‘Blue’ Kaua’i

KAPA‘A — Dan Buettner learned from the oldest people in the world what it takes to be healthy and active at 100 years old and beyond.

He wants to share this secret with Kaua‘i.

“When it comes to longevity, there is no short-term fix,” the author said.

For four days, Buettner and Healthways staff toured Kaua‘i to consider including the island in the Blue Zones Project, an initiative designed to help communities switch effortlessly to healthier choices through simple changes to environment, policy and social networks.

“I’m not here to sell you a magic diet or an exercise program,” said Buettner, adding that by optimizing the environment, better health and well being will follow. He said, only 20 percent of longevity comes from our genes; the rest is related to our lifestyle.

County spokeswoman Beth Tokioka said the Hawai‘i Medical Service Association introduced the Blue Zones concept to the administration two months ago.

She said Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. sees many similarities in this program to what Kaua‘i is already doing — creating a better environment with more access to healthy food and exercise.

“It’s definitely a good concept,” Tokioka said.

While on Kaua‘i two weeks ago, Buettner had dinner with Carvalho and his staff, hosted a lunch for about 60 community leaders, walked the county multi-use path and visited several restaurants and a few farms.

Bev Brody, director of Get Fit Kaua‘i, went on field trips with Buettner and interviewed him during her show in Kong Radio. She said we need to explore the concept a little bit more, but she thinks the initiative is great.

“I’m all for anything that would make our island a healthier place for island residents and visitors,” she said.

If Buettner and his team ultimately pick the Garden Isle to develop a plan toward a Blue Zones Community certification, Kaua‘i would join a select but growing number of communities in the United States committed to choices that naturally lead to a longer, better and healthier life.

And a healthier life means a wealthier community. Buettner said with small, simple changes in daily habits at a minimal cost, the community could avoid higher health-care expenses, such as heart surgeries and cancer treatments.

But Blue Zones is not for everyone — Buettner said the community and its leaders must want it. There are a number of requirements before a community is chosen to work toward a Blue Zones certification.

At least 20 percent of the population must sign a personal pledge and complete one action. It also requires completion of a community pledge that contains policies related to complete streets, active living, tobacco-free places and healthy eating.

Additionally, there needs to be commitment from at least 50 percent of the top 20 community-identified key employers; from at least 25 percent of independently or locally owned restaurants; from at least 25 percent of public schools; and from at least 25 percent of grocery stores.

In 2009, Albert Lea, Minn., a city of 18,000, became the first U.S. city chosen to receive a Blue Zones Community designation. During the next three years, Albert Lea residents increased their life expectancy by an average of 3.1 years and participants lost a combined 12,000 pounds. Absenteeism among key employers dropped an average of 21 percent, and county workers had a 40 percent decrease in health care costs.

In 2010, Blue Zones, in partnership with Healthways, brought the initiative to California, where three beach communities were chosen to work toward certification: Hermosa, Redondo and Manhattan Beach.

Buettner said Iowa has a goal of becoming the healthiest U.S. state by 2016. So in May 2012 the Iowa communities of Cedar Falls, Mason City, Spencer and Waterloo were picked. In October, nine more Iowa communities joined the project, and in January an additional six communities joined.

Blue Kaua‘i?

Though the Blue Zones concept is well aligned with Carvalho’s Holo Holo 2020 Vision, Tokioka said the administration still needs to understand it better before supporting it.

“We first need to make sure it’s a good fit for us,” she said.

Dr. Dileep Baal, Kaua‘i District Health Officer for the state Department of Health, also had some reservations.

He said the Blue Zones concept is a very simple and good idea, but it’s nothing new.

“We have excellent existing models on Kaua‘i,” said Baal, adding that some local programs set the stage on many of the same issues, including Brody’s Get Fit Kaua‘i, Carvalho’s Holo Holo 2020 and the Communities Putting Prevention to Work led by Tommy Noyes

“Nothing that they said was even remotely new,” said Baal, adding that if Blue Zones would come in with out-of-state funds to do this, he would welcome them with open arms.

Otherwise, he said, he would much rather allocate county or state funds to local projects led by people with a proven track record in the community.

“As long as they bring resources, they’re really welcome,” Baal said.

An initial cost for the program to Kaua‘i has not been determined.

Blue Zones

Under the wing of the National Geographic Society, Buettner traveled the world searching for communities with the healthiest and longest life expectancy. He identified five places that are now considered the original Blue Zones: Ikaría in Greece, Nicoya in Costa Rica, Okinawa in Japan, Sardinia in Italy, and Loma Linda in California.

Buettner immersed in these communities and observed their daily lives, including simple habits that may have contributed to their longevity and good health.

The National Geographic Magazine first published Buettner’s articles about the world’s Blue Zones in 2005. Buettner followed with a book titled “Blue Zones,” which earned a spot in the New York Times “Best Sellers” list.

He narrowed his findings to nine guiding principles: Move naturally; know your purpose; downshift; stop eating when your stomach is 80 percent full; eat more vegetables; have one or two glasses of red wine daily; find the right tribe; get involved in the community; and maintain a healthy, loving relationship with those close to you.

“We can live a shorter life with more years of disability, or we can live the longest possible life with the fewest bad years,” Buettner says in his book. “As my centenarian friends showed me, the choice is largely up to us.”

Info: www.bluezones.com