Local Business leaders shared success stories of business-community partnerships and worksite wellness programs at the North Hawaii Healthy Community Forum held in October. The goal of this forum was to strengthen community-business partnerships and programs by bringing community and business leaders together to explore ways to improve the quality of life for Island residents.
This fourth annual Healthy Community Forum was hosted by the North Hawaii Outcomes Project and Five Mountains Hawaii . A panel of community leaders provided progress updates on selected community health priorities including increasing youth activities, educational attainment, and workforce development, while reducing teen pregnancy and substance abuse.
Participants were honored to hear from Kepa Maly who spoke about the cultural significance of “Ola ka ‘Aina, Ola ke Kanaka” ( Healthy Land , Healthy People). Dr. Sharon Vitousek of the North Hawaii Outcomes Project shared local economic and health status data and recommended four key strategies to help: more physical activity, more evidence, more links to existing resources and more prevention.
A panel of business leaders including Mike Fujimoto, President, HPM, Toby Taniguchi, Vice President, KTA Super Stores, Sam Ainslie, President, Kukio Resort, and William Bennett, Director of Training, Mauna Kea Resorts shared their philosophies and strategies for improving employee health and making their business a great place to work. Fujimoto encouraged employees to be partners in the company through profit sharing. KTA’s successful Kokua i Na Kula program demonstrates a successful business-community partnership which has given more than $100,000 this year to Island schools and nearly $1,000,000 in the program’s nine year existence. Bennett shared Mauna Kea Resort’s commitment to support improved employee health through education and connecting with community resources while Ainslie shared Kukio’s strategies in working and interviewing with employees to get the right fit for their corporation.
Successful worksite wellness programs included offering a variety of health care plans to suit the employee’s needs, partnering with community groups to provide health information for employees, and providing counselors for employees to contact as needed. A recurring theme for success was to treat employees with respect, empowered as partners in the organization. Innovative solutions one local company has implemented include offering 20 minute seated massage for employees periodically, shifting to a four-day work week and allowing quiet time for walks or meditation if needed.
The first Healthy Community Forum in 2000 identified the link between community health and the workplace. This link is further reflected in the community vision for North Hawaii to be a great place to live, work, play, and to raise strong families. Proactive worksite policies and programs affecting employee health have a major impact on employees, their ohana, the business as a whole and the community at large.
