West Hawai‘i has been named a Certified Blue Zones Community^® and joins North Hawai‘i and East Hawai‘i, rounding out the entire County of Hawai‘i, as Certified Blue Zones Communities.

To celebrate West Hawai‘i’s achievement, Blue Zones Project – Hawai‘i was featured on West Hawaii Happenings on Nā Leo TV on channel 53 and 54. Click here to tune in to the online segment of Nā Leo TV to learn about Blue Zones Project’s impact and what this means for West Hawai‘i and Hawai‘i County.

On May 1, 2021, Mayor Mitchell D. Roth of County of Hawai‘i proclaimed May 2021 as Blue Zones Certified Community Month / West Hawai‘i

Blue Zones Project launched in West Hawai‘i in January 2017 after its sister communities, North Hawai‘i and East Hawai‘i, launched in 2015. The community warmly embraced the project and as a result, current and future generations will enjoy improved health outcomes and higher productivity in a great place to live, work, learn, and play.

Over the course of three years, 45,927 individuals engaged with Blue Zones Project on Hawai‘i Island, 10,617 of whom live in West Hawai‘i. Overall, 66 worksites, 33 schools, 29 restaurants, and 13 grocery store locations have become Blue Zones Project Approved™ across Hawai‘i County — all of which are influential organizations and pillars in the community.

Blue Zones Project West Hawai‘i Kickoff in 2017

Blue Zones Project community partners such as PATH, The Food Basket, Hawai‘i Public Health Institute, Hawai‘i Island Food Alliance, Tobacco Free Coalition, KTA Super Stores, and the Mayor’s Active Living Council to name a few, have supported programs and advocacy across Hawai‘i island and the state. Because of these strong partnerships, Hawai‘i County has passed numerous tobacco-use policies as well as built environment and food policy legislation, which are proven to improve community well-being.

“We’re proud to partner with Blue Zones Project to make healthy choices easy and available throughout the state. West Hawaii has worked so hard and done a wonderful job to improve the health and well-being of their community,”– Kathryn Matayoshi, senior vice president of chief community engagement at HMSA 

West Hawai‘i community members volunteering at the monthly Mālama Pālamanui Service Days

Data from Sharecare’s Community Well-Being Index, a large-scale survey with over 600 elements of social determinants of health data, shows positive trends in the health and well-being of Hawai‘i Island residents. Specifically, West Hawai‘i outpaces the U.S. and the state of Hawai‘i in social and financial well-being. Individuals engaged with Blue Zones Project in West Hawai‘i showed an 11% improvement overall in well-being since 2017. There was a 4.8-point difference, between 70.5 and 65.7, in the Well-Being Index score of those engaged versus not engaged in West Hawai‘i.

Furthermore, Blue Zones Project participants across Hawai‘i Island report higher levels of purpose, social well-being, community well-being, volunteerism, and produce consumption. As a result, 69% of West Hawai‘i residents agree that they want to live and age in their community.

Mahalo to everyone who supported and volunteered with Blue Zones Project over the past few years. We could not have achieved certification without each and every one of you.

Ho‘omaika‘i West Hawai‘i!