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:

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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

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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

Today reminds us of our incredible capacity to heal, hope, and emerge from our darkest moments with purpose and resolve. Happy Juneteenth from the entire staff at Ko'olaluloa Health Center.

Happy Aloha Friday 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.

** New **

Each week we'll also email an updated produce list if you'd like to create a custom bag with items of your choosing.

Here's a list of produce we might rotate in depending on what's growing each week:

Lettuce, kale, baby lettuce mix, ong choy, bok choy, arugula swiss chard, collard greens, watercress, cabbage, carrots, beets, turnips, radish, daikon, olena, cilantro, parsley, green onion, basil, papaya, banana, seasonal lilikoi, mountain apple, citrus, tomato, green beans, peppers, eggplant, ulu, and kalo.

We pack 5-7 different items, usually, 1-3 items will be some kind of greens. Portions and the number of items vary due to farm prices, when there's abundance on our farms we like to share it with our CSA subscribers/members. $20 per bag.

We also offer farm & art goods add-ons (baked goods, eggs, poi, jams, greeting cards, etc.) to go along with your produce.

#bewell

#staywell

Great news from the Office of the Governor:

Don’t forget! Two new travel rules are now in effect. Starting today there are NO restrictions for inter-island travel (test or quarantine), whether you’ve been vaccinated or not. The second rule allows those who’ve been vaccinated in Hawaiʻi to use their vaccine card to bypass testing when traveling back from the mainland.

We’ll begin accepting vaccination cards from other states when we hit a 60% vaccination rate, which I hope will happen in late June or sometime in July. We’re currently at a 55% vaccination rate.

Cheers!

.

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#bewell

#staywell

Aloha gang!

With the state entering Tier 4, school out, and summer in full swing, many of us are enjoying our island’s great outdoors, BBQs, and other ocean adventures. Here are healthy tips to Protect Your Skin from the Inside out:

• Science recommends 15 minutes of sunlight a day to provide a healthy dose of Vitamin D, but excess sun exposure can activate free radicals that can damage skin and stimulate aging.

• Wearing sunscreen daily and using other forms of sun protection such as clothing are essential, but you can also support your skin by eating certain foods for UV protection from the inside out.

• Wild salmon – Salmon contains a powerful antioxidant, astaxanthin, which helps to support the skin during sun exposure. Pacific Sockeye salmon contains an average of 10mg of astaxanthin per serving – which is an adequate dosage of astaxanthin for skin health.

• Tomatoes & Watermelon – Watermelon and tomatoes contain the antioxidant lycopene, which studies have shown to be helpful with protecting skin from sunburn when exposed to UV light.

• Carrots – This healthy snack staple may not only help prevent sun damage, but it might also even help reverse it due to the antioxidant beta-carotene found in carrots.

Have fun and be safe out there!

Happy King Kamehameha Day! Photo credit: Adrien Ace / Ka Leo O Hawai'i

Aloha! It’s Throwback Thursday here at Ko’olauloa Health Center. We wanted to share a wonderful article published by Honolulu Civil Beat late last year that highlighted how the Hawaiian Monarchy was ahead of its time when it came to addressing public health.

Here is an excerpt:

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What We Can Learn From Hawaii’s Past Pandemics

Hawaii’s monarchy was ahead of its time when it came to addressing public health.

On Jan. 20, 1881, a large crowd gathered in Honolulu Harbor to bid farewell to King David Kalakaua, who was leaving for a yearlong diplomacy tour around the world.

Less than a week after he left, in part to work on labor negotiations with other countries, a foreign ship entered Oahu’s bustling harbor carrying Chinese laborers sick with smallpox — a disease that 30 years prior had killed 10% of the Native Hawaiian population.

Before his departure, Kalakaua had appointed his sister, Princess Lili‘uokalani, to govern in his place. It was a huge responsibility for any ruler – let alone an acting ruler who had no way to communicate with the king.

The decisions Lili‘uokalani made to keep people safe – and the pushback she received from angry citizens and frustrated business owners who didn’t want to quarantine or close down business activity – should sound familiar to people living through the coronavirus pandemic today.

