Students and faculty at Kane’ohe Elementary School are drinking up the benefits of the best sugar-free beverage: water.
Today, the school unveiled a water bottle filling station and water bottle for every child to promote healthy beverage consumption. The project is part of a coordinated school wellness strategy led by the Hawai’i Initiative for Childhood Obesity Research and Education (HICORE), a health initiative of the University of Hawai’i, John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) to help reduce health disparities and childhood obesity.
“Eating and drinking habits, like exercise patterns, begin in early childhood,” said Dr. May Okihiro, JABSOM pediatrician and HICORE director. “Drinking water regularly is essential to good health.”
The first bottle is filled at Kane’ohe Elementary.
The filling station was unveiled at an event this morning at Kane’ohe Elementary School, attended by 4th grade students, administrators and first lady Dawn Ige, an elementary school vice principal and longtime champion of children’s health and educational initiatives.
“Simple changes to diet and exercise can help our children develop healthy habits that will stay with them throughout their lives,” said Mary Ann Barnes, RN, president of Kaiser Permanente Hawai’i. “We’re happy to partner with HICORE as part of our Thriving Schools initiative to improve the health of our keiki.”
Lei presenters/runners: fourth-graders Alyxsis, left, and Ma’a.
An estimated 25 Hawai’i schools and 31,000 students are expected to benefit from the water bottle filling stations, supported with a $92,000 grant from Kaiser Permanente Hawai’i, the first organization to partner with JABSOM to lead the Be Well @ School initiative. Participating schools will also incorporate healthy beverage consumption as part of school wellness policies.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente Hawai’i has provided total health to the people of Hawai’i for more than 50 years, with physicians who are members of the Hawai’i Permanente Medical Group, the largest multi-specialty physician group practice in the state of Hawai’i. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. Visit kp.org for additional information. Become a fan of good health with Kaiser Permanente Hawai’i: Like our page at Facebook.com/KPHawaii and follow @KPHawaii on Twitter.
About HICORE
HICORE’s ongoing work throughout the state involves expanding strategic partnerships between schools and community organizations, with the goal of promoting nutrition, physical activity and health assessments. Schools earn water bottle filling stations through the actions of health and wellness committees to reduce consumption of sugary beverages and promote water as a healthy alternative.
The ribbon is cut to officially open the water bottle refilling station.
At top of story: Dr. May Okihiro, First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige, Matt Ho, Castle-Kahuku Complex Area Superintendent, Mary Ann Barnes, RN, president of Kaiser Permanente Hawai’i, Derek Minakami, Kane’ohe Elementary Principal.