Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 34, Number 3, 1 March 2017 — Nurturing keiki mind and body [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Nurturing keiki mind and body

By Cheryl Corbiell Kualapu'u Public Conversion Charter School is nestled among M oloka ' i ' s upcountry farms of coffee, sweet potato, papaya, taro and other tropical crops. Surrounded by nature's bounty, the elementary school launched the Pu'olo project, whieh is the only coordinated childhood obesity prevention and treatment program on Moloka'i. "Ourroleaseducators is to nurture students' minds and bodies," said Lydia Trinidad, school principal. "Pū'olo means to bundle, and we & reached out to partners." The Pū'olo L»i| partners are the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for hnan- 1 eial assistance; Na ! Pu'uwai, Native Hawaiian Health

Care System's heahh services; the school's teachers, staff and more than 300 students and families; as well as the farming community. This school-based project's goal is to reduce childhood obesity rates in students from kindergarten through 6th grade, along with their families. Key components include education about positive heahh choices, with integrated physical activity, heahh and nutrition education, family engagement, in-school support and direct elinieal heahh services. "We see positive behavioral changes already, and the program is an investment in children and families to develop wholesome heahh and wellness habits for a lifetime," said Trinidad. One of OHA's strategic heahh goals is to reduce obesity rates among Native Hawaiians, who represent 93 percent of Kualapu'u School's populahon. Research shows 28.5 percent of Hawai'i's ehildren are overweight or obese at school entry and 75 percent of Native Hawaiian adults are at risk of being obese or overweight, whieh increases the

risks of developing H cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and stroke. Physical education (PE) is a key element, and all students participate in PE three to four times per week. In addition, Na Pu'uwai staff conduct classroom discussions combined with exercise on topics such as determining heart rate, diabetes effects and prevention, benefits of drinking water and food portions. "Students become knowledgeable advocates for changing food habits at home," said Komela Horner, Na Pu'uwai Community Heahh Worker. Another critical element is parent engagement. "All parents opted in and were involved from the program's inception. Parents and students receive heahh and nutrition information using newsletters, text messages and Facebook, as well as monthly parent/student evening workshops whh healthy dinners, and special events such as biking and running races," said Kimberly Lani, parent and school board member.

Cheryl Corbiell i.s an Instructor at the University of Hawai'i Maui. College - Moloka'i. and coordinator for TeenACE and ACE Readi.ng programs.

A third element is collecting individual student heahh data quarterly. Every semester, parents receive a heahh report. Na Pu'uwai assesses the data for obesity risk factors and other heahh indicators. If a student is identified at risk, the parents

ean request behavioral counseling. "All family members participate in the interventions, and leam about nutrition and wellness together," said Lani. The school provides free healthy breakfasts, lunches and fruit snacks daily for eaeh child, and the meals incorporate loeal vegetables and fruits. Farmers also drop off surplus produce at the school. Moloka'i venison is on the menu from a USDAapproved hunter. "The meals look and taste 'ono," said Horner. "We reinforce good food choices, and

I the school's 'Caught Being Good' program has non-food rewards. Small choices make a difference, such as drinking water as a beverage versus a juice box containing 100 calories. It takes a student running for 10 minutes to burn off one juice box and the calories add up over the week. Students love fresh water in brightly colored llasks." The school's campus rellects the focus on healthy food. Raised vegetable beds are sprinkled throughout the campus, growing an abundance of vegetables such as bok choy and taro. After school, students learn about gardening. "Habits are hard to change, and we are changing health and wellness on Moloka'i, one family at a time," said Horner. ■

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Students in the Pū'olo project learn the value of proper nutrition, how to care for vegetable beds and the importance and fun that ean be had with regular exercise. - Courtesy Photos