Hawaii’s long history of dealing with foreign diseases made the Hawaiian monarchy ahead of its time when it came to addressing health issues. And Hanohano is not the only teacher looking to the past for lessons on how to get through the coronavirus pandemic of 2020.

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View the entire article on Honolulu Civil Beat by clicking on the link below:

https://www.civilbeat.org/.../what-we-can-learn-from.../

#bewell

#staywell

Today all of us at KHC celebrate World Ocean Day!

Here are just a few of the gifts we all enjoy from our oceans:

The air we breathe: The ocean produces over half of the world's oxygen and absorbs 50 times more carbon dioxide than our atmosphere.

Climate regulation: Covering 70 percent of the Earth's surface, the ocean transports heat from the equator to the poles, regulating our climate and weather patterns.

Recreation: From fishing to boating to kayaking and whale watching the ocean provides us with many unique activities.

Economic benefits: The U.S. ocean economy produces $282 billion in goods and services and ocean-dependent businesses employ almost three million people.

Food: The ocean provides more than just seafood; ingredients from the sea are found in surprising foods such as peanut butter and soymilk.

Medicine: Many medicinal products come from the ocean, including ingredients that help fight cancer, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, and heart disease.

Aloha Ohana - it’s Wellness Wednesday here at KHC.

Did you know that water keeps every system in your body functioning properly?

The Harvard Medical School Special Health Report 6-Week Plan for Healthy Eating notes that water has many important jobs, such as:

- Carrying nutrients and oxygen to your cells

- Flushing bacteria from your bladder

- Aiding digestion

- Preventing constipation

- Normalizing blood pressure

- Stabilizing your heartbeat

- Cushioning joints

- Protecting organs and tissues

- Regulating body temperature

- Maintaining electrolyte (sodium) balance

Giving your body enough fluids to carry out those tasks means that you're staying hydrated.

Cheers!

As more people get vaccinated, Hawai‘i is looking to change some of its restrictions on travel based on vaccination rates. The benchmarks are as follows:

On June 15, all inter-island travel restrictions will be dropped, and travelers entering the state who have been vaccinated in Hawaiʻi may bypass quarantine without a pre-travel test.

At 60% fully vaccinated, the state will accept proof of vaccination for domestic travel.

At 70% fully vaccinated, ALL restrictions will be dropped.

Hawai‘i is currently at a 52% completed vaccination rate. I know many of us are ready to get back to “normal,” and increasing vaccination rates will help get us there more quickly.

Aloha Ohana - did you know that the state is expanding its efforts to get people in Hawaiʻi vaccinated? Besides the new travel benchmarks (announced earlier today), the state is launching #HIGotVaccinated month through June. There will be several prize giveaways, including a total of one million Hawaiian Miles, a one-year luxury car lease, Vacations Hawaiʻi Las Vegas travel package, gift certificates, and more. The prizes will also be extended to those who’ve already gotten vaccinated because we want to recognize those who’ve already done their part to keep our community safe.

The campaign will also focus on expanding vaccination services in different locations and provide more information about the vaccine. Visit HIGotVaccinated.com to learn more.

We are excited to announce that KHC is a proud supporter of the Local Farms Hawaii CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) pick-up and produce sharing program. Use the links below to join the Hawaii CSA for a direct connection to local farms, to get a bag of fresh seasonal produce, and learn more about our involvement in the program.

Join & Order from the Hawaii CSA

https://www.letsgrowfarmshawaii.com/csa.html

Learn more about KHC’s involvement in the program

https://www.letsgrowfarmshawaii.com/foodforall.html

#foodforall

#bewell

#staywell

Aloha friends, it’s “Wellness Wednesday” here at KHC.

Here are a few of the many benefits of walking for your health:

Walking improves cardiac risk factors such as cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, vascular stiffness and inflammation, and mental stress.

And if cardiac protection and a lower death rate are not enough to get you moving, consider that walking and other moderate exercise programs also help protect against dementia, peripheral artery disease, obesity, diabetes, depression, colon cancer, and even erectile dysfunction.

