationships even through exercising now working out in Kailua, I’ve adopted this healthy lifestyle and I want to continue doing it.”
Has there been anything else you’ve changed?
“I’ve definitely incorporated the eating aspect of it, I’m definitely making healthier choices. I’m a very social person, I normally go out to eat at least 4-6 times a week, that’s a lot for a lot of people so now it’s having the will power to say no, or just choose to eat a salad, or eat smaller portions and so for me that’s what I’ve been doing now since January. I cut back rice, soda and sweets. For anybody who knows me, I’m a foodie, I love food, that’s probably why I got to 340 lbs. but now it’s all about eating a lot of protein, vegetables.”
“I found through my own personal journey, it’s helping to inspire my own friends and family you know like my Mom and my parents, they’re trying to eat healthy to support me. My friends, when they saw that I did the Aloha run because I didn’t post it until about a month later, nobody knew because I kept it on the low down because I didn’t want to freak anybody out, but when they saw instantly I got messages, calls, text messages, DM’s we want to do it with you next year, include us. I’ve seen motivation from my other friends, and a lot of my friends. I feel good that I’m inflicting a positive change on others.”
How are you feeling overall?
“I feel better, much more energy, I just participated a 4-week beach body challenge, I didn’t like being limited because they actually tell you what to eat, and the last day of weigh-in was last week Friday…
“I come to work, I’m more energized, I’m happier, I’m not so lethargic moving like a snail, and for my students they really see a difference. I’m more active during P.E. and when they have to do their mile, I’m doing their mile with them. It’s different for me just standing on the side encouraging them so they’re seeing a different me. I feel better because I know sometimes before I was kind of down you know, it was my outlet, going out to eat, partying with my friends, drinking, I gave up drinking after I changed my lifestyle, I feel really good.”
Blue Zones Project
“For anyone that doesn’t know about Blue Zones [Project], I was once like you. I saw the signs in passing at school, but after we came here we had the moai challenge, it really helped me to not only gain a healthier lifestyle but also encouraged me to have positive relationships with my co-workers. My one co-worker I walk with every single day now, her and I were best friends before but now we’re even like bester friends, if that’s even a word, I don’t know how to describe it. We became tighter, and it helped to promote a positive relationship, with her and also it’s just a positive impact on everybody. If you ever have an opportunity to be part of Blue Zones Project I highly recommend it because that was the kickoff the turning point for me, and I can’t say enough but thank you to Blue Zones for helping me to kick-off my healthy lifestyle journey.”
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