Kahuku High opens fitness center
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer
KAHUKU — As many as 50 percent of the elementary students in the Kahuku Complex are overweight, according to a recent study, but a new partnership between Kahuku High School and Ke Ola Mamo hopes to address the issue along with other health problems in the community.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser
For almost 15 years, Ke Ola Mamo, the Native Hawaiian Health Care System, has provided Native Hawaiians with health programs that include assessment, education, exercise and follow-through. Now in conjunction with the school's new fitness center and the complex's Coordinated School Health Program, the organization will take its full Ho'oikaika program to students for the first time.
Three-year-old Kia Vaioleti of Hau'ula checks out the workout machines at the new fitness center, where Kahuku High School and Ke Ola Mamo, the Native Hawaiian Health Care System, are encouraging the community to get in shape.
This week the school held a grand opening for the Kahuku Ho'oikaika Fitness Center, where students and the community can receive the help they need to improve their health, said Annette Ostrem, with the Kahuku Coordinated School Health Program.
"We are trying to break the cycle of poor health habits," said Ostrem. By giving high school students the education and support they need they can make better choices and improve their health, she said.
And while Ke Ola Mamo's emphasis is on Native Hawaiian health, the facility is for use by everyone in the community.
The center is financed by tobacco settlement money and contributions from Castle Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente Kahuku.
In the past, Ke Ola Mamo has taken only the educational component of its Ho'oikaika health program to schools, said Joelene Lono, acting executive director of the healthcare system. In the education segment students learn about the importance of diet and how to alter cooking habits to improve health, Lono said.
"The exercise empowers the individual as they're modifying their eating habits," making it an important part of changing and maintaining health, Lono said.
The fitness center features a padded floor, treadmills, stair climbers, stationary bikes and other equipment.
Students will use the center during school, and the community will use it after school and in the evening.
With the nearest commercial fitness centers in Mililani and Kane'ohe, residents from Ka'a'awa to Sunset Beach now have the opportunity to easily combine an exercise regimen in their daily routine close to home, said Ostrem.
"It means we can change the health environment in our community," she said.
A study by the University of Hawai'i and Brigham Young University-Hawai'i has found that 50 percent of the elementary school students are overweight, she said. The problems associated with overweight such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease is a threat to these students. The study also attempts to involve children in exercise programs.
When the tobacco settlement money became available, the Kahuku Complex saw an opportunity to continue this work and implement changes in older students' health habits, Ostrem said.
"We're not looking to create competitors for fitness or marathon runners," Ostrem said. "We're looking at people just increasing their physical activity and learning more about health behavior."
Student, teachers, parents and other community members will be able to use the facility. In fact the facility hopes to attract families and is offering a membership fee of $10, which includes the 24-week Ho'oikaika program.
The center also has been adopted by Kaho'omiki, Hawai'i Council of Physical Activity, which will provide resources for the facility.
Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.
