Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS

DAVID Y. IGE
GOVERNOR

CATHERINE P. AWAKUNI COLÓN
DIRECTOR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 14, 2018

DCCA KICKS OFF BLUE ZONE PROJECT CERTIFIED WORKSITE
First State of Hawaii Department to be Blue Zones Project Certified

HONOLULU, HI – The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) today held a kick-off event to celebrate the Department’s designation as a Blue Zones Project Certified worksite. DCCA is the first State of Hawaii department to be a part of the Blue Zones Project, a well-being improvement initiative designed to make healthy lifestyles easier through changes to environment, policy and social networks.

Today’s event featured wellness workshops offered by Happiness U, a lifestyle studio, taught by a team of facilitators focused on positivity, personal growth, self-development, and mental and physical well-being.  Over a dozen health-oriented vendors were also on hand to provide Blue Zones inspired food tastings, health screenings, exercise and social activity registrations, and more. Guests of the celebration were also able to participate in interactive activities such as blending their own smoothies using “Blender Bikes” and conquering a video game dungeon through exercise.

“Through this initiative, we are encouraging and educating our employees to improve their overall health and well-being by eating healthier, and expanding our sense of community and support for one another,” said DCCA Director Catherine Awakuni Colón. “It is our goal to lead by example so that everyone can live healthier and happier lives. We can have a tremendous positive impact on Hawaii’s population if we all strive towards a healthier lifestyle. We invite other government agencies and employer groups to join in on the effort to create positive changes in the workplace.”

The Department achieved Blue Zones Project recognition by adopting the following employee-driven best practices that promote well-being including:

• Plant-based cooking demonstrations and potluck—using in house staff to demo and share their favorite recipes;
• Established multiple walking routes and maps within the workplace and surrounding area that include time and distance;
• Organized walking and running groups—to increase natural movement throughout the work day and connect with co-works in a positive manner;
• Encouraged employees to take the Sharecare RealAge test—a clinically validated health assessment to understand one’s wellbeing for further improvement;
• Organized outside of the workplace activity groups including stand up paddle boarding, golf, tennis, and hula; and
• Wellness communication strategy—email staff health related programs, updates, testimonials, and highlights of department’s successes.

To learn more about the Blue Zones Project contact the Blue Zones Project team in Hawaii at [email protected], or visit https://hawaii.bluezonesproject.com/.

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Media Contact:
William Nhieu
Communications Officer
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Email: [email protected]
Office: (808) 586-7582