Hawaii Lifestyle

Deb and I are in the middle of two months on Kauai where we are enjoying the weather, scenery and long walks through beautiful countryside, mountains and beach. People are healthier here because of an outdoor lifestyle providing lots of vitamin D and many easy, pleasant opportunities for exercise. Many also eat well- lots of local fruits and vegetables, more fish than meat.   

Sadly, native Hawaiians are behind the curve, still relishing Spam and other unhealthy foods that replaced their traditional diet after western colonization. Obesity and resultant diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer and orthopedic problems abound because they have not embraced Hawaii lifestyle, their birthright. Westernization has meant short lives and poor health as well as loss of power and land for Hawaii's natives. Hawaiian leaders have finally recognized the major lifestyle issues decimating their people. Several Hawaiian politicians, suffering from obesity and diabetes themselves, publicly embraced a return to a vegan diet comprised mainly of taro and other Hawaiian foods. They've lost weight and their diabetes and proclaimed it to their constituents and pacific islanders everywhere. Eric Adams, the African-American borough president of Brooklyn, has done the same but eating whole plant foods available in Brooklyn rather than Hawaii. He's publicized his reclaimed health and energy, encouraging his constituents to do likewise. Westernized black and asian peoples suffer from the same health problems as Hawaiians as they abandon traditional foods for the rich western diet. Their genetics often make them much more susceptible to the diabetes now ravaging third world countries as they become wealthier and more westernized.

Schools here now emphasize healthy foods and many have programs teaching gardening skills at a school garden.  Local community centers have programs in planning and preparing healthy meals. Community gardens are also flourishing, providing information, skills and access to produce which would otherwise be prohibitively expensive in a place where most food is imported in spite of huge tracts of unused farmland and a perfect climate for growing most things.

Cafes, coffee houses, fast food chains and food trucks provide moderately priced meals for locals and tourists. Most of this is still the garbage which addicts to fat, sugar, salt and destroys health.