Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 1, 1 January 1997 — Healthy lifestyle of old —a model for today [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Healthy lifestyle of old —a model for today

jl .,lj ;f.4 ' 2 u i >■- '* ;V 'v ^ I Claire Hughes Nutritionist Hawaii Department of Health

^^ary Kawena Pukui teaches that our ancestors were concerned with maintaining sound bodies throughout life. In her book on family life in Ka'ū, she refers to the standards of physical beauty that Hawaiians held and the importance of eating the right foods to build strong bodies. Indeed, the tall, muscular physique and regal posture of kānaka maoli so impressed the first visitors to these islands that references ean be found in their diaries and writings. Years ago, I eame across the following descriptions of our Hawaiian ancestors. We ean learn a lot from these quotations: "The Natives of these islands (Hawai'i) are, in general above the middle size, and well made; they walk very gracefully, run nimbly and are capable of bearing great fatigue..." (Captain James King, March 1784 [with Captain Cook in 1779]) f1 he natives are in general rather above the middle stature, well formed with fine muscular limbs, open countenances, and features frequently resembling those of Europeans. Their gait is graceful, and sometimes stately. The chiefs in particular are tall and stout, and their personal appearance is so mueh superior to that of the eommon people, that some have imagined them a distinct race. This, however, is not the fact; the care taken of them in childhood, and their better living, have probably occasioned the difference." (Reverend Ellis, 1836) "The nobles of the land are so strongly marked by their external appearance, as at all times to be easily distinguishable from the eommon people. They seem indeed in size and stature to be almost a distinct race...while the eommon people are...of thin rather than full habit." (Stewart, observer in Hawai'i

from 1823-1825) Now, close your eyes and picture the ancestors or look at early photographs. The camera was invented around 1830 and was brought to Hawai'i many years after Captain Cook's arrival. However, early photographs do verify these written descriptions. I highly recommend you

borrow from the library Palani Vaughn's book, "Nā Leo I Ka | Makani," whieh depicts early Hawaiians. $cientific studies of the bones found at the Mōkapu burial sites in windward O'ahu also confirm the physical attributes of Hawaiians. These studies verify the density and strength of their bones

teeth and jaws and note the remarkable absence of dental cavities. Careful examination of the bones shows that Hawaiian men and women were very strong and muscular, whieh should eome as no surprise, considering the heavy physical activity they engaged in during every daylight hour in aneienl Hawai'i. t n the absence of machines, all tasks were performed manually — there were no cars or trucks, no washing machines or stoves, no stores, supermarkets, plows, shovels or picks and no water or drainage pipes in early Hawai'i. Even sports demanded greater physical exertion.

In ancient times, surfers carried their long solidwood surfboards from Waikīki over the central plains of O'ahu to surf the big northshore waves. On today's paved roads, that is a distance of more than 40 miles and the drive takes about an hour. Imagine walking that distance, up and down hills and through valleys, while carrying an eight or ten foot

3olid-wood board. T he first western nutritionist to study traditional Hawaiian foods was Carey D. Miller, professor of nutrition at the University of Hawai'i between 1920-1975. She wrote many articles on the nutritional value of Hawaiian foods. Dr. Miller analyzed the nutrient content of Hawaiian foods, and we still rely on her analysis. I even found 9 her work in the Oregon State University , oAf Library when I studied nutrition there years ago. She found obvious differences between the Hawaiian diet and those of the East and West. The most notable was the absence of grain or milk products in the Hawaiian

diet. No rice, bread, crackers, cereal, cookies or pasta; no milk, cheese or iee cream existed here, nor soda, beer, and syrup drinks. 4/awaiians thrived, grew tall, straight and muscular by eating lots of taro, poi, sweet potatoes, yams the green leaves of those plants and other herbs. Our ancestors also ate quantities of limu and breadfruit with small servings of fish, ehieken, birds and sea creatures of all kinds. They ate foods raw, steamed or cooked pūlehu style. And they were energetic and strong enough to work and play hard every day. How do you feel on your diet?

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