Keiki Health and Community-Led Health Innovation

Our colleagues at the Children’s Healthy Living (CHL) Center of Excellence play a major role in the work to prevent childhood obesity through a unique blend of modern science and deep-rooted community action in Hawaii and across the Pacific.
The CHL team partners with leaders in different communities to create environments where healthy choices are the easiest choices. Key community-driven initiatives include:

• In partnership with local schools and farms, CHL supports “Food System Pilot Projects.” These initiatives – ranging from school gardens to community talk story sessions on traditional food prep – reconnect keiki with the 'āina while increasing local food security.
• The Pacific Food Guide is an online resource that revitalizes knowledge of traditional Pacific foods. By promoting indigenous crops over imported processed goods, CHL helps families integrate cultural heritage into modern nutritional health.
• Working with community planners, CHL advocates for safer play spaces and walking paths in rural communities, ensuring that physical activity is accessible to all, regardless of zip code.
• We are developing a home-grown workforce of health workers and leaders with the CHL Training Program. By providing scholarships and mentorship to local students, we ensure that the health leaders of tomorrow come from the very communities they serve.

CHL in Action: Impact Across Hawaiʻi
The CHL Center's impact is visible through specialized projects tailored to the unique needs of our islands:

• Our data is precise enough to provide snapshots of childhood health in individual neighborhoods. This allows for targeted investments in "food deserts" and underserved rural areas.
• CHL facilitates programs like the “Produce Prescription,” where healthcare providers "prescribe" fresh local fruits and vegetables that families can redeem at participating markets, directly supporting both public health and local farmers.
• CHL has been instrumental in implementing Early Childhood Care and Education (ECE) Wellness Guidelines, integrating movement and water-first policies into daily learning routines for Hawai‘i’s youngest learners.

All of CHL’s work supports our goal of building a self-sufficient and healthy Hawaiʻi, where every child has the opportunity to thrive in a resilient community.