Posts in Community Outreach
Be Well
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Aloha Ohana!

At KHC Wellness Wednesday is the time of the week to get inspiration on how to live well.

Our health experts can help you focus on how to have a healthy mind and body. One can not exist without the other. Due to the current situation, we’re in, we know that sometimes it’s difficult to get motivated to do much of anything, let alone try to improve yourself. It’s a massive achievement to wake up and take care of yourself every day. 

The point of Wellness Wednesday here at KHC isn’t to provide you with useless inspiration, but to give you practical skills and advice to live a better, healthier life.

Have a beautiful day!

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#bewell

#staywell

‘Ulu Tuesday
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Aloha Ohana!

It’s ‘Ulu Tuesday and here are some fun facts about this superfood from our registered dietitian.

The Many Health Benefits of ‘Ulu

‘Ulu is considered a superfood not only because one fruit feeds an entire family and there’s enough fruit on the islands to feed the whole population, but due to its nutritional value. It’s sometimes called the tree potato for how versatile it is in cooked dishes and for how it tastes when it’s mature. But it's higher in protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals than white potatoes.

There are many nutrients packed into one fruit. ‘Ulu is loaded with:

Antioxidants

Carotenoids

Fiber

Iron

Magnesium

Niacin

Omega 3 fatty acids

Omega 6 fatty acids

Calcium

Copper

Phosphorus

Potassium

Thiamine

Protein

Vitamin A

Vitamin C

And it Tastes Great!

You can eat and enjoy ‘ulu at any stage. When it’s green and hard, it tastes like an artichoke. When it’s mature, it tastes and cooks like a potato or other root vegetable. When very ripe, it’s sweet and is enjoyed like fruit or dessert.

.

#bewell

#staywell

DOE: Free School Lunch
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Aloha Ohana! Some good news from the Hawaii Department of Education.

The Hawaii DOE just announced that all students at Hawaiʻi’s 257 public schools will receive free breakfast and lunch meals for the entirety of the 2021-22 school year, thanks to a nationwide USDA waiver which aims to minimize the possible spread of COVID-19 by eliminating meal payment transactions in school cafeterias.

Click on the link for more information: https://www.hawaiipublicschools.org/ConnectWithUs/MediaRoom/PressReleases/Pages/SY2021-Free-School-Meals.aspx

Summer Skin Care
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Aloha Ohana! Here are a few Summer Sunday Skin Care tips for you and your family.

So…How Much UV is Too Much?

Prolonged exposure to solar UV, or ultraviolet radiation, may result in acute and chronic health effects on the skin, eyes, and immune system. Though small amounts of UV are essential for the production of vitamin D, overexposure may result in acute and chronic health effects such as sunburn, the best-known acute effect of excessive UV radiation exposure.

However, over the longer term, UV radiation induces degenerative changes in cells of the skin, fibrous tissue, and blood vessels leading to premature skin aging, photodermatoses, and actinic keratoses. Another long-term effect is an inflammatory reaction of the eye, and in the most serious cases, skin cancer and cataracts can occur.

Top 10 Tips For Sun Protection

  • UV rays are strongest and most harmful during midday, or 10am-4pm.

  • Contrary to popular belief, clouds do not block UV rays, they only slightly filter them. You can get a sunburn even on an overcast day.

  • Trees, umbrellas, or canopies do not offer complete sun protection, but they do offer some. Remember the shadow rule: “Watch your shadow – short shadow, seek shade!”

  • Like it or not, but tanned skin is damaged skin, any change in color is an indication of UV damage.

  • Use SPF 15+ liberally and re-apply every two hours, or after working, swimming, playing, or exercising outdoors.

  • When buying clothing, keep an eye out for some articles that have been certified under international standards and come with information on UV protection.

  • Remember though, a wet T-shirt offers far less UV protection than a dry one, and darker colors may offer more protection than lighter colors.

  • Sunglasses protect your eyes from UV rays, which can lead to cataracts later in life.

  • Encourage your children, of any age, to wear sunglasses as well!

  • Before heading out for the day, check the UV Index to ensure that you pack the proper items to keep you protected all day.

Food 4 All
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Happy Thursday everyone!

Here is a friendly reminder of the great CSA pick-up and produce sharing program at Koolauloa Health Center, Kahuku Clinic.

