Our Guiding Priciples

Vivawell is dedicated to strengthening the healthspans of residents in the Hilo, Puna and Ka'u Districts of East Hawaii Island by preventing chronic health conditions. We strive to offer innovative, participatory programs that empower individuals, families, and communities to have healthy nutrition, regular physical activity and meaningful social connections, effectively reduce stress and purposely design their environments to make a healthy lifestyle easier to achieve and sustain.

Our work is guided by these core principles

Prevention

Taking a proactive approach by raising awareness, stimulating action, and impacting systems and circumstances that can affect the health of our community members

Mindset-cess

Empowering community members to practice a growth mindset by exploring opportunities within challenges

Strengths

Building on individual and collective strengths and maximizing local assets to create resilience and forward momentum

Science

Raising health literacy and self-efficacy with evidence-based methods to optimize physical, mental and social health

Skills

Practicing a wholistic approach to wellness, emphasizing 'skills over pills' for long-term solutions

Where do the Hilo , Puna, and Ka'u communities of East Hawaii Island
stand in terms of chronic conditions?
Below is a health snapshot of East Hawaii Island that helps us set priority areas and measure program outcomes.
(Source: 2019-2020 BRFSS)

Chronic Condition Burden

One out of every 4 adults in Hilo, Puna and Ka'u have been diagnosed with three or more chronic health conditions.

Diabetes

8% of East Hawaii Island adults have been diagnosed with diabetes, 16% with prediabetes, and an additional 49% feel they are at risk of developing the disease.

Heart Disease

While heart diease is the leading cause of death, only 4% of adults have this diagnosis making it true ticking time bomb for those who do not modify their behavior.

High Blood Pressure

Nearly one third of adults have been diagnosed with high blood pressure but only 41% of them have made necessary healthy behavior changes.

High Unhealthy
Cholesterol

Unhealthy LDL cholesterol and fats in the bloodstream are top risk factors for a heart attack. Over a quarter of adults have high unhealthy cholesterol.

Mental Health

Trauma, often during childhood, is a risk factor for nearly all mental health disorders. One in 5 adults experienced 4 or more adverse childhood events linked to risk of poor mental health in adulthood. 13% of adults had a diagnosed depressive disorder.

Obesity

Being overweight or obese (BMI >25) is a key indicator and componding factor of many chronic conditions. Nearly two thirds of adults are overweight or obese in Hilo, Puna and Ka'u.

Nutrition & Physical Activity

Diet and exercise can help prevent or reverese chronic conditions. Only 16% of adults eat 5+ daily servings of fruits and vegetables and less than a quarter get 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week.

Our Guiding Priciples

Prevention

Mindset-cess

Strengths

Science

Skills

Preventing Chronic Conditions

Chronic Condition Burden

Diabetes

Heart Disease

High Blood Pressure

High Unhealthy
Cholesterol

Mental Health

Obesity

Nutrition & Physical Activity

Help us build a healthier Hawaii Island

Our Guiding Priciples

Prevention

Mindset-cess

Strengths

Science

Skills

Preventing Chronic Conditions

Chronic Condition Burden

Diabetes

Heart Disease

High Blood Pressure

High UnhealthyCholesterol

Mental Health

Obesity

Nutrition & Physical Activity

Help us build a healthier Hawaii Island

High Unhealthy
Cholesterol