Ready, set, walk!

Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

#bewell

#staywell

Celebrating Pride Month 2021 ~

Ko’olauloa Health Center welcomes ALL Races, ALL Genders, ALL Abilities, ALL Countries of Origin, ALL Sexual Orientations, and ALL Belief Systems. Ko’olauloa stands with you and you will always be safe with us.

Remembering those who have served on this Memorial Day.

We’re often asked what Ko’olauloa means. We put together the short description below together for everyone on this “Throwback Thursday”.

Ko'olauloa is the northeastern district of O'ahu, from Waimea Bay on the North Shore to Ka'a'awa on the windward coast. ("Ko'olau" means "windward"; "loa" means “long")

The valleys from La'ie to Kahana are well-watered and fertile. The most famous god of this land was Kamapua'a, "Pig-Child" whose home was in the valley of Kaliuwa'a (Sacred Falls) in Kaluanui.

The gods Kane and Kanaloa wandered through this district, creating springs and fishing. Fish is abundant; the coastline is also noted for its shark gods and shark men (mano kanaka).

Mahalo!

A few tips for you on this Wellness Wednesday. Aloha from all of us at KHC.

"Talk Story Tuesday" here at KHC and we have an important PSA from Hawaiian Electric that may be helpful to your Ohana.

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Aloha,

We wanted to let you know that we’re working to keep customers connected as the end of the Public Utilities Commission’s moratorium on disconnections for nonpayment – May 31, 2021 – draws near. The end of the moratorium WILL NOT trigger immediate disconnections.

If your account is past due or you know someone who is behind on payments, we can help. Here’s how:

· Go to our website to learn more about our payment plans and to submit a request. Residential customers can choose installments ranging from four to 18 months; commercial customers from four, six and for smaller commercial customers, up to 12 months. Get information on how to make a payment.

· Starting in July, residential and smaller commercial customers whose accounts are past due and who haven’t contacted us will have their account balance rolled into a 12-month payment plan to avoid disconnection. You may opt out or transition to a more tailored plan to fit your needs.

· Other available assistance for residential and business customers can be found online. Although we don’t administer these programs, we work closely with the organizations that do.

As a reminder, Hawaiian Electric will never threaten immediate disconnection or ask for payment information via phone, text or email. If you receive any threatening communications from Hawaiian Electric, it’s a scam. Go online to learn more or to fill out a fraud report.

It's important to us that all customers stay safe and stay connected so please contact us if you have any concerns about your account.

Mahalo,

The Hawaiian Electric Customer Service Team

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Aloha gang! It’s “Medicinal Monday” here at KHC. Did you know that there are many medicinal plant substances that grow in the Ko’olauloa area of Oahu? Here are a few notable ones:

Papaya - Contains papaya seeds papain, an enzyme that aids in the digestion of proteins.

Turmeric - Contains powerful anti-inflammatory ingredients, and curcumin that is effective in treating pain and depression.

Honohono - Hawaiians have long known the benefits of hononono, these include its efficacy in treating bleeding and dysentery.

Noni - Hawaiians used noni to treat everything from eczema, ringworm, colds, flu, to diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

Mamaki - Mamaki is an indigenous Hawaiian pine tree. Dried leave of the Mamaki tree creates a medicinal tea that helps support a healthy liver, colon, and bladder.

Aloe - Aloe is best known for its ability to relieve sunburn. Aloe is also excellent for treating a broad array of conditions, both internal and external. Aloe contains powerful antioxidants called polyphenols that protect against free radical damage.

Have a healthy week gang!

Aloha it’s "Super Food Saturday" here at KHC!

A lot of people ask our nutritionist is acai really a superfood? The truth is that acai is more than just a purple berry. In fact, it's thought to be the most powerful superfood in the Amazon.

Like other berries, acai berries contain antioxidants and fiber. Some proponents call them a superfood, claiming they help various health concerns, including arthritis, weight loss, and high cholesterol.

So enjoy a delicious acai bowl tomorrow after your day at the beach!