WAIPOULI — Bev Brody, Get Fit Kauai director, was surprised Friday morning when Joy Barua of Kaiser Permanente announced her a recipient of the Kaiser Permanente National Thriving Schools Honor Roll award.
“What? Me?” Brody said. “What is this? An apple! My favorite fruit. I could eat five of them.”
Barua said the recognition of a crystal apple is done nationally among the different Kaiser Permanente regions located within school districts. It recognizes those individuals who are championing sustainable, healthy school environments, and Brody was selected because of her working closely with schools, workplaces and Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr. to be a continuous champion in making Kauai a healthier place to live.
The award was given during the Get Fit Kauai Worksite Wellness Challenge breakfast kickoff at the Courtyard by Marriott at Coconut Beach, Kaiser Permanente being one of the program sponsors and being joined by Hawaii Medical Service Association, Get Fit Kauai, the Hawaii Public Health Institute and state Department of Health.
“Bacon helps, but this Worksite Wellness Challenge is about making fitness fun,” said county Planning Director Michael Dahilig, representing Carvalho. “The TIGER (federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grant is about how we move. Today is the lifestyle part. There are only 15 teams selected to take part in the Worksite Wellness Challenge. There were a lot more teams who wanted to join, so you folks are the lucky ones to be selected.”
Kauai County Councilmember Derek Kawakami, wearing red because Friday was not only Groundhog Day but National Wear Red Day in raising awareness about cardiovascular disease, said the Worksite Wellness Challenge is an investment in employees’ health.
“The county brought health to the forefront through events like the Mayor-a-thon,” Kawakami said. “Enjoy the bacon and Portuguese sausage because from today, it’s not on the list.”
The state Department of Health Kauai District Health Office is one of 15 teams announced for the nine-month competition designed to encourage businesses and workplaces to implement healthy practices in the worksite and create sustainable wellness policies and environmental changes that focus on nutritional and physical activity improvements.
“You are here because of the 59 yes-and-no questions you answered,” Brody said. “Those same questions will be asked at the end of the program, and the (team with the) biggest difference between the start and the end will be declared the winner. Wilcox Health was the winner of the last challenge (the Worksite Wellness Challenge is held every other year), and they have representatives here to help the coaches.”
Joining the DOH Kauai District Health Office, other teams participating in the Worksite Wellness Challenge include Aqua Engineers, Costco, County of Kauai, Courtyard by Marriott, Hartung Bros., HMSA, Hokuala, Kauai Coffee, Kauai Community College, Kauai Marriott Resort &Beach Club, KQNG Radio Group, Wilcox Medical Center and the YWCA of Kauai.
“This is the first time we’re doing this,” said Renae Hamilton, YWCA director. “It should be a lot of fun.”
Al-Han Coloma of the Kauai District Health Office said they are also a first-time team in the challenge.
“Our goal is to come out on top,” she said.