Join our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) for a direct connection to our farms and get a bag of fresh seasonal produce. You'll receive an assortment of seasonal fruits, roots, vegetables, and herbs from a collective of local farms that grow food in responsible and sustainable ways that is both good for you and the land, some of our farms are also certified organic. Pre-order our assorted produce bag, meat, & fish below.

Travel Update!
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More good news! Hawaiʻi is expected to reach a 60% fully vaccinated rate by July 8. Because of that, we will be able to safely relax some of the travel and social restrictions currently in place. 

Beginning July 8, Hawaiʻi will accept vaccination records from other states and US territories to bypass quarantine/pre-travel testing. Social gatherings will increase to 25 indoors and 75 outdoors statewide. Restaurants can also increase to 75% capacity. 

Mahalo to everyone for doing their part to keep our community safe as we continue to begin resuming life “normally.”

Child Tax Credit Awareness Day
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Aloha Ohana!

Today is Child Tax Credit Awareness Day!

Here's what you should know and share this to spread the word:

The #ChildTaxCredit has been expanded this year to $3,000 per child 6-17 years old and $3,600 per child under 6. Most families will automatically start receiving this new credit through monthly payments.

Low-income families who don't normally file taxes can still get this benefit. They can sign up at childtaxcredit.gov.

This increased tax credit is currently only for this year. President Biden’s American Families Plan calls for extending this for more years to come.

Mahalo from the team at KHC.

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Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children

Aloha Ohana!

Did you know about the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)? WIC is a federally funded program that provides Hawaii residents with nourishing supplemental foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding promotion, and health and social service referrals.

The participants of WIC are either pregnant, breastfeeding, or postpartum women, and infants and children under age five who meet income guidelines and have a medical or nutritional risk.

Click on the link below for more information or to apply:

https://health.hawaii.gov/wic/

#bewell

#staywell

Mindful Families
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Aloha Ohana! It’s “Mindful Monday” here at Ko’olauloa Health Center. Here are a few tips on seven things mindful families do differently.

Busy schedules, digital devices, long commutes—all of this leads to families who are disconnected from each other as never before. Here are 7 ways mindfulness can strengthen your relationships, increase your well-being, and bring the family back together.

As the world gets seemingly faster, it’s more important than ever to build the strength of presence within ourselves and in our families. Our culture is sensing this need and that is why we see an increasing amount of people in all sectors of life exploring ways to become more grounded through yoga, diet, and mindfulness. This yearning is making its way into our homes as many of us have searched for practices and experiences to slow down and bring more connection into our family life as well. 

7 Things Mindful Families Do Differently

  1. Embrace Imperfection

  2. Listen with Curiosity

  3. Communicate Courageously

  4. Practice Appreciation and Gratitude

  5. Forgive Ourselves and Each Other

  6. Practice Support and Generosity 

  7. Don’t forget to play and have fun!

#bewell

#staywell

Father's Day Wishes
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Happy Father’s Day from all of us at KHC!

This Father’s Day we were touched by a beautiful letter from a father to his two young daughters. Here are a few excerpts:

~~~~

Every year, I make time to reflect on the promises, lessons, and ideas that I want my two young daughters to learn when they’re older.

This Father’s Day I wrote a short letter encompassing many of those things that I look forward to sharing with my kids one day:

Always look for opportunities to grow as an individual, in both your personal and professional lives.

Beyond family, there are broader cultural forces that will continue to shape your lives and world views, and I’m increasingly seeing the positive, amplifying role they can play.

I hope you’ll join these conversations - not merely to participate, but to grow. Seek out diverse perspectives. Find ways to educate yourselves.

The conversation will always be just the start.

Starting a conversation makes a huge difference. But taking action is the standard, in part because there are fewer barriers today. It’s so much easier to discover and support causes you believe in.

Amplify your voices, share your stories and listen to other people’s stories, too.

Understand the power of using your voice and sharing your stories. Welcome the opportunities to speak on panels and sit in on listening sessions to better educate yourself and those around you.

Be an ally to the communities around you, but also to yourself.

Have deep ownership of your identity. Your passion, energy, and commitment will make you an ally to all communities around you. 

Don’t let your support for others overshadow the progress you want to make for your own community. Teach others, and yourselves, about the richness of your culture and history.

Find ways to proudly stand with- and stand up for - all in the broader Pacific Islander community. As with every dimension of your voice, the world will become a better place for hearing it.

Love always,

Dad

~~~~

Click the link below to view the full letter:

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/20/a-google-vps-fathers-day-letter-to-his-kids-lessons-to-learn-when-youre-older.html